West drive Opel Signum 2003 - 2005 hatchback

Name of yourself

The debut of this car on Geneva'99, then being a concept. After a couple of years, the first serial Signum appeared in Europe. Now, finally, we were also honored: the official sales of Opel Signum have begun in Russia.
 
This five -door car is difficult to attribute to a particular class. For the hatchback, Signum has too long a wheelbase, for the station wagon - a very short rear overhang, for mini -wen - a low roof and small, only five, the number of seats. You can’t take it to the representative class either, although there is no less space in the second row than in S-Class cars. It turns out that the Olevites laid the beginning of the new class with the release of Signum, which obviously no one expected them.
 
On the other hand, it seems, nothing revolutionary: the Vectra III base was extended by 130 mm and completely revised the feed part of the machine. When looking at Signum, the profile is clearly visible that the rear rack is given the shape of the letter C. The wide rear side door and huge lanterns framing the car are noteworthy.
 
Continuing to compare Signum with the vector, we note the appearance of the original bumper, which is, as it were, a continuation of the radiator grille, which, by the way, was also reinforced: it is now painted in the color of the body and has a cellular insert. Square fog amans changed to round ones.
 
The central console inherited from Vectra as it was. Almost did not affect the changes and the instrument shield. But everything related to seats acquired an exclusive character. To begin with, the seats behind are separate (in a ratio of 40:20:40) can fold independently and have almost the same adjustments as the driver's: each can be moved within 130 mm and change the angle of the back under the boundaries of 30 . When manipulating with seats, there is no need to dismantle the headrests.
 
The central armrest, it is also the middle seat, is transformed into a department for storing small things (in a more expensive set of the car, two tables, a DVD player with a monitor, a refrigerator and a small garbage tank) easily fit in it). The central ceiling console is located five separately separate departments from each other. The maximum carrying capacity of each is up to 400 grams.
 
The trunk in the usual position provides 365 liters of useful volume, with folded rear seats - up to 1410. If the load is very long, you can tip over the back of the front right seat. Then in the cabin of the car, a rolled three -meter carpet fits completely calmly.
 
However, a comfortable salon or huge trunk is not the only innovation of Olevites in Signum. The new 2.2 Direct Ecotec with direct injection is another reason for pride. 155 horses are quite calmly pulling 1480 kg of equipped mass. At first, however, the inertia of the engine is somewhat irritated somewhat (after the Direct Ecotec gas is resetting for a couple of seconds, it continues to rotate at the previous pace), but after some time we even see a rational grain in this: with such a delay, it is very easy to switch to the highest gear without well -known jerks. .
 
The only thing we have not reconciled with is the distinctly listened to the motor life in almost all modes. Either this is increased noise of the power unit, or insufficient sound insulation of the cabin. The exhaust system of the car is not too quiet.
 
Otherwise, Opel Signum is beyond praise. And first of all - in terms of its course stability. In total, it was added to the base of 13 centimeters, and how the character of the car changed! This is reflected not only on the steering wheel, but also on the smoothness of the move - not to compare with Vectra, although, in fact, you control it.
 
An advanced interactive control system is given to the driver - IDS. Its components are well -known ESP, ABS, Brake Assist, as well as braking control systems (SVS), brake forces distribution (EBD), anti -boogging (TC) and electrhydraulic steering amplifier (EHPS).
 
Signum has become one of the first cars in the world using the revolutionary lighting system. And if the turning the headlights to the side where the car is folding is not news for a long time, then the ability to lift a light beam depending on the speed of movement is truly innovation: the faster you go, the further the headlights shine. However, such a system has not yet been installed on basic modifications. But Ksenon, who is warmly beloved by us, has already entered the factory package.
 
This car is oriented to people who think non -standard. On those for whom stereotypes are nothing more than one of the manifestations of the inferiority complex. But the situation is as follows with the competitors of the Opel novelty: either Signum does not have them yet, or he will be left alone.
 
Technical characteristics Opel Signum 2.2 Direct
 
The body is a bearing, all -metal.
Equipped mass, kg - 1480
Full mass, kg - 1995
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4636/1798/1466
Base, mm - 2830
Maximum speed, km/h - 211
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s - 9.8
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle - 10.6
- Zagorod - 6.6
- mixed - 8.1
Engine:
- Type - 4 -cylinder, in order
- working volume, cm3 - 2198
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 155/5600
- torque, NM at min -1 - 220/3800
Transmission - mechanical., 5 -speed
Tire size - 225/60R16
Wheel suspension - independent
Brakes:
- front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Steering - gear -rake, with egur
Price, $ - 33000
 
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [08/2003]