The second model, the Vectra B, was introduced in 1995, and the model range included an estate version for the first time. This model replaced the Vauxhall Cavalier in the UK, and the Holden Apollo in Australia. In 1998, Holden began assembly of the Vectra for export to other right-hand drive markets in the region, although this was aversely affected by the Asian economic crisis, and ended in 2001.
Engines started from the 71 PS (52 kW) 1.6 L, Family 1 but eventually the 8-valve engines were all replaced by 16-valve powerplants. The 2.0 L Family II engine, with 136 PS (100 kW) was developed as a basis for touring car racing, but the top of the line was a 2.5 L V6 with 170 PS (125 kW). Diesel power came once again from Isuzu, but now featured direct injection and a 16-valve head. In 1999 the Vectra was updated, receiving a mildly modified body (that can be identified by the single piece headlight units and body-coloured bumpers) together with somewhat improved handling characteristics and better equipment.
Sporting limited edition models included the touring car championship inspired i500, Super Touring and GSi. The first model was developed in Germany by Opel Motorsport, with the V6 engine’s power increased to 195 PS (143 kW), and the other two were created in Milton Keynes by Motor Sport Developments, the team that run the Vectras in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Only 3900 GSi models were ever produced, mostly in saloon and hatchback guise. With only 317 estate versions produced during this time, they became one of the rarest production Vauxhalls ever.
A related model sold in the United States was the Saturn L-Series, introduced in 2000 but dropped from the lineup in 2005. It was replaced by the 2007 Saturn Aura, which is based on the current Vectra. Introduced in the summer of 2002, the current model, the Vectra C, is built in Germany and the United Kingdom, and is based on the GM Epsilon platform. It is available as a four-door saloon, while the five-door hatchback, known as the Vectra GTS, is meant to recall cult models from Opel in the past such as the Commodore GTE of the 1970s.
The engine range was substantially modified to account for an increased curb weight. While a 122 PS (90 kW) 1.8 Family 1 Ecotec engine was the base model, a 2.0 L turbocharged Family II engine with 175 PS (129 kW) and a new 3.2 L V6, with 211 PS (155 kW) was also offered. Diesel power, now important for commercial success in Europe, was first provided by Isuzu (a 3.0 L V6 is still retained), but the four-cylinder diesel engines were replaced by Ecotec CDTI (Fiat-designed MultiJet) units with 1.9 L, capable of 150 PS (110 kW), in 2004.
The Vectra received a facelift near the end of 2005, and the V6 engine was replaced by an Australian-built 2.8 V6 Turbo unit, similar to the one used in the Saab 9-3. More importantly, Opel introduced, for the first time, an OPC (VXR in the UK) version the Vectra, available only in the hatchback and estate bodies. Power on the Saab V6 Turbo was increased to 255 PS (188 kW), and maximum speed just falls short of 250 km/h (155 mph).
In the UK, the hatchback is not considered a specialty model. In Australasia, the rebadged Holden Vectra ZC is considered more upmarket, though not to the same extent as in Europe. An estate version, called the Caravan in Germany, was released in 2003. Sales of the Vauxhall Vectra in the UK have not been as strong as its predecessor’s. For much of its production life, the original Vectra was the fourth best selling car in the country, yet the current model has never come higher than eleventh in the country’s car sales charts, though it is still the second best selling car in its sector behind the Ford Mondeo.
Based partly on the Vectra C, the Opel Signum is an ‘executive hatchback’ with a completely different layout in the rear, along with a few more refinements than the Vectra C.
While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico and Chile as a Chevrolet, it is not marketed in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Vectra saloon, based on the current Astra was released in October 2005. This model replaced the Vectra B, which was still available in Brazil until that date. This new model will also be sold in Eastern Europe as Opel Astra . A hatchback version, released in 2007, is basically a clone of the Opel Astra, is sold as the Chevrolet Vectra GT.
Similarly, in Australia and New Zealand, the European-sourced Vectra was dropped and replaced with the Holden Epica, a rebadged Daewoo Tosca in March 2007. Due to stockpiling of 2005 model Vectras for the Australasian market, there was enough supply of the car for deliveries to last through to 2007, as a result facelifted 2006-built Vectra Cs were not sold in those markets. Sales of the Chevrolet Vectra in Mexico will end after 2007 due to the redesign and the price of the Euro.
The Saturn Aura is based on the Vectra C, with readjustments to be compete better in the North American market, using the long wheelbase variant of the Epsilon Platform.
