Opel Shows First Pictures of New Combo

VIENNA – Adam Opel reveals the first pictures of its next-generation Combo range, which includes passenger- and light-commercial-vehicle versions.

Passenger version of upcoming Combo.

While the current Combo is manufactured at Opel’s Zaragoza, Spain, plant, the new model is based on the Fiat Doblo and will be produced at the Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi factory in Bursa, Turkey.

Tofas, a joint venture between Fiat and Turkey’s Koc Holding, builds the Fiat Doblo, among other vehicles.

The new Combo’s panel van offers a choice of two wheelbases – 108.5 ins or 122.2 ins. (275.5 cm or 310.5 cm) – giving an overall vehicle length of 172.8 ins./186.6 ins. (439.0 cm/474.0 cm) respectively. There are two roof heights available, 72.8 ins. or 82.7 ins. (185.0 cm or 210.0 cm).

The passenger version will be offered with five or seven seats.

Van variants can be ordered with one or two optional sliding doors, though the passenger version gets both doors as standard and comes with a top-hinged tailgate. An asymmetrical double-wing rear door also is available.

The new Combo will be offered with a choice of four CDTI 4-cyl. diesels: 1.3L and 1.6L engines, both producing 90 hp; a 105-hp 1.6L; and 135-hp 2.0L.

The powerplant portfolio also includes a 95-hp 1.4L 4-cyl. gasoline engine and a compressed-natural-gas version producing 120 hp.

The new Combo can be ordered starting this fall and is expected to reach dealerships in early February.

Opel has offered a Combo model line since 1985, and the current generation has been on the market since 2001. The Combo reached European sales of 72,000 units a year at its peak.

The company produced 37,104 Combos in 2010, compared with 29,904 units the previous year and 56,934 in 2008.

Tofas launched volume output of the current-generation Fiat Doblo in fall 2009.

With the production shifting to Tofas, it will be the first time an Opel-badged vehicle manufactured in Turkey is offered in international markets.

General Motors operated a small assembly plant for the Opel Vectra in Turkey in the 1990s, but the cars produced there were sold only locally.