OPEL Omega Sedan 1986-1994 Photos, engines & full specs

Opel introduced the Omega lineup in 1986 as a sole replacement for two ranges, the Senator and the Rekord, relaunching its competition in the mid-size sedan segment.

In 1986 Opel was still under GM's umbrella and started to lose grip in the mid-size segment against Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Moreover, its products started to be less important even in front of the French or Italian brands, and that annoyed the American automaker. The Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, should have been the ultimate contender.

Both the Rekord and the Senator were already old on the market, and their wedged shapes were no longer appealing to the customers. Opel design center noticed that and offered a vehicle with arched lines. But still, the side windows featured angular shapes and a straight-up divider for the rear ones. In addition, a third side window found its way into the C-pillar, behind the rear doors. At the back, the trunk line was straight and offered a tall flat area, while the corner-mounted taillights tried to limit their intrusion onto the trunk's opening area.

Inside, the dashboard design followed the same principles as the outside, with curved lines and soft shapes. Moreover, the instrument cluster was integrated into a larger area that also comprised the center stack, where Opel installed the HVAC controls and the stereo. At the back, the folding bench offered plenty of headroom for three passengers. Unfortunately, the tall transmission tunnel made the vehicle more of a four-seater.

Opel installed a wide choice of gasoline and diesel engines under the Omega's hood. The automaker offered the car with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, depending on the powerplant.