OPEL Vectra Caravan 1996-1999 Photos, engines & full specs

Opel introduced the Vectra's second generation at the 1995 Frankfurt International Auto Show as a sedan and waited for the following year to release the station wagon version.

While the first generation Vectra was not as successful as GM wished for, the second generation returned with a much better design. Known as the Vectra B, it showed a true evolution even though the overall appearance looked very similar to its predecessor. It also gained in the technical department.

The 1995 Vectra was a significant improvement over its predecessor with more rounded areas and fluid shapes. It looked like GM partly agreed with the biodesign trend. A particular form was for the door mirrors connected to the bodywork via an aerodynamic pillar that followed the hood's V-shaped lines. After the B-pillar, the station wagon featured a more extended roof above the trunk area, while at the back, the tailgate was offered a wide and tall opening, with a low loading height. Opel installed the turn signals only on the edge of the rear quarter panels.

Inside, the bucket seats at the front were mounted low on the floor to create the impression of a sporty family sedan. The concept worked well for the front passengers but left little legroom for the rear ones. GM installed a refreshed dashboard with curved lines that looked appealing to its customers. Opel installed a split-folding rear bench at the back for the station wagon version, which increased the trunk size from 460 liters (16.2 cu-ft) up to 1,490 liters (15.9 cu-ft) with the seatback lowered.

Under the hood, Opel offered the Vectra B with a choice of five gasoline and a turbo-diesel engine. In 1997, the carmaker improved the turbo-diesel engine lineup with a new generation of direct-injected diesel versions fitted with four valves per cylinder.