The nameplate was introduced in 1996 as Opel’s first entry into the European MPV segment. It was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996 and reached German dealerships later that year, bringing Opel a large, family-oriented people mover with a distinctly car-like layout rather than the more van-like shape common in the class at the time. The model used front-wheel drive, sliding side doors, and a flexible cabin that emphasized interior space and practicality.
This vehicle was positioned above Opel’s conventional passenger cars and became a short-lived but notable experiment in the brand’s lineup. It was assembled in the United States, reflecting General Motors’ global parts-sharing strategy of the period, while still being tailored for European tastes and regulations. Opel offered it with petrol engines and, later in its run, a diesel option. The model did not become a major sales success, but it remains historically important as Opel’s first MPV and as an early attempt by the brand to compete in a rapidly growing people-mover market.
Production ended in 1999, when Opel moved toward a more compact and better-received MPV strategy with the launch of the Zafira. As a result, this nameplate had a single continuous production run with no later revival.