OPEL

Opel Monterey: the crossover that changed the concept in Europe

A comfortable passenger car or a robust crossover? Until the early 1990s, customers in Europe had to make a conscious decision. Everything changed in 1991 with the arrival of the Opel Frontera, an all-wheel drive (AWD) 'recreational vehicle' that combined the best of both worlds, and did so with enormous success. The German car manufacturer took another step forward in 1992 - exactly 30 years ago - and introduced the Monterey, a leisure vehicle that aimed squarely at the upper end of the crossover market.

The Monterey combined elegant bodywork and off-road capability with a high level of comfort and plenty of space. A concept that continues to delight today's customers: the latest edition of the Opel Grandland, an SUV that has taken on the top-of-the-line role in the brand's current model offering, with a bold and pure design, as well as a marked front. by the Opel Vizor, as well as advanced technologies such as Intelli-Lux LED Pixel adaptive lighting and, of course, electrified in the form of a plug-in hybrid with the option of all-wheel drive. The foundation for the success of today's Grandland, Mokka and Crossland SUV and crossover models was laid three decades ago by Monterey and Frontera.

Opel Monterey: New competitor in the high end crossover segment...With the introduction of the Monterey in 1992, Opel extended its range of attractive all-terrain vehicles to the high end of the market. The result of cooperation between Opel and its sister brand at the time, Isuzu, the Monterey was adapted for the European market where demand was high for a combination of off-road capability and typical passenger car comfort. And the Monterey nailed it: top-of-the-line functionality and a robust look. The spare wheel was mounted on the tailgate and clearly highlighted its off-road character.

The Monterey was available in two body styles and three trim levels. Opel proposed the Monterey RS as a short wheelbase version with three doors and four seats. The Monterey and Monterey LTD had a longer wheelbase and a choice of five or seven seats. Thanks to the high position of the seats, the driver had good visibility, while passengers enjoyed generous head and leg room. Armrests for the driver and front passenger further increased comfort. The Monterey was also very practical, as with the rear seats folded down, the available luggage volume grew to 2,548 litres. The Opel SUV could also tow 2,600 kg.

A chassis for all surfaces: Comfortable on the road, tough on uneven ground...The Monterey is designed for everyday driving as well as 'off road' adventures. Independent front suspension featured double wishbones, while at the rear the Monterey had a rigid rear axle with longitudinal arms, a Panhard bar and progressive coil springs.

Use on off-road routes was made possible by the robust design of all relevant components. Spring travel of 205mm at the front and 230mm at the rear ensured that the Monterey could easily master difficult terrain such as trails and ditches, even on steep slopes. The gearbox with gearboxes allowed it to face slopes of up to 76 percent. Other prerequisites for off-road incursions included a wading of up to 600 mm and a maximum ventral angle of 45 degrees, as well as approach/exit angles of 40/31 degrees, respectively. All Montereys had freewheel hubs on the front axle as standard.

It was available with two powertrains that provided the required performance - a 3.1-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine and a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine. The 177bhp V6 was particularly smooth and comfortable to use. With this engine, the Monterey could also accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 km/h.

State-of-the-art updates: No Stop All-Wheel Drive and new engines...One of the most important improvements of the 1996 model year was the No Stop All-Wheel Drive, electronically controlled and fitted as standard. At the touch of a button, drivers could engage all-wheel drive up to 100 km/h from the comfort of their seat. The system made Monterey safer and more convenient – ​​drivers could access the benefits of all-wheel drive not only when leaving the road, but also in case they encountered unexpected slippery surfaces.

The new edition of Opel's all-terrain flagship made its debut at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show. Highlights among the numerous upgrades included a revamped front end, as well as several improvements in the level of its performance, safety and fuel consumption. The two newly developed powertrains stood out in particular - a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and a 4-cylinder 3.0-litre diesel engine. With the latter, the 1998 Monterey was the first all-terrain vehicle in the world to combine four-valve-per-cylinder technology with common-rail direct injection. Compared to its predecessor, the new diesel engine offered a significant improvement in power (40%) and torque (28%), together with lower fuel consumption. The Monterey could also tow up to 3,300 kg, at the time, one of the highest ratings in its category.

In 1999, after seven years of production, the Opel Monterey reached the end of its journey. The bestseller over the years was the Monterey LTD with top-of-the-line equipment, a sign, even at that time, that customers wanted a blend of dynamic elegance and high versatility with innovative technologies. It is not surprising, therefore, that this combination remains in high demand today - accompanied by electrification and an elegant look - in the form of Opel's flagship Grandland SUV.

Autonews