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Vauxhall Motors



 
 
Vauxhall Motors is a British automobile company. It is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
 (GM), and is part of GM Europe
GM Europe

General Motors Europe is responsible for the operation of General Motors businesses in Europe. The division was established by GM in 1986 and operates 11 production and assembly facilities in 8 countries, and employs around 64,500 people....
. Most current Vauxhall models are right-hand drive derivatives of GM's Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
 brand. There are also several performance vehicles coming from Opel Performance Center
Opel Performance Center

The Opel Performance Center is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation German Opel subsidiary, founded in 1997 to oversee Opel's motorsports activities and develop performance versions of Opel vehicles....
 (OPC), Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
/Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles

Holden Special Vehicles, abbreviated HSV is the officially designated performance vehicle division of Australian motor automobile manufacturer Holden....
 in Australia and Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars

File:Final assembly.jpgLotus Cars is a United Kingdom manufacturer of sports car and race car automobiles based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and high Car handling characteristics....
 of Norfolk, England.

ander Wilson founded the company in Vauxhall
Vauxhall

Vauxhall is an inner city area of South London in the London Borough of Lambeth.It has also given its name to the Vauxhall , which also includes parts of Brixton and Clapham...
, London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 in 1857. Originally named Alex Wilson and Company, then Vauxhall Iron Works, the company built pumps and marine engines.






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Vauxhall Motors is a British automobile company. It is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
 (GM), and is part of GM Europe
GM Europe

General Motors Europe is responsible for the operation of General Motors businesses in Europe. The division was established by GM in 1986 and operates 11 production and assembly facilities in 8 countries, and employs around 64,500 people....
. Most current Vauxhall models are right-hand drive derivatives of GM's Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
 brand. There are also several performance vehicles coming from Opel Performance Center
Opel Performance Center

The Opel Performance Center is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation German Opel subsidiary, founded in 1997 to oversee Opel's motorsports activities and develop performance versions of Opel vehicles....
 (OPC), Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
/Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles

Holden Special Vehicles, abbreviated HSV is the officially designated performance vehicle division of Australian motor automobile manufacturer Holden....
 in Australia and Lotus Cars
Lotus Cars

File:Final assembly.jpgLotus Cars is a United Kingdom manufacturer of sports car and race car automobiles based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and high Car handling characteristics....
 of Norfolk, England.

History

Alexander Wilson founded the company in Vauxhall
Vauxhall

Vauxhall is an inner city area of South London in the London Borough of Lambeth.It has also given its name to the Vauxhall , which also includes parts of Brixton and Clapham...
, London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 in 1857. Originally named Alex Wilson and Company, then Vauxhall Iron Works, the company built pumps and marine engines. In 1903, the company built its first car, a five-horsepower model steered using a tiller, with two forward gears and no reverse gear. This led to a better design which was made available for sale.

To expand, the company moved the majority of its production to Luton
Luton

Luton is a large town in the East of England England, 32 miles north of London. Historically, Luton is within the county of Bedfordshire, and since 1997, the town has been a unitary authority....
 in 1905. The company continued to trade under the name Vauxhall Iron Works until 1907, when the modern name of Vauxhall Motors was adopted. The company was characterised by its sporting models, but after World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
, designed more austere models.

Before GM


Much of Vauxhall's success during the early years of Vauxhall Motors is thanks to a man called Laurence Pomeroy
Laurence Pomeroy

Laurence Henry Pomeroy was an English automotive engineer.Laurence Pomeroy was born in London and after leaving school served as an apprentice with the North London Railway....
. Pomeroy joined Vauxhall in 1906 as an assistant draughtsman, at the age of twenty-two. In the winter of 1907/8 the chief designer F.W. Hodges took a long holiday and in his absence the managing director Percy Kidner asked Pomeroy to design an engine for cars to be entered in the 1908 RAC and Scottish Reliability Trial, held in June of that year. The cars were so successful that Pomeroy took over from Hodges.

His first design, the Y-Type Y1, had outstanding success at the 1908 RAC & Scottish 2000 Mile Reliability Trials showing excellent hill climbing ability with an aggregate of 37 seconds less time in the hill climbs than any other car in its class. With unparalleled speeds around the Brooklands
Brooklands

Brooklands was a 2.75 miles Auto racing circuit and airfield built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue....
 circuit the Vauxhall was so far ahead of all cars whatever class that the driver could relax, accomplishing the at an average speed of , when the car was capable of . The Y-Type went on to win class E of the Trial.

The Y-Type was so successful that it was decided to put the car into production as the A09 car. This spawned the legendary A-Type Vauxhall. Four distinct types of this were produced between 27 October 1908 up to when mass production halted in 1914. One last A-Type was put together in 1920. Capable of up to the A-Type Vauxhall was one of the most acclaimed 3 litre cars of its day.

Two cars were entered in the 1910 Prince Henry Trials, and although not outright winners, performed well and replicas were made for sale officially as the C-type but now known as the Prince Henry
Vauxhall Prince Henry

The Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1913. It had a length of around and a weight of depending on the coachwork fitted....
.

During World War I Vauxhall made large numbers of the D-type, a Prince Henry chassis with down rated engine, for use as staff car
Staff car

A staff car is a vehicle used by a senior military military officer, and is part of their country's white fleet. The term is most often used in relation to the United Kingdom where they were first used in quantity during World War I, examples being the Vauxhall Motors and Crossley Motors....
s for the British forces.

After the 1918 armistice, the D-type remained in production along with the sporting E-type. Pomeroy left in 1919, moving to the United States, and was replaced by C.E. King. In spite of making good cars, the company was struggling to make a consistent profit and Vauxhall looked for a major strategic partner.

GM purchase

In 1925, Vauxhall was bought by GM for US$2.5 million. The influence of the American parent was pervasive and together with the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company is an United States multinational corporation and the world's List of automobile manufacturers#World Motor Vehicle Production by Manufacturer based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen Group....
, Vauxhall's main competitor, led to a wave of American influenced styling in Europe that persisted through to the 1980s. Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles

Bedford was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930 and constructing commercial vehicles....
, a subsidiary constructing commercial vehicles, was established in 1930 as the Stock Market Crash of 1929 had made importing American lorries
Trucks

Trucks may refer to:*The plural of truck*The ground billiards game otherwise known as troco or lawn billiards*The Trucks, a band*Trucks , a band...
 uneconomical.

During World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, car production was suspended to allow Vauxhall to work on the Churchill tank
Churchill tank

The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV was a heavy United Kingdom infantry tank used in the World War II, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles....
, which was designed at Luton
Luton

Luton is a large town in the East of England England, 32 miles north of London. Historically, Luton is within the county of Bedfordshire, and since 1997, the town has been a unitary authority....
 in less than a year, and assembled there (as well as at other sites). Over 5,600 Churchill tanks were built.

Post World War II

After the war, car production resumed but models were designed as a more mass-market product leading to expansion of the company. A manufacturing plant at Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and cargo port in the borough of Ellesmere Port and Neston, Cheshire, England, situated in the south of the Wirral Peninsula on the estuary of the River Mersey, to the north of Chester....
 was built in 1960. During the 1960s Vauxhall acquired a reputation for making rust-prone models, though in this respect most manufacturers were equally bad. The corrosion protection built into models was tightened up significantly, but the reputation dogged the company until the early 1980s.

By the late 1960s, the company was achieving five-figure sales on its most popular models including the entry-level Viva
Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
 and larger Victor
Vauxhall Victor

The Vauxhall Victor is a medium/large model of automobile produced by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors Corporation from 1957 to 1976....
.

1970s and 1980s

Vauxhall's fortunes improved during the 1970s, with an updated version of the Viva continuing to sell in huge volumes.

By 1973, however, the Victor was losing sales in a market that was becoming increasingly dominated by the hugely popular Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina

The Ford Cortina is a mid-sized family car built by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982.The Cortina was Ford's mass-market mid-sized car and sold in enormous numbers, making it common on British roads....
. The Viva was still among the most popular cars in Britain, as a facelift in 1970 stopped the design from becoming too outdated. But this wasn't enough to keep Vauxhall from being well behind market leaders Ford
Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company is an United States multinational corporation and the world's List of automobile manufacturers#World Motor Vehicle Production by Manufacturer based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen Group....
 and British Leyland in the sales charts, and most of its range was struggling even to keep pace with Chrysler UK
Chrysler Europe

In the 1960s, Chrysler Corporation sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford Motor Company's worldwide reach and General Motors Corporation' success with Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden and Bedford Vehicles....
 (formerly the Rootes Group). Vauxhall's sales began to increase in 1975 with the launch of two important new models - the Chevette
Vauxhall Chevette

The Chevette was a model of automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors in the UK from 1975 to 1983. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "General Motors T-car" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Holden Gemini in Australia, the Che...
, a small three-door hatchback that was the first car of its kind to be built in Britain and the Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
, a stylish four-door saloon designed to compete head-to-head with the all-conquering Ford Cortina. By the end of the 1970s, Vauxhall had boosted its market share substantially and was fast closing in on Ford and British Leyland.

At the end of 1979, Vauxhall moved into the modern family hatchback market with its Astra
Vauxhall Astra

Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979....
 range that replaced the ageing Viva. The Astra quickly became popular with buyers, but the 1981 Mk2 Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
 - the first Vauxhall of this size to offer front-wheel drive and a hatchback bodystyle - was the car that really boosted Vauxhall's fortunes. The 1983 Nova supermini (replacement for the Chevette) completed Vauxhall's regeneration, and it soon overtook Austin Rover as Britain's second most popular carmaker. The Astra further strengthened its position in the market with an all-new 1984 model that featured an aerodynamic design reminiscent of Ford's larger Sierra
Ford Sierra

The Ford Sierra is a large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Qu?ment....
. By 1979, Vauxhall had increased its market share substantially, but was still some way behind Ford and British Leyland, even though it had overtaken Talbot
Talbot

Talbot is an automobile brand, whose history is one of the industry's most complex....
 (the successor organisation to Rootes and Chrysler UK
Chrysler Europe

In the 1960s, Chrysler Corporation sought to become a world producer of automobiles. The company had never had much success outside North America, contrasting with Ford Motor Company's worldwide reach and General Motors Corporation' success with Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden and Bedford Vehicles....
).

Vauxhall's most important model of the 1980s was the 1981 Mk2 Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
, which made the transition from rear-wheel drive saloon to front-wheel drive hatchback (though there was still a saloon version available, complemented in 1983 with an estate). For much of its life it was Britain's most popular large family car, vying with the Ford Sierra
Ford Sierra

The Ford Sierra is a large family car built by Ford Europe from 1982 until 1993. It was designed by Uwe Bahnsen, Robert Lutz and Patrick le Qu?ment....
 for top place. The Cavalier was relaunched in 1988, an all-new format which won praise for its sleek looks and much-improved resistance to rust.

Vauxhall refused to rest on its laurels after the turnaround of the early to mid 1980s, and before the decade was over there was more to come. The range-topping Carlton
Vauxhall Carlton

The Vauxhall Carlton is an executive car that was sold by Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom from 1978 to 1994....
 (Opel Omega
Opel Omega

The Opel Omega was an executive car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003. Replacing the Opel Rekord, it was voted European Car of the Year for 1987....
 elsewhere) relaunched in 1986 and was voted European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year

The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of Magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bil?gare ....
, and the Cavalier (Mk3)
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
 entered its third generation in 1988 with an all-new sleek design that further enhanced its popularity. The Calibra coupé followed in 1989, which was officially the most aerodynamic production car in the world on its launch. Most importantly, the latest generation of Vauxhall models had eradicated the image of rusting cars that for so long had put potential buyers off the Vauxhall brand.

By 1989, Vauxhall was on something like equal terms with the Rover Group
Rover Group

Rover Group plc was the name that was given by the British government, in 1986, to the nationalisation vehicle manufacturer British Leyland or BL....
 as Britain's second most popular car brand behind Ford
Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company is an United States multinational corporation and the world's List of automobile manufacturers#World Motor Vehicle Production by Manufacturer based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors, and Volkswagen Group....
.

1990s

In 1993, things were still looking strong for Vauxhall. The Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
 was firmly re-established as Britain's most popular large family car with more than 130,000 sales, while the third generation Astra
Vauxhall Astra

Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979....
 (relaunched in 1991) with 100,000 sales was continuing to narrow the gap between itself and the best-selling Ford Escort
Ford Escort

Over the years, the name 'Ford Escort' has been used for several models.For more information, see:* Ford Squire* Ford Escort * Ford Escort ...
. The decade-old Nova was axed in 1993 in favour of the all-new Corsa; its distinctive styling and practical interior began attracting more sales than its predecessor had done.

In 1994 GM ceased production of Bedford
Bedford Vehicles

Bedford was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930 and constructing commercial vehicles....
 vehicles, which had been Vauxhall's commercial vehicle arm, making successful vans
VANS

VANS can refer to:* Vans, Inc., a skateboarding shoe/apparel company* Value-Added Network Systems* Value-Added Network Services* A Van, large automobile often used for transportation of equipment...
, trucks
Trucks

Trucks may refer to:*The plural of truck*The ground billiards game otherwise known as troco or lawn billiards*The Trucks, a band*Trucks , a band...
 and lorries
Lorry

Lorry may refer to:Transport:* Lorry or truck, a large motor vehicle* Lorry, called a tippler in the UK, an open Gondola #Lorry with a tipping trough...
 since the 1930s. Van production continued at Luton
Luton

Luton is a large town in the East of England England, 32 miles north of London. Historically, Luton is within the county of Bedfordshire, and since 1997, the town has been a unitary authority....
, now under the Vauxhall name.

The Cavalier nameplate was axed in 1995 after 20 years and Vauxhall adopted the Vectra
Opel Vectra

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced primarily by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of GM Europe . In the United Kingdom, it is sold under the Vauxhall Motors marque as Vauxhall Vectra ....
 nameplate for its successor, completing a policy by General Motors
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
 that aligned and identically badged all Vauxhall and Opel models. Vectra received disappointing feedback from the motoring public and several well-known journalists, most notably Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English people Presenter and journalist who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC Television show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May....
. Yet it was still hugely popular, and for a while after the 1999 facelift it was actually more popular that Ford's highly-acclaimed Mondeo
Ford Mondeo

The Ford Mondeo is a large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world. The name "Mondeo" derives from the Latin word mundus, meaning "world"....
. The Astra entered its fourth generation in 1998, and offered levels of build quality and handling that bettered all of its predecessors.

It was around this time that Vauxhall was being heavily criticised in several high profile car surveys. In 1998, a Top Gear
Top Gear (original format)

Top Gear was a car-based BBC television series produced by BBC Birmingham, broadcast from 1977 to 2001. It consisted of 30-minute magazine format programmes presented by a number of people, including Angela Rippon, Noel Edmonds, William Woollard, and latterly Jeremy Clarkson....
 customer satisfaction survey condemned the Vauxhall Vectra
Opel Vectra

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced primarily by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of GM Europe . In the United Kingdom, it is sold under the Vauxhall Motors marque as Vauxhall Vectra ....
 as the least satisfying car to own in Britain. A year later, as a brand Vauxhall was slated as the least satisfying make of car by the same magazine's customer satisfaction survey. Its model range came in for heavy criticism for breakdowns, build quality problems and many other maladies which meant that quality did not reflect sales success. Despite this, Vauxhall was competing strongly in the sales charts and by 1999 was closer to Ford in terms of sales figures than it had been in years.

21st century

The first years of the 21st century saw Vauxhall further strengthen its position in the British market, and continue to narrow the gap with Ford. The Corsa was regenerated in 2000 and offered a better-handling, better-built and better-equipped package than ever before.

2002 was one of the best years ever for Vauxhall sales in the UK. The updated Corsa
Opel Corsa

The Opel Corsa is a supermini car that has been produced by General Motors Corporation European subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety of other brands , and also spawned various derivatives in different markets, all of which are listed in appropriate sections below....
 (launched in 2000) was Britain's second most popular new car, and gave the marque top spot in the British supermini car sales charts for the very first time. The Astra was Britain's third best selling car that year, while the Vectra and the Zafira (a Compact MPV
Compact MPV

A Compact MPV is a car classification used in Europe to describe multi-purpose vehicle versions of small family cars , fitting between the mini MPV and large MPV sub-segments....
 launched in 1999) lurked just outside the top ten with relatively strong sales.

The Vectra entered its second generation in 2002 and was further improved over earlier Vectras, but was still hardly a class-leader and now had to be content with lower sales due to a fall in popularity of D-sector cars; although a facelift in 2005 sparked a rise in sales.

Perhaps the most important Vauxhall product of the 2000s so far is the fifth generation Astra
Vauxhall Astra

Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979....
, launched in early 2004 and praised by the motoring press for its dramatic styling which was a world of difference from the relatively bland previous Astra. It was an instant hit with British buyers and was the nation's second best selling car in 2005 and 2006, giving the all-conquering Ford Focus
Ford Focus (international)

The Ford Focus is a small family car made by Ford Motor Company and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. It was launched in 1998 in Europe and 2002 in Australia....
 its strongest competitor yet. The second generation Vectra went on sale during 2002 but has not sold as strongly as its predecessor. Its successor is due in 2008 and will give Vauxhall a fresh new competitor in a sector which has shrunk considerably in Britain over the last few years.

The second generation Corsa had been Britain's most popular supermini for most of its production life, but by 2006 it had started to fall behind the best of its competitors, so an all-new model was launched. This Corsa was far better than either of the previous Corsas, and it was an instant hit with buyers.

In 2006, the second generation Zafira was Britain's 10th best selling car. It was the first time that an MPV had featured in the Top 10 best-selling cars in Britain.

Opel/Holden relationship

From the 1970s, most models were based on models made by Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
 in Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
. The Chevette
Vauxhall Chevette

The Chevette was a model of automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors in the UK from 1975 to 1983. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "General Motors T-car" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Holden Gemini in Australia, the Che...
, Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
 and Carlton
Vauxhall Carlton

The Vauxhall Carlton is an executive car that was sold by Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom from 1978 to 1994....
 were basically restyled versions of the Kadett
Opel Kadett

The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta Motor Corporation in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999....
, Ascona
Opel Ascona

The Opel Ascona was a mid-size car automobile produced by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. It had three generations produced from 1970 to 1988....
 and Rekord
Opel Rekord

The Opel Rekord is a family car which was built in several generations by the Germany automaker Opel, latterly a subsidiary of General Motors....
, featuring a distinctive sloping front end, nicknamed the "droopsnoot", first prototyped on the HPF Firenza
Vauxhall Firenza

The Firenza was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors between 1971 and 1975. It was a development of the Vauxhall Viva, but had a distinctive coupe body style and only two doors....
. The Viceroy and Royale were simply rebadged
Badge engineering

Badge engineering is a term that describes the badge of one product as another. Due to the high cost of designing and engineering a totally new model, or establishing a new brand , it is often more cost-effective to rebadge a single product multiple times....
 versions of Opel's Commodore
Opel Commodore

The Opel Commodore was an executive car produced by General Motors Germany subsidiary Opel. It is the six-cylinder variant of the Opel Rekord with styling differences....
 and Senator
Opel Senator

The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by the Germany General Motors subsidiary, Opel, from 1978 until 1994....
, imported from Germany.

This was the starting point for the "Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
isation" of Vauxhall. With the 1979 demise of the Viva
Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
, GM policy was for future Vauxhall models to be, in effect, rebadged Opels, designed and developed in Rüsselsheim
Rüsselsheim

R?sselsheim is the largest town in the Gro?-Gerau in the Frankfurt Rhine Main Area of Germany. It is one of seven special status towns in Hesse and is located on the Main, only a few kilometres from its mouth in Mainz....
, with little engineering input from Luton. In the late '70s and early '80s, GM dealers in the UK
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland

Ireland is an Island country in north-western Europe. The modern Sovereignty state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned by the British on 3 May 1921....
 sold otherwise identical Opel and Vauxhall models alongside each other. This policy of duplication was phased out, beginning with the demise of Opel dealerships in the UK in 1981. The last Opel car (the Manta coupe) to be "officially" sold in Britain was withdrawn in 1988.

Similarly, the Vauxhall brand was dropped by GM in Ireland
Republic of Ireland

Ireland is an Island country in north-western Europe. The modern Sovereignty state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned by the British on 3 May 1921....
 in favour of Opel in 1982, with other right hand drive markets like Malta
Malta

Malta , officially the Republic of Malta , is a densely populated developed country European microstates microstate in the European Union....
 and Cyprus
Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is an island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, west of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, south of Turkey and north of Egypt....
 soon following suit. In New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
, the brand was withdrawn after the demise of the Chevette. Many new Opel-badged cars have been privately imported into the UK from Ireland, and other EU countries, while many Vauxhalls have been imported second hand into the Republic.

GM Europe
GM Europe

General Motors Europe is responsible for the operation of General Motors businesses in Europe. The division was established by GM in 1986 and operates 11 production and assembly facilities in 8 countries, and employs around 64,500 people....
 then began to standardise model names across both brands in the early 1990s. The Vauxhall Astra and Opel Kadett, for example, were both called Astra from 1991 onwards; the Vauxhall Cavalier and Opel Vectra were both called Vectra from 1995 etc. With the exception of the VX220, sold by Opel as the Speedster, all of Vauxhall's models now have the same names as those of Opel.

Since 1994, Vauxhall models differ from Opels in their distinctive grille featuring a "V", incorporating the Vauxhall badge. This has also been used by Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
 in New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
, by Chevrolet
Chevrolet

Chevrolet is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors . It is the top selling GM marque, with "Chevrolet" or "Chevy" being at times synonymous with GM....
 in Brazil
Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
 on the mkI Chevrolet Astra (mk.I Opel Astra) and on the India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
n version of the Opel Astra. The "V" badging is an echo of the fluted V-shaped bonnets that have been used in some form on all Vauxhall cars since the very first. The "V" grille is not however used on the Vectra-replacing Insignia
Opel Insignia

The Opel Insignia is a large family car produced by GM Europe German Division "Opel" since 2008, replacing the Opel Vectra. It was launched at the 2008 British International Motor Show....
, unveiled in 2008.

A model unique to the Vauxhall range is the high performance Monaro coupe, which is sourced from and designed by Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
 in Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
. Although this model is also produced in left hand drive (LHD) for markets like the U.S.
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 (known as the Pontiac GTO
Pontiac GTO

The Pontiac GTO is an automobile built by Pontiac in the United States from 1964 to 1974, and by Holden in Australia from 2004 to 2006. It is often considered the first true muscle car....
) and in the Middle East
Middle East

File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
 and South Africa
South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
 (known as the Chevrolet Lumina
Holden Monaro

The Monaro is an automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors Corporation from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced onto the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2001....
), the model is not currently offered by Opel in mainland Europe. Imports of this vehicle are limited to 15,000 to avoid additional safety testing. A future vehicle that Opel has not confirmed but Vauxhall has is the Holden Commodore SSV and the HSV GTS. The SSV has a GM 6.0 L98 V8 and the HSV uses the high performance GM 6.0 LS2 V8. Both are on the new GM Zeta platform which will underpin many future full-size GM vehicles. Vauxhall confirmed the import of the HSV just after the reborn Opel GT
Opel GT

The Opel GT is a two-seat sports car introduced in 1968 by Opel, a Germany subsidiary of General Motors. It relied partly on components from the contemporary Opel Kadett and had a body made by France contractor Brissonneau & Lotz....
 roadster was announced as not being imported into the UK. Vauxhall claim the Vauxhall Commodore and HSV will replace the Monaro and be far more aggressively styled than the HSV and have several defining Vauxhall features.

The bodywork for the Holden Camira
Holden Camira

The Holden Camira was a mid-size car produced by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors between 1982 and 1989. It was Holden's version of GM's GM J platform family of cars?GM's third "global" Automobile platform....
 estate was used for the Vauxhall Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
 estate in the UK (though not for the identical Opel Ascona
Opel Ascona

The Opel Ascona was a mid-size car automobile produced by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. It had three generations produced from 1970 to 1988....
 in the rest of Europe) - conversely the rear bodywork of the T-car Vauxhall Chevette
Vauxhall Chevette

The Chevette was a model of automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors in the UK from 1975 to 1983. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "General Motors T-car" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Holden Gemini in Australia, the Che...
 estate and Bedford Chevanne
Bedford Chevanne

The Bedford Chevanne was a small commercial vehicle produced by General Motors and built in the United Kingdom. It was based on the GM T platform Vauxhall Chevette stationwagon, however unlike the Chevette it had a flat rear floor, no rear seats and panels in place of the side windows....
 van was used for the respective Holden Gemini
Holden Gemini

The Holden Gemini was a small car built and sold by GM-Holden from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Isuzu Gemini which was one of the many cars based on the GM T platform....
 versions. Vauxhall's compact car, the Viva
Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
, formed the basis of the first Holden Torana
Holden Torana

The Holden Torana was a car produced by Holden , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors . The name comes from an Indigenous Australian languages word meaning "to fly"....
 in Australia in the 1960s.

Many cars badged as Opels, even LHD models, are produced by Vauxhall for export. Vauxhall has built some Holdens for export, too, notably Vectra-As to New Zealand and Astra-Bs to both Australia and New Zealand.

Closures and restructuring

Vauxhall announced on the 12th December 2000, that the Luton car plant would close in 2002, with the final vehicle being made in March 2002, but production still continues at the plant in Ellesmere Port. Manufacture of van
Van

A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people. It is usually a box-shaped vehicle on four wheels, about the same width and length as a large automobile, but taller and usually higher off the ground, also referred to as a light commercial vehicle or LCV....
s (sold under the Vauxhall, Opel and in some cases Renault
Renault

Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. Due to its alliance with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., it is currently the world's 4th largest automaker.It owns the Romanian automaker Dacia and the Korean automaker Renault Samsung Motors....
 badges throughout Europe) continues at the IBC Vehicles plant in Luton.

On 17 May 2006, Vauxhall announced the loss of 900 jobs from Ellesmere Port's 3,000 staff. Despite already meeting efficiency targets, Vauxhall has been told to further improve productivity. Vauxhall's troubled parent GM is cutting 30,000 jobs in the United States.

VXRacing

See also: VXR
VXR

VXR is the branding for the high-performance trim specification, for models in many of Vauxhall Motors's car range in the United Kingdom. It replaces the GSi branding which was previously used on top-end high-performance models....


The VXR
VXR

VXR is the branding for the high-performance trim specification, for models in many of Vauxhall Motors's car range in the United Kingdom. It replaces the GSi branding which was previously used on top-end high-performance models....
 range is analogous to the OPC range made by Opel Performance Center
Opel Performance Center

The Opel Performance Center is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation German Opel subsidiary, founded in 1997 to oversee Opel's motorsports activities and develop performance versions of Opel vehicles....
, the HSV range made by Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
 and the SS range made by Latin America
Latin America

Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages ? particularly Spanish language and Portuguese language, and variably French language ? are primarily spoken....
 Chevrolet
Chevrolet

Chevrolet is a brand of automobile, produced by General Motors . It is the top selling GM marque, with "Chevrolet" or "Chevy" being at times synonymous with GM....
. The models include the Corsa VXR
Opel Corsa

The Opel Corsa is a supermini car that has been produced by General Motors Corporation European subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety of other brands , and also spawned various derivatives in different markets, all of which are listed in appropriate sections below....
, Astra VXR
Opel Astra

The Opel Astra is a small family car designed and manufactured by Opel, the European subsidiary of General Motors.It is branded as an Opel in continental Europe, the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and South Africa, as Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom, as Holden in Australasia, as Chevrolet in Latin America a...
, Vectra VXR
Opel Vectra

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced primarily by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of GM Europe . In the United Kingdom, it is sold under the Vauxhall Motors marque as Vauxhall Vectra ....
, Meriva VXR
Opel Meriva

The Opel Meriva is a mini MPV based on the platform of the third generation Opel Corsa and sold under that name on all of the European markets with the exception of the United Kingdom, where it is called the Vauxhall Meriva....
, Zafira VXR
Opel Zafira

The Opel Zafira is a compact MPV produced by KPK and Opel, a General Motors subsidiary. The Zafira is branded as Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden and Chevrolet, depending on the market....
, VXR8
HSV Clubsport

The HSV Clubsport is a full-size car produced by Holden Special Vehicles in Australia since 1990. The car has also been sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall VXR8 since July 2007, and in 2008 began being sold in the Middle East as the CSV CR8 by Chevrolet Special Vehicles....
, VX220
Vauxhall VX220

The Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 was a United Kingdom-built mid engined, Targa top, 2-seater sports car introduced in the summer of 2000.It was built for GM Europe in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England....
 (no longer in production), and the Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
n-built Holden Monaro
Holden Monaro

The Monaro is an automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors Corporation from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced onto the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2001....
 (also no longer in production). These vehicles are high performance machines and are ideally aimed for younger buyers. Vauxhall unveiled a new model based on the Australian Holden Maloo at the 2005 NEC
National Exhibition Centre

The National Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre in Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, near Birmingham, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station....
 motor show in Birmingham
Birmingham

Birmingham is a city status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. Birmingham is the most populous of England's English Core Cities Group, and is the List of United Kingdom cities by population British city after London, with a population of 1,010,200 ....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
. It was claimed that the monstrous V8 Ute could do about which is incredibly fast for a utility vehicle
Utility vehicle

Utility vehicle is used to describe a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed for a specific task....
. Sadly, the model never got to the showroom in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
. The Monaro is also no longer made, but a new version (a four door saloon) is now on sale called the VXR8. The VXR8 is based on Australia's Holden HSV Clubsport R8. This car does 0-60 in 5 seconds, in similar territory to other muscle car contemporaries such as the Dodge Viper (SRT-10)
Dodge Viper

The Dodge Viper is a V10 engine-powered sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. Production of the two seat sports car began at New Mack Assembly in 1992 and moved to its current home at Conner Avenue Assembly in October 1995....
 and Corvette Z06
Corvette Z06

Corvette Z06 refers to a high-performance version of the Chevrolet Corvette.There are two iterations of the Z06:*Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 - Based on the C5 Platform from 2001 - 2004...
 and marginally slower than Fords FG F6 Falcon. The VXR badge is a symbol of the combined technological resources of the global General Motors
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
 group and the recognised expertise of consultants Lotus
Lotus Cars

File:Final assembly.jpgLotus Cars is a United Kingdom manufacturer of sports car and race car automobiles based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and high Car handling characteristics....
 and the Triple Eight Racing Team.

Origins of the name and the logo

The griffin
Griffin

The griffin is a fantasy creature with the body of a lion and the head and often wings of an eagle. As the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle the king of the birds, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature....
 emblem, which is still in use, is derived from the coat of arms
Coat of arms

A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways....
 of Faulke de Breaute, a mercenary
Mercenary

A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict, who is not a national or a party to the conflict, and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or p...
 soldier who was granted the Manor of Luton for services to King John
John of England

John reigned as List of English monarchs from 6 April 1199, until his death. He succeeded to the throne as the younger brother of King Richard I of England, who died without issue....
 in the thirteenth century. By marriage, he also gained the rights to an area near London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, south of the Thames. The house he built, Fulk's Hall, became known in time as Vauxhall. Vauxhall Iron Works adopted this emblem from the coat of arms to emphasise its links to the local area. When Vauxhall Iron Works moved to Luton in 1905, the griffin emblem coincidentally returned to its ancestral home.

The logo as pictured used to be square, but it is now circular, to enable it to fit in the same recess designed for the circular Opel emblem. Since the 1920s the griffin has been redesigned and released 9 times. 2008 saw the release of a revised version of the 2005 logo. Bill Parfitt, Vauxhall’s Managing Director, said, "While the new-look Griffin pays homage to our 100 year-plus manufacturing heritage in the UK, it also encapsulates Vauxhall’s fresh design philosophy, first showcased in the current Astra, and set to continue with Insignia."

Sponsorship

Vauxhall sponsored the Football Conference
Football Conference

The Football Conference is a association football league in Football in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South....
, the highest non-league division of English football
Football in England

Association football is the national sport in England and plays a significant role in English culture....
, from 1986 until 1998. It took over from Gola
Gola

Gola may refer to:*Gola , a British sporting goods manufacturer*Tom Gola, an American basketball player*G?l?, a Swiss rock musician*Gola, Nepal...
 and remained in association with the league for 12 years before ending its backing and being replaced by Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide Building Society is the largest building society in the world. It has its headquarters in Swindon, England, and maintains a significant administration centre in Northampton....
.

List of vehicles


Cars

  • 10-4
    Vauxhall 10-4

    image=|name=Vauxhall Ten|manufacturer=Vauxhall Motors|assembly=Luton|production=1937 - 19401946 - 1947|predecessor=|successor=|body_style=4-door sedan ...
     (1937–1947)
  • 12-4 (1937–1946)
  • 14-6 (1939–1948)
  • 14 and 14/40 (1922–1927)
  • 20/60 (1927–1930)
  • 23/60 (1922–1926)
  • 25 (1937–1940)
  • 25/70 (1926–1928)
  • 30/98 E-type (1913–1922)
  • A-type (1911–1914)
  • B-type
    Vauxhall Prince Henry

    The Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1913. It had a length of around and a weight of depending on the coachwork fitted....
     (1911–1914)
  • C-type "Prince Henry"
    Vauxhall Prince Henry

    The Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1913. It had a length of around and a weight of depending on the coachwork fitted....
     (1911–1913)
  • D-type
    Vauxhall Prince Henry

    The Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1913. It had a length of around and a weight of depending on the coachwork fitted....
     (1912–1922)
  • Agila
    Opel Agila

    The Opel Agila is a city car produced by German automaker Opel since 2000. It is badged as a Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom and as a Suzuki in many markets....
     (2000-present)
  • Albany
  • Astra
    Opel Astra

    The Opel Astra is a small family car designed and manufactured by Opel, the European subsidiary of General Motors.It is branded as an Opel in continental Europe, the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and South Africa, as Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom, as Holden in Australasia, as Chevrolet in Latin America a...
     (1980-present)
  • Belmont
    Vauxhall Belmont

    The Belmont was a sedan car sold in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation between 1984 and 1991....
     (1986-1991)
  • Cadet (1931-1933)
  • Calibra
    Opel Calibra

    The Opel Calibra also known as the Chevrolet Calibra in South America, the Holden Calibra in Australia and New Zealand, and the Vauxhall Calibra in the United Kingdom is a sports car produced by Germany automaker Opel between 1989 and 1997....
     (1990-1997)
  • Carlton
    Opel Omega

    The Opel Omega was an executive car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003. Replacing the Opel Rekord, it was voted European Car of the Year for 1987....
     (1978–1994)
  • Cavalier
    Vauxhall Cavalier

    The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
     (1975–1995)
  • Chevette
    Vauxhall Chevette

    The Chevette was a model of automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors in the UK from 1975 to 1983. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "General Motors T-car" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Holden Gemini in Australia, the Che...
     (1975–1984)
  • Corsa
    Opel Corsa

    The Opel Corsa is a supermini car that has been produced by General Motors Corporation European subsidiary Opel since 1982 and has also been sold under a variety of other brands , and also spawned various derivatives in different markets, all of which are listed in appropriate sections below....
     (1993-present)
  • Cresta
    Vauxhall Cresta

    The Vauxhall Cresta is a British car first introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox . When the Wyvern was replaced in 1957 the new larger car took the Cresta name....
     (1954–1972)
  • Envoy (1960-1970) see Victor
  • Epic (1963-1970) see Viva
  • Equus (1978 concept)
  • Firenza
    Vauxhall Firenza

    The Firenza was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors between 1971 and 1975. It was a development of the Vauxhall Viva, but had a distinctive coupe body style and only two doors....
     (1970–1975)
  • Frontera (1991–2004, rebadged Isuzu MU Wizard
    Isuzu MU Wizard

    The Isuzu MU Wizard was a compact SUV made by Japan-based manufacturer Isuzu. The MU Wizard was introduced in 1990 as a 1991 model, and it ceased production in 2004....
    )
  • Insignia (2008-present)
  • Magnum
    Vauxhall Magnum

    The Magnum was a automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1973 to 1978. It was an HC Vauxhall Viva with larger engines, more luxurious interior, vinyl roof, higher trim level and twin headlights....
     (1973-1978)
  • Monaro
    Holden Monaro

    The Monaro is an automobile which was produced by Holden, the Australian branch of General Motors Corporation from 1968 to 1977 and then re-introduced onto the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2001....
     (2001–2005)
  • Monterey (1994–1999, rebadged Isuzu Trooper)
  • Meriva
    Opel Meriva

    The Opel Meriva is a mini MPV based on the platform of the third generation Opel Corsa and sold under that name on all of the European markets with the exception of the United Kingdom, where it is called the Vauxhall Meriva....
     (2002-present)
  • Nova (1983-1993)
  • Omega
    Opel Omega

    The Opel Omega was an executive car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003. Replacing the Opel Rekord, it was voted European Car of the Year for 1987....
     (1994-2003)
  • Royale (1978-1986), rebadged Opel Senator
    Opel Senator

    The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by the Germany General Motors subsidiary, Opel, from 1978 until 1994....
  • Senator (1978-1994)
  • Signum
    Opel Signum

    The Opel Signum is a large family car manufactured by General Motors in Germany since 2003. It is almost exclusively sold in Europe, in the United Kingdom under the Vauxhall Signum nameplate....
     (2003-2008)
  • Silver Aero (1983 concept)
  • Silver Bullet (1976 concept)
  • Six (1933–1938)
  • SRV
    Vauxhall SRV

    The Vauxhall SRV was a 1970 concept vehicle designed by Wayne Cherry for Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom. Never intended for production, the car was an attempt to raise Vauxhall's profile and image, while providing a platform for researching some unusual design concepts....
     (1970 concept)
  • T and T80 (1930–1932)
  • Tigra
    Opel Tigra

    The Opel Tigra is a small coupe produced by Opel based on its Opel Corsa Supermini car. It was originally available as a small coup?, produced from 1994 to 2000, with a new roadster model introduced in 2004....
     (1994-present)
  • Vectra
    Opel Vectra

    The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced primarily by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of GM Europe . In the United Kingdom, it is sold under the Vauxhall Motors marque as Vauxhall Vectra ....
     (1995-present)
  • Trixx (Not yet released)
  • Velox
    Vauxhall Velox

    The Vauxhall Velox is a mid-size Straight-6 Sedan . By the time production ended, in 1965, it had evolved into a large family car, competing in the UK with the contemporary six cylinder Ford Zephyr....
     (1948–1965)
  • Ventora (1968–1972)
  • Viceroy (1978-1982), rebadged Opel Commodore
    Opel Commodore

    The Opel Commodore was an executive car produced by General Motors Germany subsidiary Opel. It is the six-cylinder variant of the Opel Rekord with styling differences....
  • Victor
    Vauxhall Victor

    The Vauxhall Victor is a medium/large model of automobile produced by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors Corporation from 1957 to 1976....
     (1957–1972)
  • Viscount (1966–1972)
  • Viva
    Vauxhall Viva

    The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
     (1963–1979)
  • VX220
    Vauxhall VX220

    The Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 was a United Kingdom-built mid engined, Targa top, 2-seater sports car introduced in the summer of 2000.It was built for GM Europe in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England....
     (2001-2005)
  • VX4/90 (1961–1972)
  • VX Lightning (limited edition VX220)
  • Wyvern
    Vauxhall Wyvern

    The Wyvern is a medium sized family saloon introduced by Vauxhall Motors in 1948 as a successor to the Vauxhall 12. The name comes from the mythical beast the Wyvern and may be due to a mis-identity of the heraldic Griffin on the Vauxhall badge....
     (1948–1957)
  • Zafira
    Opel Zafira

    The Opel Zafira is a compact MPV produced by KPK and Opel, a General Motors subsidiary. The Zafira is branded as Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden and Chevrolet, depending on the market....
     (1999-present)
  • Vauxhall VXR8 (2007-present)
  • Vauxhall Insignia (2008-present)


Vans

  • Bedford Beagle
    Bedford Beagle

    The Bedford Beagle was an estate car conversion of the Bedford Vehicles HA 8Hundredweight van, which itself was based on the Vauxhall Viva HA. The conversions were undertaken by Martin Walter Ltd....
     (1964–1973)
  • Bedford Astramax (1984-1992)
  • Bedford Rascal
    Bedford Rascal

    The Bedford Rascal is a microvan of the Bedford Vehicles brand, based on an existing Japanese Suzuki vehicle, the Suzuki Carry. It was sold as the Vauxhall Motors Rascal after 1990, and as the Holden Scurry in Australia between 1985 and 1986....
     (1986–1993, rebadged Suzuki Supercarry)
  • Bedford CF Van
  • Bedford Midi
    Bedford Midi

    The Bedford Midi was a medium sized panel van produced between 1985 and 1994 by the General Motors-owned Vauxhall Motors motor company. designed very much in the mould of contemporary Japanese vehicle of the time, it featured an underfloor engine of Isuzu origin, in either petrol or diesel versions....
  • Bedford Dormobile
    Bedford Dormobile

    The Bedford vehicles Dormobile is a 1960s-era campervan conversion based on the Bedford CA van, and subsequently on the Bedford CF.It was manufactured in Folkestone in Kent, southern England, by Martin Walter....
  • Sintra (1997-1999, rebadged Chevy Venture)
  • Arena (1997-2000, rebadged Renault Trafic
    Renault Trafic

    Renault Trafic is the name used by Renault for recent generations of its light vans....
    )
  • Combo
    Opel Combo

    The Combo is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle from General Motors Corporation, which is branded as Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden and Chevrolet, depending on the market....
     (1999-present)
  • Movano (1999-present)
  • Vivaro
    Opel Vivaro

    The Opel Vivaro – sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Vivaro – is a medium-sized light commercial vehicle originally launched in 2001, and is available in panel van, minibus, combined bus/van and platform-cab configurations....
     (2001-present)


Timeline

1903 Vauxhall car company created in London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 and named after the residential area in which it was formed
Vauxhall

Vauxhall is an inner city area of South London in the London Borough of Lambeth.It has also given its name to the Vauxhall , which also includes parts of Brixton and Clapham...
. Its first production car goes on sale, without having a reverse gear!

1905 Vauxhall builds a factory at Luton
Luton

Luton is a large town in the East of England England, 32 miles north of London. Historically, Luton is within the county of Bedfordshire, and since 1997, the town has been a unitary authority....
 where, from 1907, most of its vehicle production will be completed.

1925 Vauxhall becomes part of the American automotive combine General Motors
General Motors

General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
.

1930 Bedford Vehicles - the commercial vehicle arm of Vauxhall - is founded.

1960 Vauxhall builds a new factory at Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and cargo port in the borough of Ellesmere Port and Neston, Cheshire, England, situated in the south of the Wirral Peninsula on the estuary of the River Mersey, to the north of Chester....
.

1963 Production of the Vauxhall Viva
Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
 small family car commences, with the new car being aimed at the likes of the Ford Anglia
Ford Anglia

The Ford Anglia was a British car from Ford of Britain in the United Kingdom. It was related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular. The Ford Anglia name was applied to four models of car between 1939 and 1967....
 and Morris Minor
Morris Minor

The Morris Minor was a popular British motor car aimed at the family market. It was the work of a team led by Alec Issigonis, who would go on to design the successful Mini....
. The German
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 version of the car will be sold as the Opel Kadett
Opel Kadett

The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta Motor Corporation in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999....
. The locally assembled Vauxhall Viva will be launched in Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 in May 1964.

1966 Vauxhall's Slant Four
Slant Four

for the similarly named engine made by Triumph, see Triumph Slant-4 engineThe Slant Four is a type of automobile engine manufactured by Vauxhall Motors and in modified form by Lotus Cars....
 goes into production - the first production overhead cam four cylinder engine to use a rubber timing belt. Also the FD Victor is launched at the Earls Court Motor Show, considered by many to be one of Vauxhall's finest all-British styling efforts.

1970 The HC Viva is launched, which went on to become Vauxhall's best-selling car of the decade.

1973 The Vauxhall Firenza
Vauxhall Firenza

The Firenza was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors between 1971 and 1975. It was a development of the Vauxhall Viva, but had a distinctive coupe body style and only two doors....
 "Droopsnoot" is unveiled at the Earls Court Motor Show, introducing the public to Vauxhall's new aerodynamic look for all of its subsequent 1970s models.

1974 Vauxhall moves into the mini-car sector with the introduction of its Chevette
Vauxhall Chevette

The Chevette was a model of automobile manufactured by Vauxhall Motors in the UK from 1975 to 1983. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "General Motors T-car" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Holden Gemini in Australia, the Che...
, a rear-wheel drive range of hatchbacks, saloons and estates. It is the first hatchback Vauxhall ever made, and in Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 it will succeed the Viva-based
Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
 version of the Opel Kadett.

1975 Vauxhall launches a new entrant in the large family car market in the shape of the Cavalier
Vauxhall Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation , from 1975 to 1995....
, an ultramodern range of rear-wheel drive saloons and a "Sporthatch" Coupe. It is a restyled version of Germany's
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Opel Ascona
Opel Ascona

The Opel Ascona was a mid-size car automobile produced by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of General Motors Corporation. It had three generations produced from 1970 to 1988....
.

1978 Vauxhall strengthens its position in the executive car market with the launch of its all-new Carlton
Vauxhall Carlton

The Vauxhall Carlton is an executive car that was sold by Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom from 1978 to 1994....
 saloon and estate, which are re-badged versions of the German
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Opel Rekord
Opel Rekord

The Opel Rekord is a family car which was built in several generations by the Germany automaker Opel, latterly a subsidiary of General Motors....
.

1979 Vauxhall Viva production ends after 16 years and the car's successor is the Astra
Vauxhall Astra

Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979....
 - Vauxhall's first front-wheel drive car, which comes as a hatchback or an estate. Being identical to the German-built Opel Kadett
Opel Kadett

The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta Motor Corporation in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999....
, all Vauxhalls are now identical to Opels.

1981 The second generation Vauxhall Cavalier is launched, with front-wheel drive, but is pipped to the European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year

The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of Magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bil?gare ....
 award by the Renault 9.

1982 Vauxhall announces the launch of the Nova supermini, which will eventually replace the Chevette. It is available as a hatchback or a saloon.

1983 Production begins of the Vauxhall Cavalier Estate, which is produced in Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 alongside the Holden
Holden

GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
 range.

1984 The aerodynamically-styled Vauxhall Astra MK2 becomes the first Vauxhall car to be elected European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year

The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of Magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bil?gare ....
. Sales also begin of the Senator executive saloon, an upmarket version of the Carlton that is the first Vauxhall to share its nameplate with Opels.

1985 Vauxhall launches the Belmont
Vauxhall Belmont

The Belmont was a sedan car sold in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors Corporation between 1984 and 1991....
 - a saloon version of the Astra which offers more interior space and is almost as big as a Cavalier.

1986 Vauxhall wins another "European Car of the Year" award with its all-new Vauxhall Carlton
Opel Omega

The Opel Omega was an executive car produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003. Replacing the Opel Rekord, it was voted European Car of the Year for 1987....
 (badged Opel Omega on the continent).

1988 The Vauxhall Cavalier MK3 goes on sale across Britain but will be sold as the Opel Vectra
Opel Vectra

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced primarily by Opel, the Germany subsidiary of GM Europe . In the United Kingdom, it is sold under the Vauxhall Motors marque as Vauxhall Vectra ....
 in Ireland
Ireland

Ireland is the List of islands by area in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islet....
 and mainland Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
.

1989 The Cavalier chassis spawns the Calibra coupe, which is officially the most aerodynamic production car in the world. Production also begins of the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton (Opel Lotus Omega on the continent) which at is the fastest Vauxhall ever made and also the fastest four-door Vauxhall of all time.

1991 The third generation Vauxhall Astra goes on sale with Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
 versions adopting the Astra nameplate for the first time. The saloon version will be badged Astra rather than Belmont. The Frontera goes into production as Vauxhall's first four-wheel drive model.

1992 Vauxhall Nova production ends after 10 years and the all-new replacement adopts the European Corsa nameplate.

1994 The Vauxhall Carlton nameplate is abandoned after 16 years and Omega takes its place. Vauxhall also adds another vehicle to its four-wheel drive line-up in the shape of the Isuzu-based
Isuzu

, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks....
 Monterey.

1995 Vauxhall joins the expanding "compact coupe" market with its new Corsa-based Tigra sports model. Cavalier production ends after 20 years with its successor wearing the Vectra nameplate.

1997 Vauxhall announces the end of Calibra production after eight years.

1998 The fourth generation Vauxhall Astra is launched, winning plaudits for its much improved ride and handling. Its chassis spawns a seven-seater "compact MPV" - the Zafira. The Vauxhall Monterey is withdrawn from sale in the UK, though it continues to sell in the rest of Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
 as an Opel
Opel

Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
.

1999 Vauxhall facelifts the Vectra to include 2,500 improvements that bolster its previously disappointing ride and handling.

2000 Vauxhall enters the sports car market with the Lotus-based
Lotus Cars

File:Final assembly.jpgLotus Cars is a United Kingdom manufacturer of sports car and race car automobiles based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and high Car handling characteristics....
 VX220
Vauxhall VX220

The Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 was a United Kingdom-built mid engined, Targa top, 2-seater sports car introduced in the summer of 2000.It was built for GM Europe in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England....
 roadster. It re-enters the coupe market with the Astra Coupe. The new Agila city car and Corsa supermini also go on sale.

2002 The all-new Vectra goes on sale, alongside a large hatchback badged as the Signum.

2003 Vauxhall Omega production ends after nine years with no direct replacement, as does the Vauxhall Frontera after 12 years.

2004 The fifth generation Vauxhall Astra goes on sale and also spawns a new version of the Zafira as well as a TwinTop Astra which doubles as a coupe and convertible.

2005 The Vauxhall Vectra gets a facelift, receiving a new front-end design in line with the current Vauxhall/Opel design phase and a new engine.

2006 The third generation Vauxhall Corsa goes on sale and narrowly misses out on the European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year

The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of Magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bil?gare ....
 award.

2007
  • Vauxhall's new 4x4 the Vauxhall Antara is set to be released in the July of the year
  • Vauxhall's powerful vxr8 that comes with .


2008
  • Vauxhall begins rebranding with a modified coroprate logo, no car sports the new badge until the launch of the Insignia, models will only change over as they are updated.
  • Vauxhall Insignia is launched at the London Motor Show, replacing the Vectra.
  • Vauxhall launch new agila city car.


2009
  • Vauxhall Astra
    Vauxhall Astra

    Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall Motors, the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979....
     is to get a facelift


2010
  • New Vauxhall Combo light van expected


See also

  • General Motors
    General Motors

    General Motors Corporation , founded in 1908, is the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota, ranked by 2008 global unit sales. GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2008....
  • GM Europe
    GM Europe

    General Motors Europe is responsible for the operation of General Motors businesses in Europe. The division was established by GM in 1986 and operates 11 production and assembly facilities in 8 countries, and employs around 64,500 people....
  • Bedford
    Bedford Vehicles

    Bedford was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the United Kingdom subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930 and constructing commercial vehicles....
  • Holden Special Vehicles
    Holden Special Vehicles

    Holden Special Vehicles, abbreviated HSV is the officially designated performance vehicle division of Australian motor automobile manufacturer Holden....
  • Holden
    Holden

    GM Holden Ltd is an Australian Automotive industry based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was originally independent, but since 1931 has been a subsidiary of General Motors ....
  • Opel
    Opel

    Adam Opel Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung is a Germany automaker, part of General Motors.The company was founded on 21 January, 1863, and began making automobiles in 1899....
  • Opel Performance Center
    Opel Performance Center

    The Opel Performance Center is a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation German Opel subsidiary, founded in 1997 to oversee Opel's motorsports activities and develop performance versions of Opel vehicles....
  • Irmscher
    Irmscher

    Irmscher Automobilbau GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft is a Germany automobile car tuning and Manufacturing company specialising in Opel cars....
  • Wayne Cherry
    Wayne Cherry

    Wayne K Cherry is a noted United States-born car designer is responsible for the conversion of Opel-style lines into the British Vauxhall or American counterparts for General Motors Corporation....
     - Vauxhall's (and later GM's) head of design, responsible for most Vauxhall/Opel designs since 1970
  • Gerry Marshall
    Gerry Marshall

    Gerry Marshall was a United Kingdom saloon car racing driver, was considered by many to be one of the best drivers of all time according to a 2002 magazine poll....
     (racing driver strongly associated with the marque)
  • Slant Four
    Slant Four

    for the similarly named engine made by Triumph, see Triumph Slant-4 engineThe Slant Four is a type of automobile engine manufactured by Vauxhall Motors and in modified form by Lotus Cars....
     (type of engine made by Vauxhall)


Endnotes


Footnotes

  • Len Holden (2003) 'Vauxhall Motors and the Luton Economy,' 1900-2002, The Boydell Press & Bedfordshire Historical records Society


External links