Bertrandt AG - Opel Vectra Caravan

Opel Vectra Caravan

Development Partner of Interior Sections

Thanks to its combination of elegant design, powerfully dynamic performance and a 2.83 metre wheelbase, driving Opel’s new Vectra Caravan is a sheer pleasure. Based on the long wheelbase of the Signum platform, the load-length of the new estate has been extended and the rear of the vehicle completely redesigned. Bertrandt was commissioned as a key design supplier for selected project sections.

The project and its demands The order included the development of the interior tailgate panel and load space side panels, as well as the sill panelling. The side panel design was to provide for a system for flexibly adjusting the load space size, which had to be considered when development started. What is more, is that it had to be compatible with package components such as the electrical system, body, cargo volume, black box, compartment for first-aid kit and warning triangle as well as access to rear lamps, the RZM (rear zone module) fuses, and the trailer hitch. The fold-away trailer hitch, which can be unlocked from the vehicle trunk, was used for the first time in the Vectra Caravan. The interfaces to other specialist areas, like the vehicle body, electrical system, insulation and seats, fell primarily within the remit of Opel as a large number of different suppliers were integrated in this project.

Side panel design Developing the side panel for the FlexOrganizer system, the integration of which was designed by Bertrandt, proved a particularly demanding challenge. A system was envisaged with two parallel rails on either side of the side panel into which various elements, such as dividers, net partitions, or hooks could be inserted. Given the arrangement in the left hand side of the cargo area, it made sense to place the two rails 310 mm apart from each other. As the partitions were designed to be fitted vertically or horizontally, the engineers integrated additional fixing eyelets in the rails at distances of 77.5 mm. Interior: Interior tailgate panel Sill panelling Lock cover Production planning:

Rear side panel with integrated FlexOrganizer system:
Opel gets your load space into shape with its innovative FlexOrganizer system. With various nets and foldable dividers the load space can be adapted according to the customer’s needs creating space for different sized or even fragile cargos.

In order to absorb the forces generated during driving, the visible plastic rails were reinforced on the back of the panel with a steel rail attached via holders screwed to the body of the vehicle. As a result it is now possible not only to fit three rods and a net which can be put to a multiplicity of uses, for example, but also to arrange cargo in a number of different configurations (L, V, A shaped for example) ensuring that loads never slip.

Rear window frame design and rear panelling
Thanks to close cooperation with the designers during the development of the rear window frame it was possible to make this element as one piece rather than in several components as originally planned. This became apparent after an analysis of the first styling design revealed that, by making just a few changes to its form, it would be possible to create a one-piece solution without having to go back to the design drawing board. The surfaces were consequently optimised and the one-piece solution implemented. What is more, is that the new solution also proved to be more economical.

Bertrandt’s early involvement in the development of the interior tailgate panel meant it was also able to influence the design of the lock package. Bertrandt engineers designed a lid which almost entirely covers the lock compared with previous models an innovation not previously feasible to this extent. This development resulted in a significant quality improvement in optical terms as the lock cover, which is usually visible for the customer, is now hidden away. This innovation was also made possible by a change in the assembly sequence initiated by Bertrandt: the tailgate panel is now fitted after the lock has been assembled, which does away with the extra space needed for adjusting screws.

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