Drive carefully, defensively and have the right equipment to get through the fall and winter months safely Modern four-wheel drive vehicles, such as the Opel Antara, provide additional safety for fall and winter driving Opel's new Flex-Fix transport box is ideal for bulky winter sport equipment Practical options with Opel Astra, such as curve light, stationary heating and Quickheat, increase safety and comfort in the winter Gut ausgerüstet und mit einer vorausschauenden Fahrweise kommen Autofahrer auch sicher durch Herbst und Winter. Ein intelligenter Allradantrieb wie beim Opel Antara bedeutet in diesen Jahreszeiten ein Plus an aktiver Sicherheit. Ideal für sperriges Wintersport-Equipment: die neue FlexFix-Transportbox von Opel. Praktische Optionen - wie Kurvenlicht, Standheizung oder Quickheat beim Opel Astra - steigern Sicherheit und Komfort im Winter. ZUR DEUTSCHEN VERSION

Safely through the Wintertime Skiing and snowboarding fans are already looking forward to the first snowfall, but fall and winter - with sometimes treacherous road and weather conditions - are not always so pleasant for motorists. Skiing and snowboarding fans are already looking forward to the first snowfall, but fall and winter - with sometimes treacherous road and weather conditions - are not always so pleasant for motorists. Nevertheless, with the right driving technique and realization that braking distances are longer, a modern car and the appropriate equipment, drivers can also enjoy these seasons. Driving tips: · Change to winter tires in good time. The specific rubber composition and special profile with perforations ensure a shorter braking distance when driving in snow or just generally in cold weather. Also check the windshield wipers and water jets (as well as the battery, lights and anti-freeze, of course). · As a rule, avoid abrupt braking, gear changes and steering maneuvers on snow-covered roads. Instead, drive slower, more defensively and always with enough braking distance; let the clutch out slowly when starting off to avoid wheel spin. Selecting the winter program on automatic transmissions makes driving off easier. · A brake test when first setting off helps to get a feel for the road conditions (but check in the rear-view mirror first) · Drive particularly carefully on bridges and roads that are shadowed (in the forest, etc.); even if the road surface around them is already free of snow and ice, they can be treacherously slick in the winter even when temperatures are above freezing · In alpine ski resorts, so much snow can fall overnight that even the best winter tires aren't enough. In this situation, snow chains are the answer. The important points to remember are to fit the chains before beginning an uphill drive, and remove them as soon as the road is clear of snow - otherwise the chains will wear out quickly and drastically reduce driving safety. Also important to note is that experts recommend to practice fitting snow chains at least once before needing to do it for real · Should the car start to swerve on a snow-covered road, do not brake suddenly. Instead, engage the clutch (this gives the wheels more cornering force), counter steer and brake lightly, if needed · Snow on the car or an iced windshield needs to be completely cleared before setting off. By using the air conditioner in the winter, the driver can also prevent the windshield from fogging up · Clear the snow from the car's roof, otherwise it could slide forward when the car brakes and obscure the driver's visibility. Advantages of modern four-wheel drive vehicles: A reliable car with sophisticated technology is required to provide a feeling of safety and control in every driving situation. Be it a skiing trip or a drive along snowy roads, the ideal vehicle in the winter is a modern four-wheel drive car like the Opel Antara, which optimally distributes torque between the front and rear axles in a split-second. This ensures that the car always maintains traction even on slippery surfaces. The Antara's intelligent active four-wheel drive system is completely integrated in the ABS and ESP systems, thus additionally increasing vehicle control and active safety. The DCS (Descent Control System), noteworthy as a standard feature in the Antara segment, also uses the ABS and ESP sensors. DCS allows the vehicle to safely maintain a constant speed even down steep inclines without the driver needing to brake. For instance during the winter when driving on snow-covered city streets, the system ensures that the vehicle does not exceed a certain speed, remaining easily controllable. Opel's practical Flex-Fix transport box: With long skis and wide snowboards on the roof, bulky clothes and ski or soft boots in the car - even weekend trips to the piste often require a great deal of equipment. With its practical and easily accessible luggage compartment extension, the innovative Flex-Fix carrier system is the answer. A new transport box specially designed for Flex-Fix provides the ideal additional storage compartment particularly for items one doesn't necessarily want to have in the car such as used snow chains or wet boots. The box carries up to 25 kilograms additional cargo and has a volume of 160 liters. It is made of robust, waterproof synthetic material and is theft-proof mounted by an integrated lock. The special "extra": the box comes black ex works but can be painted in the car color at any Opel Service Partner. Suitable winter equipment: It's all a question of the right equipment - this is also true for safe driving on wintery roads. Besides the high active and passive safety levels of all Opel model lines, the cars are also available with a wide range of options that make driving in the cold months safer and more comfortable. The Opel Astra, for example, is available with over 50 accessories. The new edition of the compact class bestseller has been available since February 2007 with more economical engines, enhanced design and technology, as well as an expanded equipment range. Options available to make winter driving more pleasant include the Winter Package (with headlamp cleaning system, seat heating in front and footwell heating in rear) as well as Quickheat (standard in1.7 CDTI) and stationary heating. And those who have already traveled through the mountains with it know what a difference AFL bi-xenon curve light makes. Introduced into the compact class in the Opel Astra, this steering-linked headlamp system with dynamic curve and adaptive highway light enables bright illumination into serpentines or tight curves. Information concerning specifications and equipment applies to the models offered in Germany. There may be differences in other markets. All data on fuel consumption refers to combined fuel consumption of the base model in the European test cycle. Subject to alteration. READER COMMENTS ADD YOUR COMMENTS Adam Opel AG, A member company of the GM Group, Ein Unternehmen der GM Gruppe, General Motors Corporation November 20, 2007 BACK TO TOP

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