Opel introduced a facelifted version for the first Vectra generation in 1992, four years after it launched the model on the European market.
When Opel decided to retire the old Ascona lineup, the new model was a complete change. It was no longer wedged-shape and, also, designed for the rising European middle-class. It was also used as an executive sedan in former East-European communist countries. In 1992, the German brand introduced a facelift after four years of the vehicle on the market.
It was the bio-design era, but Opel lost time developing the car, and it was too late to catch it. Still, it rounded the car's shapes and made the headlights smaller. The formerly used three-slat grille received a new, body-colored surrounding. Its new wrapped-around plastic bumper received an extension downwards, forming an apron and improving the car's aerodynamic. Behind the rear doors, Opel added a small triangular window, which was considered a luxury feature for a mid-size sedan. Its flat trunk sported a vertical panel at the back that wore part of the taillights.
Inside, Opel offered the Vectra with comprehensive trim options. From cloth upholstery to a leather-clad interior and from cranked windows and a simple ventilation system to four power windows and mirrors plus automatic climate control. On the top-performer version, the Vectra Turbo, the carmaker installed sport bucket seats and a sporty interior with white dials and red needles.
Under the hood, the base version featured a 1.6-liter single-point injection that provided just 75 hp. The sportiest version received a Cosworth-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that sent 204 ponies in all corners through a six-speed manual. For a more relaxed, executive-level drive, it provided a 2.5-liter V-6.