Opel chose to name its 1986 replacement car in this segment Omega rather than Rekord. Vauxhall stayed with the Carlton name. On its launch in November 1986 the Vauxhall Carlton / Opel Omega saloon and estate range earned itself the accolade of European Car of the Year - the second Vauxhall/Opel product to achieve this distinction, two years after the Astra/ Kadett won the accolade. Mark II (1986–1994) [ edit ] Main Article: Opel Omega A 1993 Mark II Carlton GL 2.0 i sedan 1992 MK II Vauxhall Carlton 2.6i Diplomat sedan 1992 Mark II 1.8 GL estate The bodywork had been subjected to restoration and repainting to eliminate rust from the rear pillars, boot lid, roof, front bumper, the inside of the bottom of the doors and the outside of the top of the doors. As a result, the paint depth readings indicated different levels of paint over the whole of the vehicle and also translated into four different types of paint behaviour during the machine polishing process. High-intensity lighting showed the new paintwork had fine scratches and minor swirls, whereas the damage on the older paintwork was significantly greater.

Bestowing the Lotus Carlton its power is an enlarged (3.6 Litre) engine fitted with twin Garrett T25 turbochargers, providing around 10.1526 psi of boost from 1500 rpm and a modified intercooler system. Various elements were reinforced to withstand higher pressures and to enable the engine to perform more reliably. Rear wheel drive power is delivered via a rear limited-slip differential (borrowed from the V8 Holden Commodore) from the uprated engine and through the six-speed manual ZF transmission borrowed from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. The end result is a staggering 377 bhp capable of achieving 0–60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 180mph. The gearing design allows the Lotus Carlton to accelerate to 55mph in first gear. These figures inspired a good deal of controversy as the police cars of the time could not match it. The Lotus Carlton was, therefore, an ideal target for the unscrupulous and there are tales of the era of thieves and robbers using the model as a getaway vehicle. Such was the furore caused by the performance capabilities of the Lotus Carlton, Parliament debated whether it should be allowed, unrestricted, on public roads! It was replaced by the Omega B in 1994, mirroring the standardisation of model names across both GM Europe brands. The Pure Mk2 is made from 1.6 mm aluminum and powder coated for durability. It is manufactured and assembled in USA, supporting local small businesses.

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The wheels were returned from the refurbishers and replaced on the vehicle before being protected with Kamikaze Collection Stance Rim Coat. Specifically formulated to withstand the unique conditions alloy wheels face, Stance Rim Coat repels dirt, water, oils and brake dust. Highly heat resistant, Stance Rim Coat will not burn off when the wheels become hot during use and the strong chemical bond it forms with the wheel means it will not wash away.

A thorough clean was the first priority, and given the age of the vehicle, every nook and cranny had to be minutely inspected for contamination build-up. The wheels were cleaned using Wheel Woolies to reach through the spokes to allow thorough cleaning of the rear of the rims. Areas prone to collecting greasy residues, such as door catches were cleaned using a detail brush to lift the grime away from the edges and grooves. The engine bay was initially treated with Kamikaze Collection Silica Scale Remover, specifically designed to dissolve baked-on water evaporate deposits. All areas were then carefully rinsed using a Kranzle K-1152 pressure washer.

Unsurprisingly then, he decided to restore the car, inside and out so brought it to UF’s Brands Hatch Detailing Studio for Paint Correction. Additionally, the leather was to be deep cleaned and recoloured, the trim restored, the fabrics cleaned and protected and the glass coated with a hydrophobic coating. The wheels were to be completely refurbished and then protected and the engine detailed. In short, a complete functional and cosmetic overhaul followed with a protection treatment which would take many days to complete. If you planed the handle down, and added say an RKEP factory style grip and then added an over grip (or maybe two layers of .6 over grip?), then the Pure might be closer to the MX60 in spec. It would probably end up at the wet spec I mentioned above, which is very close to the MX60 I had. You'd have to be careful because the handle is super fat and the factory grip is super heavy, so if you remove them, the BP goes through the roof. If I did to the Tour what I did to the Flux, the BP would be pushing 320! That's Voltric territory. The final touch, Gtechniq T2 Tyre Dressing, was added to give the tyres a natural satin sheen, and the Lotus Carlton was ready for collection. It truly is a stunning example of this modern day classic! Fastforward to now, and I've got a better idea of what specs I like - head heavyish (305), light weight (under 90g, wet) and mid flex. Hrm, what's the spec on the VTP, I wonder?

In addition to the straight-6 engines there was a range of straight-4s. Starting with GMs popular 2-litre family 2 engine, the C20NE, with 115PS and 125lb.ft torque. There was also a 2.3 turbo diesel available with 100PS and 160lb.ft torque. To ultimately protect the finish, Kamikaze Collection’s new, flagship, professional-only ENREI Coat was used. The plastic taillight covers were also scratched, so to restore the clarity they were machine polished using a Banzai Dynamics Pad and Menzerna Heavy Cut Compound 400.

With the exception of the pre-facelift Mk.1 cars, most Carltons were manufactured by Opel in Rüsselsheim, and differed only from their Opel Rekord/Omega sisters in badging and trim.

The Vauxhall Carlton is a series of large family car/ executive car sold in two distinct generations by the Vauxhall division of GM Europe between 1978 and 1994. The Carlton was based on the Opel Rekord E (Mk.1) and Omega A (Mk.2). The Pure Mk2 is continuation of the original pure. This time, it’s even more versatile. The Pure is a small form factor computer case designed by an enthusiast for enthusiasts. Don’t let the simple design fool you, it is an intersection of functionality and minimalism.The Vauxhall Lotus Carlton outwardly looks like a standard family saloon. However, the Lotus designation indicates this model has been upgraded by Lotus to be a 177 mph (285 km/h) sports saloon with impressive acceleration capabilities that equalled the supercars of the era. Polish residue had collected around the badges and over time had become hard baked onto the bodywork so a steamer was used to soften the deposits. The area was agitated with a detail brush to pry loose all remnants of the polish. It was designed to compete directly with the Ford Granada, which was consistently the most popular car of that size in Britain during the 1970s. It also competed with British Leyland's Princess and Rover SD1 model ranges, as well as foreign competitors including the Citroën CX and Renault 20/30. It was launched shortly before the Peugeot 505. All of the 4-cylinder engines available in the Carlton Mk II were the GM Family II units in 1.8L and 2.0L capacities. The Opel Omega A was offered with a large 2.4L Opel CIH engine in certain European markets, but this variant was never offered in the Carlton. New to the Carlton's line-up with the Mark II were two straight-6 engines with 2.6 and 3.0–litres. These were both 12-valve engines, again from the Opel CIH family, but later 3.0-litre models were offered with 24-valves, producing much more power and torque. As well, Vauxhall used the "Dual-Ram" intake manifold, which lets the car breathe as two separate three-cylinder engines below 4,000rpm, but changes the intake manifold profile at 4000rpm to increase the runner length, thus increasing total engine output. Lengthened, more powerful models, based on the Carlton and Rekord, were also available. Positioned directly above them was the Vauxhall Viceroy which was a Carlton with the larger 2.5 L or 3.0 L six-cylinder Opel cam-in-head engine (CIH) (the corresponding Opel was the Opel Commodore), and differed also in that it featured a chrome grille with the "white cross" motif (from the VX4/90) in place of the Carlton's painted droop snoot nose. The Viceroy/Commodore however sold poorly and were discontinued after the "E2" facelift in 1982, and a six-cylinder engine would not appear in the Carlton again until the MK2 GSi 3000 model.