VAUXHALL has fundamentally realigned the 1998 model year Omega to secure the car's position as the UK's best selling executive car and to win conquest sales from prestige marques. The facelifted range now starts at £18,850 on the road, despite a significant increase in equipment levels.

Prices have either been cut or held throughout the range, and key specification changes include the addition of side airbags as standard from CD specification upwards, and the introduction of the CARiN navigation system as standard in the flagship 3.0 V6 Elite. The changes represent the second major overhaul of Omega pricing and specification this year. In May Vauxhall slashed as much as £905 off some models in the range, while at GLS level customers had the choice of the 2.0 or 2.5-litre petrol engines for the same price.

This latest repositioning goes even further, effectively bumping each specification up a level, but maintaining the original level's price. The most significant changes to the range take place at the GLS and CD volume specification levels. The entry level Select is now replaced by the GLS, an upgrade which adds alloy wheels, improved stereo system, and higher seat trim. But this GLS costs £350 less than the outgoing Select, hitting the road at £18,850 for the 2.0i 16v saloon.

The CD takes the place of the old GLS, adding front fog lights, side airbags, heated front seats, heated screen washes, electric rear windows, alarm, and wood-look trim. The 2.0i 16v CD and 2.5i V6 24v CD go on sale for £20,495 on the road, the same price as the outgoing GLS models.