Opel GT concept - 144hp, less then 1,000kg , RWD

[AudiMan2011]

That roofline looks ghastly and the red tires look tacky.

Does it have the 1.0 Turbo under the bonnet or the 1.4 Turbo?

 

[FoRiZon]

]

Too much nostalgia nowadays?

 

[Robin]

A real let down for me, I don't see anything recognisably Opel about it (current design language), if anything it looks like a BMW creation and totally overdone. Oh well, maybe next time.

 

[Bo]

I don't see anything recognisably Opel about it (current design language)

Probably because it isn't morbidly obese.

 

[FT-1]

Does it have the 1.0 Turbo under the bonnet or the 1.4 Turbo?

1.0 Turbo.

This is like Opel's answer to the S-FR 💡

 

[AudiMan2011]

1.0 Turbo.

This is like Opel's answer to the S-FR 💡

Might sound like a possible future upgrade from my current Corsa (which has the same engine, less power) if it goes into production.

 

[unit-one]

I like the bold design. The red wheels... not sure, but the side windows tint and the color combo and the shape... fresh! =)

 

[YSSMAN]

Remember me?


C'mon, GM. Just do it. Either one, really. The Alpha chassis is ready to be sized down, again, and now that we've got most of the powertrains sorted out, it could be a lot of fun.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Ha! Called it! And.. what is this feeling..? I'm.. I'm actually excited about GM product?! I want iiit!

 

[AudiMan2011]

Looking at it again, the doors and the really really heavily tinted side windows remind me of what we saw on the Peugeot Vision GT car.

 

[GTboyz]

That concept really is overdone. Those silly red tires made the car looks like it has bigger tires in the front than the rear. The tinted windows looks a bit too much too. But the basic shape of the car looks good.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

That concept really is overdone. Those silly red tires made the car looks like it has bigger tires in the front than the rear. The tinted windows looks a bit too much too. But the basic shape of the car looks good.

The point of concept is to catch attention and gauge potential customers reaction to the product that might happen if the reaction is positive enough.

 

[VXR]

The point of concept is to catch attention and gauge potential customers reaction to the product that might happen if the reaction is positive enough.

For a long time concept cars have been closer to production feasibility, so it's good to see one of the more out there designs again.

 

[Robin]

For a long time concept cars have been closer to production feasibility,

Personally I think that's better, one because it helps people better gauge the stylistic directions the company is taking with the upcoming models and and secondly it helps reduce the often utter disappointment people feel when the final article is nothing like the concept. If they are after a quick gasp or headline grab with something outlandish I don't really see the point.

 

[Legro]

And from everything I've seen so far, and knowing that this is GM we're talking about, it'll unfortunately probably stay as a concept.

 

[AudiMan2011]

And from everything I've seen so far, and knowing that this is GM we're talking about, it'll unfortunately probably stay as a concept.

Depends on the reaction and if there's a good business case. If the ND MX-5 is selling well enough in the UK and Europe, I don't see why the GT wouldn't go to production.

If it's scrapped, I'd at least like to see the engine itself hit production in a more powerful Corsa, possibly as a GSi.

 

[VXR]

They really should reintroduce GSI, as it's a big jump from the SRI to the VXR at the moment.

 

[FT-1]

And from everything I've seen so far, and knowing that this is GM we're talking about, it'll unfortunately probably stay as a concept.

Turns out you were right

 

[RACECAR]

Turns out you were right

Abit jumpy on the doom and gloom, aren't you?

From that very same article:

“We will wait and see what the reaction is, but this is a niche segment that is shrinking in size. We would have to look at that very closely, but even if we were to decide in favor of building the car, it is certainly nothing that could already be on the market next year or the year after that,” the spokesman said

 

[FT-1]

That sentence is only there for Opel to cover their backs in case they green lit the GT but knowing GM, it sounds very unlikely it will go into production (the rest of that statement seems pretty "gloomy" too). Even if it did go into production, release would be at least three years off and it would look radically different to the Concept since they haven't thought about designing a production model.

 

[Legro]

Abit jumpy on the doom and gloom, aren't you?

From that very same article:

That's just how they announce that they don't think it'd make enough money, which to be fair is probably not wrong.

There's a slight possibility that something will come out of this, but there would have to be a lot of demand for this type of car, and I find it unlikely that there's enough to make them say yes for it. It's unfortunate, but most people who would have even considered paying actual money for it will probably forget it quicker than Opel was ever able to get it in production.

 

[TheCracker]

If BMW and Mercedes can plug any niche that may or may not exist, what compels GM to bother making a concept for something they have no intention of putting into production?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

If BMW and Mercedes can plug any niche that may or may not exist, what compels GM to bother making a concept for something they have no intention of putting into production?

To keep their engineers and designers happy?

 

[TheCracker]

To keep their engineers and designers happy?

Depression shouldn't be taken lightly. 👍

 

[mustafur]

Apparently this concept was designed by Holden, the picture it self is in Melbourne as well.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Inb4 "LS swap it herp derp" crew..

 

[homeforsummer]

Very fond of this indeed. In production form it'd really get me thinking as to whether I'd prefer it over the Toyota S-FR (which I also hope will hit the roads). And that is not something I ever thought I'd say about a Vauxhall.

Wonder who'll come out of the woodwork next with a front-engined, rear-drive, sub-ton sports car? With this, the S-FR, the MX-5 and the Fiat 124 there's already quite a nice list developing, and each is really visually-distinctive too.

Nissan would be the obvious one, but not sure whether they have the corporate balls. Partner Renault definitely has the balls, it's never really done anything like that before. RWD yes, with oddities like the Clio V6, or much older models like the Renault 8, but nothing in this form. Anyway, Renault's next sports car will be the Alpine, and that'll be mid-engined and more expensive.

Struggling to think who else has heritage in this kind of thing. Alfa? Not with the 124 in existence. Ford? Hot hatches are really Ford's equivalent these days. One of the Korean ones could probably do it - they have zero sports car heritage but they do have a lot to prove, and Kia in particular has hinted along the right lines with concepts. Most other manufacturers would miss the point (the Germans would do it too big, heavy and powerful) and everyone else (the French) would probably go with front-wheel drive, if they were making a small, light coupe.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Very fond of this indeed. In production form it'd really get me thinking as to whether I'd prefer it over the Toyota S-FR (which I also hope will hit the roads). And that is not something I ever thought I'd say about a Vauxhall.

Wonder who'll come out of the woodwork next with a front-engined, rear-drive, sub-ton sports car? With this, the S-FR, the MX-5 and the Fiat 124 there's already quite a nice list developing, and each is really visually-distinctive too.

Nissan would be the obvious one, but not sure whether they have the corporate balls. Partner Renault definitely has the balls, it's never really done anything like that before. RWD yes, with oddities like the Clio V6, or much older models like the Renault 8, but nothing in this form. Anyway, Renault's next sports car will be the Alpine, and that'll be mid-engined and more expensive.

Struggling to think who else has heritage in this kind of thing. Alfa? Not with the 124 in existence. Ford? Hot hatches are really Ford's equivalent these days. One of the Korean ones could probably do it - they have zero sports car heritage but they do have a lot to prove, and Kia in particular has hinted along the right lines with concepts. Most other manufacturers would miss the point (the Germans would do it too big, heavy and powerful) and everyone else (the French) would probably go with front-wheel drive, if they were making a small, light coupe.

Renault could revive Matra for low end sports stuff.. Running gear from Twingo, seating for three and call it Murena/Bagheera..

 

[TheCracker]

Struggling to think who else has heritage in this kind of thing. Alfa? Not with the 124 in existence. Ford? Hot hatches are really Ford's equivalent these days. One of the Korean ones could probably do it - they have zero sports car heritage but they do have a lot to prove, and Kia in particular has hinted along the right lines with concepts. Most other manufacturers would miss the point (the Germans would do it too big, heavy and powerful) and everyone else (the French) would probably go with front-wheel drive, if they were making a small, light coupe.

Vauxhall/Opel and indeed GM as a whole has a history of doing this sort of thing with Lotus. I don't really know off the top of my head who holds Lotuses reins these days, or what position they'd be in to work with GM on something which would have to be fairly high volume to be worthwhile. But a small, light front engined, RWD sports car/coupe would be right up their street. They'd certainly be the go-to team for designing and developing this kind of car as a Lotus Engineering project if not a Lotus Cars product. It would just take some balls from GM's bigwigs to green light it.

 

[eran0004]

To keep their engineers and designers happy?

And the PR department as well. If you can make your brand exciting - even if it's just through a concept that will never be produced - it's worth a lot.