Opel: Return of the Monza? Now confirmed by Opel, pictures inside

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NLxAROSA

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So, German magazine Autobild made a render/artist impression based on what they have seen at Opel Germany. It's not the real thing of course, but when Dutch magazine Autoweek spoke with some high Opel officials and showed them the picture, they confirmed that the picture is an accurate representation of what they will be revealing at the IAA in September.

m1nyigubgxcl.jpg

http://www.autoweek.nl/nieuws/23967/knaller-op-iaa-opel-monza-concept (Dutch)

Speculations galore regarding the platform it will be based on: RWD/AWD and with spicy engines (or people hope at least).

So, yay or nay?

EDIT:

Opel has released some pictures of the real thing:

m1nyinmblnep.jpg


m1nyinmbnkeo.jpg
 
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Some Citroen GT going on, renders always end up looking nothing like the real thing. They need to redo the Calibra but I guess Vauxhall / Opel just re-badge all the Holden's for their hot cars these days.
 
NLxAROSA
Speculations galore regarding the platform it will be based on: RWD/AWD and with spicy engines (or people hope at least).
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Here in America, where Opel is near-enough becoming the European arm of Buick, there has been a lot of talk about a premium, rear-drive coupe being added into the mix. Although, thing is that the premium, rear-drive coupe would be based on a larger, rear-drive platform that will likely underpin the new Cadillac 7-series fighter, as well as the next-generation Chevrolet SS, and so on.

...This, at the very least, looks like an adaptation of the Alpha chassis, which would make sense in the rear-drive/all-wheel-drive classification. Thing is, if GM is truly looking to start proliferating variations of this, this could be a quasi confirmation of a few things...

1) They're doing a smaller version of Alpha, and it'll be offered by different brands at different price point

2) Investment in Opel as a premium brand in Europe looks to be the course, letting Chevrolet scrape the bottom of the barrel otherwise

3) A rear-drive, high-performance Buick is coming. With a waterfall grille and a twin-turbo V6, I don't think it'd be bad badged as a Grand National.
 
While Opel could use RWD platform to spice up the sales, they're looking at the wrong end of the price range. They need a BRZ/GT86-fighter. Revive Kadett or GT-badge, make it small, light and nimble with 1.6l turbo around 200bhp.
 
An Opel Ute would be nice :p

A converted Opel Astra G Cabrio could do the trick aswell.
 
Sorry to go switching between manufacturers, but... Would they ever cross-breed? Carlton; I miss it. Badly. The 90s DTM wouldn't have been the same without the E30, Carlton, 190E, and the 155.


Regardless, I'm always happy to see Opel making nice cars. :)
 
The question is, who will buy an expensive big GT car with a Vauxhall/Opel badge on the front?
 
Nobody, which is exactly why Vauxhall/Opel dropped their full-sized Omega a decade ago. The re-badged Holdens they keep trying to flog us sell in miniscule amounts too.

Question is, why do they think things will be different now? Is anyone after a large euro saloon (or coupe variant) really going to buy an Opel over a A6, 5-Series or E-Class?
 
YSSMAN
Here in America, where Opel is near-enough becoming the European arm of Buick, there has been a lot of talk about a premium, rear-drive coupe being added into the mix. Although, thing is that the premium, rear-drive coupe would be based on a larger, rear-drive platform that will likely underpin the new Cadillac 7-series fighter, as well as the next-generation Chevrolet SS, and so on.
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I read rumors that it may share the same base as the ATS, which would make it RWD, or perhaps the base as the Insignia OPC, which would make it AWD. All speculation of course.

Clark
The question is, who will buy an expensive big GT car with a Vauxhall/Opel badge on the front?
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That's the #1 question. The more sportive products they made in the past few years (Corsa OPC, the new Astra OPC) are very well built and handle excellent, but I don't think that quality alone will switch people over from Mercedes, BMW or Audi. It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.

EDIT:

Today Opel released some pictures of the actual concept car, see first post.
 
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NLxAROSA
I don't think that quality alone will switch people over from Mercedes, BMW or Audi. It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.
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The problem that Vauxhall has always had is brand image. They've always been seen as making reasonably cheap cars, and it's showed particularly with the interiors.

Sure you can't blame them for trying but it's hard to shake off the stigma of cars such as the Vectra and first-gen Agila.

I drive a fourth-gen Corsa and while the quality is good, it's not on a patch with rivals like the Fiesta. Even the interior quality of the new Adam isn't close to that of an Audi A1.
 
If I saw something like this in a showroom, I'd think long and hard about it. Thing is, Opel is really the only reason GM has any presence in Europe anymore. Vauxhalls are rebadged Opels and Holdens, Saturn was to get Opel's lineup to the US, and the Insignia platform was, if not mistaken, designed by Opel.

Here's the deal. Designed by Chevy, GMC, Buick, Vauxhall? Probably no sale. Cadillac and Holden? I'd think about it. Opel? A good chance I'd buy one.
 
BKGlover
Here's the deal. Designed by Chevy, GMC, Buick, Vauxhall? Probably no sale. Cadillac and Holden? I'd think about it. Opel? A good chance I'd buy one.
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There's a good chance that, if it's an international car, it'll be Cadillac's platform, tweaked by Holden, sold as a Opel in Europe, with some subtlety added in so it can be pushed as a Buick in China and America.

With a waterfall grille, it could look pretty fetching.
 
BKGlover
...Saturn was to get Opel's lineup to the US...
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Not originally, of course. Losing the plot is what killed that brand. Those plastic buckets of the '90s were cheap cars done right, and the most appealing models of Saturn's brief history.
BKGlover
Here's the deal. Designed by Chevy, GMC, Buick, Vauxhall? Probably no sale. Cadillac and Holden? I'd think about it. Opel? A good chance I'd buy one.
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I can see that. I would agree with the idea that Opel houses GM's best engineers.
 
Sorry, if this is a ridiculous question, but has anyone considered the possibility the Opel may be an inexpensive BMW-competitor? I'd be interested in an Opel, if they were sold in Canada, because some of the Opel cars would be half-price for an *almost* equal car to the BMW. I don't really care about interiors. The interior panels on my Impreza are coming off. I can't even be bothered to re-attach them. :lol:
 
MrMelancholy15
Sorry, if this is a ridiculous question, but has anyone considered the possibility the Opel may be an inexpensive BMW-competitor?
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The current plan that GM is moving toward, I believe, is to make Opel an entry-level luxury marque and let Chevrolet handle most of the lower-level sales in Europe. Essentially, they would hold the same spot as Buick here in North America, offering more premium models than the bowtie models. Thing is, if that becomes it case, it seems that Buick will be bringing in more sporty options, and that's a good thing.

Last I had heard, there were plans to bring the Opel Adam and Opel Cascada to North America as a part of the Buick portfolio, although I really only believe the Adam has any chance of a business case. The Corsa did make it here last year as the Verano, and I suspect that if the Monza gets the green-light, it could be the sporty Buick that's been talked about for a while.
 
YSSMAN
*informative reply*
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Thanks!


Unfortunately, I've never been a fan of any Chevy/GM cars, since... 1972. Naaaaah. But, if Opel designs their own cars*, I'll be interested.


*without any GM assistance except for funding
 
There is a good chance that this would be something that would benefit greatly from the GM/PSA alliance. Small turbo engines from Peugeot would go a long way to make the car seemed a bit more refined, especially if they're pairing it with the already stellar Alpha chassis.
 
Return of the Monza? Nope. This is a wagon, not a hatchback. Just watch it, it'll have 5 doors instead of 3.

THIS is Monza.
modelpicture.php
 
Shooting break? Not sure if that'll make production. But, I could see GM finally hopping on the four-door coupe trend. All-in-all, it'd make a very attractive Buick here in the States.
 

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