Vauxhall will unveil a new concept in
the mold of the Calibra coupe at this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
It’s 16 years since the death of the
Calibra, yet the concept will wear the Monza badge made famous by the Opel coupe
(above) from the eighties.
The concept is a result of a $4billion
Warchest given to GM Europe by its American parent company for future
development, and is said to preview not only the look of future, but also their
technology.
The
Calibra is back! Opel’s legendary coupé is about to make a welcome return in
the shape of this sleek new sports car
Although Vauxhall says the Monza is purely
a showcase, sources from within GM Europe suggest there is a desire to build a
new GT model, especially given the success of cars like the Audi A5 around the
world. And key to the viability of such a car is the Buick brank in the Chinese
market (see panel below).
Although initial reports from Germany
suggested that the concept would be rear-wheel drive like the original Monza,
our sources claim that the front-wheel-drive Cascada platform will be used,
especially as the concept is said to be similar in size to Vauxhall’s new
drop-top.
The
Monza also features an evolution of Vauxhall’s design theme with a low stance, strong
creases on the bonnet and slim headlights, with bid air intakes underneath
Under the skin will be an eco-friendly
powertrain promoting Vauxhall’s recently announced new range of engines. So
expect a low-capacity, high-powered petrol engine with electrical assistance,
too.
The Monza also promotes lightweight
materials, while the interior will also boost Vauxhall’s hi-tech credentials,
moving the game on from the likes of Apple’s Siri Eyes Free.
Opel
GTC Concept
The new tech will be looking towards 2020,
with a novel way of displaying dash information and using in-car connectivity
to promote individual mobility. Our sources told us that Vauxhall is thinking
about how the next generation of drivers will want to interact with cars,
learning from car club usage. The Monza also features an evolution of
Vauxhall’s design theme with a low stance, strong creases on the bonnet and
slim headlights, with bid air intakes underneath. A gaping grille features a
large Vauxhall badge on a chrome bar with upturned winglets at either edge.
The Monza is only a concept, but the
building blocks are in place to put the car into production speedily should the
reaction be good at the Frankfurt show. So a production version could, in
theory, be on sale in 2015.
