Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall GT coupe concept - new photos from the Geneva motor show

No production plans, but Opel and Vauxhall's concept promises a sub-1000kg kerb weight and rear-wheel drive

Previewed in the run-up to the 2016 Geneva motor show, Opel and Vauxhall’s GT Concept is undoubtedly one of the stars of this year’s show.

Details are deliberately scarce, with no commitment from the companies to put the car into production, but the details we do have are enticing: The GT is front-engined, rear wheel drive, lightweight and incredibly compact – with a smaller footprint than a Corsa.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At 3.85 metres long, 1.68m wide and 1.18m tall, it’s shorter, narrower and lower than a Mazda MX-5, but features a fixed roof and an ultra-low bonnet line that gives the GT even more dramatic proportions than Mazda’s roadster.

While the car is inspired by Opel’s original GT sports car, designer Mark Adams is adamant the new GT is not a retro design.

‘The original was a fantastic design and represented the spirit of the 1960s’ he said at a pre-show unveiling of the car. ‘We wanted to bring that spirit into 2016, but do it in a progressive, modern way.’

To that end, Opel has ensured the new car is compact – also a feature of the original – and with a 1-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, simple forms and sub-1000kg kerb weight, it also echoes the original’s approachability and attainability.

There are flourishes – the red front tyres reference those of the 1920s Opel Motoclub 500 motorcycle, and the wheels they’re mounted on have a ‘roller-skate’ design – but overall the GT is an incredible simple shape.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

‘There are no big, open, gaping holes to show performance’ says Adams. ‘The key to emphasising the car’s simplicity is the red line running through the car – your eye travels along this line, which makes the car look longer and lower. It has a relaxed stance, to communicate that it’s a rear-wheel drive vehicle.’

Advertisement - Article continues below

That red motif also has practical purposes: by curving into the roofline, the huge doors – which pivot half way between the front wheel arch and where a traditional door cut-line might be – allow you to step down into the car, rather than feeding yourself in through a narrow opening.

Once inside, the simplified cabin is more spacious than you might expect too. That’s partly down to the clever seamless transition between bodywork and side windows. With no distinct separation between door and glass, the window is much deeper than you might expect. From the driver’s seat, the raised front fenders peak above the wheels, so you can see the corners of the car.

A single dashboard element spans the cabin, carrying small round screens at its extremities – that show images from side-mounted cameras – and an instrument panel that Adams calls ‘a single-piece sculptural object’.

Displays are back-projected and while the two instrument binnacles suggest a separate tachometer and speedometer, the two are actually combined in one. ‘The speedo and rev counter are in one dial,’ explains Adams, ‘with the speedo on the back surface, while the rev counter comes out through the tube.’

The engine develops 143bhp and 151lb ft of torque, and while a manual transmission might be the default choice for a small sports car like this, Opel has chosen to use a six-speed sequential with steering wheel-mounted paddles.

The 0-62mph dash takes ‘less than eight seconds’, with a 134mph top speed – both figures perfectly competitive with the MX-5.

That Opel and Vauxhall have no plans to turn the car into a production model is a shame, but perfectly understandable – GM has no lightweight, inexpensive rear-drive platform in its portfolio.

But as the compact sports car market expands – with Fiat and Abarth 124 joining MX-5, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86, and Toyota’s S-FR potentially on the way – the case for its creation becomes ever stronger.

Check out all the latest production cars, concepts and videos on our Geneva motor show hub page.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The new Porsche 911 Carrera T is pared back, lightweight and manual-only
Porsche 911 992.2 Carrera T – front
News

The new Porsche 911 Carrera T is pared back, lightweight and manual-only

Porsche’s 992.2 Carrera T is a manual-only, lightweight 911 with bespoke chassis mods – could this be the sweet spot in the range?
29 Oct 2024
Lotus Emira v Morgan Plus Four – four-cylinder Brits go head-to-head
Lotus Emira v Morgan Plus Four
Group tests

Lotus Emira v Morgan Plus Four – four-cylinder Brits go head-to-head

Two fine British sports cars, two mates and some quiet British roads: classic ingredients for a great road trip
26 Oct 2024
The new Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) has arrived with S/T inspiration and optional back seats
2025 Porsche 911 GT3 front
News

The new Porsche 911 GT3 (992.2) has arrived with S/T inspiration and optional back seats

Back seats and Isofix may now be on the new GT3’s menu, but crucially, the howling 503bhp 9000rpm flat six and manual option remain
25 Oct 2024
Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer Classic Turbo 2024 review – the most complete restomod?
Singer 911 Turbo – front
Reviews

Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer Classic Turbo 2024 review – the most complete restomod?

The 930 Turbo has remained somewhat off limits to the restomod scene, until now. Richard Meaden tests the Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer – Classic T…
24 Oct 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Aston Martin Vanquish 2024 review - Britain’s Ferrari 12 Cilindri rival
Aston Martin Vanquish – front
Reviews

Aston Martin Vanquish 2024 review - Britain’s Ferrari 12 Cilindri rival

The third-generation Aston Martin Vanquish is not only the best yet, it’s the best Aston Martin full stop
28 Oct 2024
Potential sale of McLaren Automotive imminent
McLaren for sale
News

Potential sale of McLaren Automotive imminent

McLaren’s Bahraini owners could sell to Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings, which already has investments in Gordon Murray Technologies and Nio
29 Oct 2024
The new Porsche 911 Carrera T is pared back, lightweight and manual-only
Porsche 911 992.2 Carrera T – front
News

The new Porsche 911 Carrera T is pared back, lightweight and manual-only

Porsche’s 992.2 Carrera T is a manual-only, lightweight 911 with bespoke chassis mods – could this be the sweet spot in the range?
29 Oct 2024