Saturday 30th January 2016

Vauxhall GT Concept for Geneva

A mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, sub-tonne Vauxhall?!

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If you were to bring together everything PH would want from a new sports car in 2016, the Vauxhall GT Concept could well be it. No, really. It weighs less than 1,000kg, the turbocharged three cylinder engine is front mid-mounted and it's rear-wheel drive.

Make it Vauxhall. Make it, make it, make it

It will be shown at Geneva and has been designed to "appeal to driving enthusiasts", evoking the 60s GT concepts that you may well have seen at a Vauxhall Sunday Service. It exists as a progression from the 2013 Monza concept too, with the wheels inspired by an old Opel bike. It wouldn't be a concept without some daft paint somewhere, would it?

Furthermore, a car destined for the motor show stand could not make do with conventional wing mirrors, so the GT Concept does away with those. But it goes one step further too, removing door handles as well. The doors and windows are seamlessly integrated, the cabin accessed via a touchpad on the roof. Cameras do the rear view job, their images displayed in the doors a la VW XL1.

Beyond that there aren't a great many details yet. The engine is the same all-aluminium unit as introduced in the Corsa recently, with 145hp and 151lb ft. Vauxhall claims a 0-62mph time of less than eight seconds and a 134mph top speed. There's a six-speed sequential too, bizarrely.

There's always a danger that the more ordinary cars can get lost in the feast of supercars at Geneva, but the GT Concept looks like being a real must-see. Expect more information from the show floor or perhaps a few days before; wonder if all the girls at the show will wear Stan Smiths?

[Fetchez la vache]

...er the thumbnail for this article clearly shows a jag.
This post will therefore be irrelevant when it's changed in a few mins

[skyrover]

Why not just bring over the Camaro in RHD and be done with it?

[Matt Bird]

Fetchez la vache said:

...er the thumbnail for this article clearly shows a jag.
This post will therefore be irrelevant when it's changed in a few mins

We're working on it, trust me! The hamsters are earning their money today...


Matt

[Bencolem]

That's a win from me.

[kambites]

skyrover said:

Why not just bring over the Camaro in RHD and be done with it?

Not really the same sort of car but they could certainly do that as well.

I think this is a lovely looking thing and aside from stupid concept details like the mirrors, side windows, door handles and wheels, looks almost viable. Of course it'll never happen.

I love the way they've got rid of the shut-line on the front of the doors.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 27th January 11:31

[Galsia]

It is still a Vauxhall/Opel. No thanks.

[GTEYE]

Not quite sure I could imagine this or even a production friendly version (highly unlikely) sitting that comfortably along side some dreary £99/month Corsas and Astras in the local Vauxhall dealer.

I do have to wonder why they bother...knowing that they will never build it or anything close.

Rather than boosting the rest of the range, it kind of just highlights how dull they are!

Edited by GTEYE on Wednesday 27th January 12:10

[RemyMartin]

Galsia said:

It is still a Vauxhall/Opel. No thanks.

Bit narrow minded isnt it? Looks at garage...drives a Punto. Hmm. ;-) see how this stereotyping works?

[Debaser]

I love that Vauxhall have done this - I hope it makes production.

[SturdyHSV]

skyrover said:

Why not just bring over the Camaro in RHD and be done with it?

Indeed, the RHD Monaro sold so well, into the hundreds!

GTEYE said:

Not quite sure I could imagine this or even a production friendly version (highly unlikely) sitting that comfortably along side some dreary £99/month Corsas and Astras in the local Vauxhall dealer.

I do have to wonder why they bother...knowing that they will never build it or anything close.

Rather than boosting the rest of the range, it kind of just highlights how dull they are!

Like the VX220?

Galsia said:

It is still a Vauxhall/Opel. No thanks.

I think we have the answer. What ever would the neighbours think if one didn't also finance an Audi?!

[luckystrike]

Promising concept, but crying out for a manual box.

edit: I notice it's reported as a sequential here - I've seen auto elsewhere. Curious.

[scarble]

Ugh, it looks like an Adam, no matter how swoopy they've deliberately given it common details with the Adam and therefore it's ruined and makes me
Meanwhile Vauxhall can't do build quality at normal vehicle weights, how are they going to manage it with a light-weight?

[Edmundo2]

Add another 50bhp and a nice noise and this would be great. Shame it's never gonna happen...

[Mark Wibble]

Aw the headline got me excited, but front-mid engined isn't "proper"-mid-engined!

Also there's an Allegro steering wheel, but I guess there are more squaries these days anyway...

[Ste1987]

Can't remember if this was official but I hope it looks more like this

[Alex Langheck]

They never really replaced the Opel Manta, so I can't imagine this actually coming to fruition. But hats off to them if they do - just don't badge it as a Vauxhall....

[ChasW]

Alex Langheck said:

They never really replaced the Opel Manta, so I can't imagine this actually coming to fruition. But hats off to them if they do - just don't badge it as a Vauxhall....

Agree. The Manta, original and 2nd series, were stunningly good looking cars and pretty affordable. We had a 1977 1.9 SR which I really enjoyed driving. Not so much mindless badge snobbery around in those days. My mate had a droop snoot Firenza which used to turn heads in spite of being a Vauxhall.

[unsprung]

Viewing this concept solely from the side and the rear... does anybody see a sort of coupe cousin to the Mazda MX-5?

[R8VXF]

ChasW said:

Alex Langheck said:

They never really replaced the Opel Manta, so I can't imagine this actually coming to fruition. But hats off to them if they do - just don't badge it as a Vauxhall....

Agree. The Manta, original and 2nd series, were stunningly good looking cars and pretty affordable. We had a 1977 1.9 SR which I really enjoyed driving. Not so much mindless badge snobbery around in those days. My mate had a droop snoot Firenza which used to turn heads in spite of being a Vauxhall.

For this exact reason I keep the VXR8 badged as a VX, rather than reverting it back to HSV.

I quite like this concept car. Cute. Definitely no replacement for a Camaro though. 150bhp 3pot vs 600+bhp V8.

[EnglishTony]

German press show a piccy of the same car badged as an Opel & claim the red front tyres will be an option.