2007 Opel GTC ConcepT

For the average North American consumer, the Opel automotive brand nameprobably won't elicit much emotional reaction. However, many of us would have seen their alter egos cross our roads in the form of a Saturn Sky or a Saturn Aura, or maybe you've parked beside a Chevrolet Malibu or Cobalt. You got it, Opel is the European subsidiary fully owned by General Motors and with globalization, consumers here are going to see more European inspired cars roll off GM's production lines, like Saturn's new Vue and Astra. Based in Rüsselsheim Germany, Opel has been manufacturing automobiles in Europe since 1898. To give you an idea of the brand's market in Europe, they account for 78 percent of GM's European sales. In 2006 Opel was ranked as the fourth most registered vehicle make in Europe. There were 1,563,196 Opel vehicles sold and a market share of 7.2 percent. The brand'sshare grew in Eastern markets such as Russia, Ukraine and Romania in recent years, where sales doubled from 2005. Opel's most important volume model, the Astra, sold 497,816 units in 2006, achieving a 2.3 percent share of the European market.

At the 77th Geneva Motor Show a few months back, Opel unveiledtheir GTC Concept, which stands for Grand Tourismo Coupe, as well as a refreshed brand logo. As Bryan Nesbitt, Executive Director, GM Europe Design comments, “Our team strategized to envision the new essence of Opel – more confident, relevant, and distinctive – in a high performance, yet versatile, four-seat coupe. This style is what to expect of future Opel products.”

The Opel GTC will be powered by a 2.8-liter turbo V6 gasoline engine (the same as featured in the Saab 9-3 XWD) featuring two variable camshafts coupled with an electronic four-wheel drive system and mated to a six-speed manual. The Opel GTC can thrust itself from zero to 60 mph in just under six seconds and tops out at 155 mph. Hmmm... with a little more power could this be Europe's contender to Nissan's Skyline GTR? (There's even a slight profile resemblanceto the Nissan GT-R PROTO Concept, but more comments on design later...) The IDSPlus chassis management system continually monitors and regulates the power distribution betweenfront and rear wheels depending on driving conditions.

This four-seat Opel GTC measures 190.1 inches long by 73.5 inches wide and 56.4 inches high, with a wheelbase of 107.8 inches. From the front, notice the trapezoidal grille that sets the backdrop for the signature Opel bar finished in polished aluminum and centered with the redesigned logo. The vertical brushed aluminum air intake vents give a not so subtle message about this car's athletic capabilities. The headlights bisect these vertical grilles. With the LED driving lamps on, the GTC produces a unique aura of radiance that screams for attention. Catch a glimpse of its profile and notice the 245/40 R20 tires with red signature tread stripes wrapped in a black and polished spoke wheels; they remind me of the wheels on Hot Wheels toy cars. The rear quarter is reminiscent of the BMW6-Series, while the C-pillar is Infiniti G35 coupe-like. Strong lines and the C-shaped indentation on the door complete the muscular image of this vehicle. The rear is equally impressive with an integrated spoiler molded on the trunk. Vertical cues are echoed with vertical aluminum exhaust stacks on each side.

Like a pair of black Prada loafers with the signature red stripe on the heal, the GTC's interior also uses red stripes to accent the leather seats as well as the top point of the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Very Euro-chic indeed. The dashboard and center stack is laid out in matte black finish contrasted with glossy piano black trim pieces. The multitude of center stack buttons is backlit in red to mimic the controls of high end European audio equipment, while the driver enjoys a set of analog gauges encased in metallicrings and lit up in a warm orange glow. The instrument dials are reminiscent of the cars from the 1950s, which creates a unique balance between contemporary and classic design.

In terms of functionality and design, Opel engineers integrated their “Flex4” patent pending interior concept that allows the rear seats to fold flat and line up with the front seats, thereby creating a flat load surface for luggage up to 5.9 feet long. The car becomes essentially either a three-seater or a two-seater, allowing a maximum of 36.0 cu-ft of cargo carrying capacity. Who said a sports coupe can't be practical?In the past, GM's North American spokespeople have alluded to bringing more of their European line up into the North American market, and in the past year have been doing so. The brand that you'll be seeing Opel products under is Saturn, GM's North American import fighter. Besides providing a strong influence over styling, Saturn's forthcoming Astra compact car is a true, blue Opel product, as is the new Vue. It's been said that the Opel GTC is a preview to the next generation Opel Vectra midsize sedan, which is rumored to be our second generation Aura, a vehicle that won North American Car of the Year.