2007 Opel GTC Concept
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Price |
-- |
Production |
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Engine |
2.8 liter V6 |
Weight |
-- | ||
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Aspiration |
turbocharged |
Torque |
-- | ||
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HP |
300 hp |
HP/Weight |
-- | ||
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HP/Liter |
107.1 hp per liter |
1/4 mile |
-- | ||
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0-62 mph |
about 6 seconds |
Top Speed |
155 mph (electronically limited) |
(from General Motors
Press Release) World premiere at 2007 Geneva Motor Show
Opel GTC Concept Heralds New Design Era for the Brand
Rüsselsheim/Geneva. The world premiere of the GTC Concept (Gran
Turismo Coupé) at the 77th Geneva Motor Show gives an insight into
how dynamic and refreshing Opel’s new design language will look in
the future. “This concept car demonstrates the new interpretation of
the Opel brand,” explains Alain Visser, Executive Director, European
Opel Marketing. “The GTC Concept embodies the confident, emotional
direction we’re taking with Opel. Its exciting lines combined with
its high driving dynamics and interior flexibility reflect what the
Opel brand trademark characteristics will be in the future.” Even a
new, more refined brand emblem, with the Opel name proudly embossed
into the Blitz ring, is suggested.
“The GTC Concept importantly signals the next chapter in Opel’s
design identity,” says Bryan Nesbitt, Executive Director, GM Europe
Design. “Our team strategized to envision the new essence of Opel –
more confident, relevant and distinctive – in a high-performance,
yet versatile, four-seat coupé. This style is what to expect of
future Opel products.
“You have seen a number of recent concept cars become reality at
Opel,” says Hans Demant, Opelīs Managing Director and GME Vice
President Engineering. “Concepts like the GTC Genève and Antara GTC
or the Flex-Fix rear carrier system from the TRIXX previewed their
production variants. This car is a confident ambassador for the
brand and could play a similar role for us, previewing the
engineering and design cues of our next-generation Opels.”
The four-seat coupé is powered by a 220 kW/300 hp, 2.8-liter V6
turbo gasoline engine and features an intelligent,
electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, which provides
optimum traction and stability as well as excellent agility in all
driving conditions.
Brand-typical on-board flexibility is ensured by the thoughtful
“Flex4” system (patent application submitted). The backs of both
rear seats can be docked separately to the front seats by remote
control, creating a spacious three or two-seater with flat load
floor and up to 1020 liters of luggage compartment capacity. As is
typical of Opel cars, the seats do not have to be removed or
installed.
Dynamic design: Visually communicating the Opel brand promise
The GTC Concept reveals the next-generation of Opel styling. Much
like the Opel Speedster did in 1999, or the GTC Genève Concept did
in 2003 this car marks a break in the evolution of Opel’s design
language and signals that the next chapter is about to be written.
Key elements of the silk grey-lacquered Coupé concept car finished
with a matte grey paint (length/width/height: 4830/1867/1432
millimeters, wheelbase: 2737 mm) begin with an aggressive front end
performance face emphasized by large aluminum vertical intakes that
intersect the headlamps. These vertical elements are mimicked in the
rear exhaust elements, proposing an unmistakable down-the-road
signature performance graphic, coming or going.
The proud front is highlighted by a prominent, trapezoidal grille
with signature Opel bar and Blitz, executed in polished aluminum,
and gracefully finished with a bolder Opel Blitz emblem concept. The
centerline crease coupled with the distinctive aluminum vertical
intakes and outboard LED vertical driving lamps choreograph in
harmony to visually communicate power and strength. The distinctive
design continues with LED technology, enabling creative headlamp
inner shapes that propose a night time signature illumination
graphic in the front and rear lamps.
Another significant design cue of the two-door sport-coupé with its
sleek silhouette is the sophisticated bodyside shapes and surfacing.
The sheetmetal surfaces suggest athleticism coupled with elegance to
provide tasteful distinction in a visually loud marketplace. The car
features sculpted side lines that further progress the Opel profile
shown on the Antara and Opel GT production vehicles.
In addition, large flares hug the aggressive wheel and tire package,
visually suggesting road confidence to the customer. Thanks to the
wide track (front/rear: 1627/1629 mm), the Opel GTC Concept provides
a commanding stance, planted by 20-inch rims with 245/40 R20 “red
line” styled rubber. The wheels reference the motor sport aesthetic
of black rims - however, elegantly finished with high- gloss black
spokes contrasted with machine polished edges, alluding a signature
performance wheel look.
The GTC Concept’s rear visual solutions strategically echo the
design language of the nose with an integrated rear bar and blitz
emblem resting on the distinctive Opel rear center crease.
Sophisticated surface development sculpturally integrates the rear
spoiler into the sheetmetal to visually communicate performance. The
rear appearance features Opel signature shaped rear lamps, uniquely
displaying a LED night lighting graphic showcasing the exterior
brand identity. The smart exterior shape and aerodynamic
characteristics are rewarded by the cD value of 0.25.
Interior design: Warmer and more inviting
Opel’s interior designs have progressed to become warmer and more
inviting in products like the new Corsa, Antara and Opel GT.
However, the Opel GTC Concept significantly represents the next
chapter of Opel’s interior brand identity. Echoing the exterior, the
interior shapes and surfaces are sculpturally-crafted to visually
articulate a dynamic driving experience. The dashboard’s top-pad
wraps around from the instrument panel to the door, embracing the
occupants. The sweeping décor dynamically stretches one’s eye from
the surfaces of the door and instrument panel, creating a memorable
environment. The horizontal theme is secured with a large integrated
centerstack design floating above the décor surface, an appearance
reminiscent of premium audio equipment.
Complementing the exterior material theme, matte ebony surfaces are
contrasted with rich high-gloss piano black décor finishes and
structurally elegant aluminum accents, revealing a new standard of
Opel aesthetics. The U-shaped aluminum graphic on the steering wheel
is reflected again on the center console and the gear shifter,
visually connecting the driving interfaces to emphasize Opel’s
driving dynamics. The rotating navigation control is ergonomically
positioned, allowing it to easily be located and controlled by the
driver, without having to remove his/her eyes from the road. The
four, sporty, round instruments encircled by translucent rings are
backlit in dynamic red, replacing Opel’s traditional amber tones.
These interior appearance solutions intentionally reinforce the
dynamic ownership experience Opel provides.
As a final identity concept, the refined “redline” graphic of the
tire pattern is vertically woven into the contoured sport seat
surfaces and the centerline of the steering wheel, proposing that a
visual performance identity can be distinctive without compromising
taste.
Intelligent packaging: Compact exterior with spacious, flexible
interior
“In the last few years, many cars have gotten bigger without
passengers benefiting from it. We have reversed this trend with the
Opel GTC Concept. In comparatively compact exterior dimensions, we
optimized the decisive feel-good dimensions in the interior,” says
Frank Leopold, Manager GME Innovation, Show Cars and Advanced
Packaging. “In this way, the car fits like a glove.”
With the lower seating position and vertical hip point known as
the H-point , both front occupants sit perfectly integrated in the
car. Thanks to the lower-set instrument panel, outward visibility
remains excellent. This also provides a generous sense of space, an
effect strengthened by its color: the instrument panel’s upper
section is dark, while the lower section is light.
The intelligent packaging is further highlighted by plenty of space
in the rear of the Opel Concept car, despite its flat roof line:
rear headroom is 920 millimeters. The rear seats are set low, but
the four-seat, two-door car still offers Opel’s brand-typical
flexibility thanks to a novelty developed by Opel engineers: the
“Flex4” interior concept (patent application submitted).
“Flex4” enables the backs of both the rear seats in the Coupé
concept car to be moved forward separately at the touch of a button
via sensor-control and docked to the front seats. The luggage
compartment cover is thereby automatically pulled over the remaining
seat surfaces in the floor. This creates a three or two-seater with
a flat load floor up to 1.80 meters long. Luggage compartment
capacity increases from 500 liters to 755 liters (three-seater) or
up to 1020 liters (maximum capacity: up to waistline).
Powerful engine and intelligent four-wheel drive system
The Opel GTC concept car is powered by a turbocharged, 220 kW/300
hp, 2.8-liter V6 gasoline engine with two variable camshafts, which
is combined with a six-speed manual transmission. Maximum torque of
400 Nm is available from 1850 up to 4500 rpm, and accelerating from
zero to 100 km/h is calculated to take around six seconds. Top speed
is limited to 250 km/h.
The power from the high-tech turbo engine is channeled via an
advanced, electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system, which
is fully integrated into the car’s adaptive IDSPlus chassis
management system. An electronically-regulated torque transfer
device seamlessly distributes power between the front and rear axles
for optimum traction and driving performance. The high-speed control
allows more power to be provided to the rear axle before any
traction loss can occur, for example during quick acceleration. This
creates a driving feel similar to a sporty rear-wheel drive car. An
electronically-controlled limited slip differential at the rear axle
provides additional stability and traction thanks to torque
distribution between the rear wheels.
Major benefits of the Opel GTC Concept’s intelligent four-wheel
drive system are: optimum traction and stability in all driving
conditions as well as excellent agility and an active driving feel.