vauxhall + opel shaves details to form mid-engined GT concept
all images courtesy of vauxhall
vauxhall and opel revealed their vision of the future sports car with the ‘GT concept’. the car is pared down with shaved door handles and door mirrors, shaped as a front mid-engined, rear wheel drive chassis that will appeal to driving enthusiasts. it pays homage to two significant motor show cars: the 1966 vauxhall ‘XVR’ and the 1965 opel ‘experimental GT’, the first concept vehicles to appear from the design houses of a european manufacturer.
designers shaved the handle and door mirrors
a key innovation of the ‘GT concept’ is its large doors with integrated side windows that show a seamless transition from glass to painted surfaces. both driver and front passenger gain access to the interior after pressing a touchpad for the electric doors that is integrated in the red signature line of the roof. the doors open into the front arches, using a space-saving and patented mounting that allows a large opening angle for tight parking spaces in urban areas.
the large glass doors fuse into the door
two cameras mounted behind the wheel arches offer enhanced visibility, especially in city driving. they transmit their images to two monitors on the left and right side of the cabin, rendering the external mirrors obsolete. the windscreen flows into a glass panorama roof, affording occupants a similar experience to that of a targa-topped car. another unique feature of the vauxhall concept is its integrated headlamp units. using projection technology, the lights have a three dimensional beam which allows glare free high beam driving.
the ‘GT concept’ uses projection front headlights
‘we created the GT concept to capture the bold, emotional spirit of both the vauxhall and opel brands,’ explains vice president of design europe, mark adams. ‘it is dramatic, sculptural and full of innovations, which is our great tradition that we intend to continue. in the mid-sixties, vauxhall and opel created their own interpretations of a light-weight sports car – the XVR and the experimental GT – both of which were thoroughly modern with dynamic sculptural forms. it’s certainly difficult to reinvent iconic concepts like these, but just as each was avant-garde back then, so too is this GT concept today – absolutely pure, minimalistic, yet bold and uncompromising. this coupe impressively demonstrates the continuous development of our design philosophy.’
the glass roof fuses with the back windshield 
the door tucks into the front wheelbase 
the red line flows through the whole chassis
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