Car Design News: Opel GT: In Depth

Dynamic Look Is New Interpretation of Roadster

Classic proportions wide stance with sleek silhouette and short overhangs
Unmistakable personality with impressive front and strong features
Archetypal roadster shape with tailor-made fabric roof

With its exciting, sharply sculpted design, the new Opel GT embodies the quintessential roadster in modern, contemporary form. Clear-cut edges contrast with muscular arched surfaces, creating an extraordinarily dynamic look that gives the GT its own unmistakable personality. And the characteristic proportions ? wide stance with sleek silhouette, long hood and short overhangs ? make it the ultimate example of its class. 18-inch aluminum wheels in new five-spoke design emphasize the roadster character, as does the tailor-made fabric roof, which completely disappears beneath a cover for open-top driving fun, and seamlessly integrates into the car�s shape when closed.

The new roadster�s face displays archetypal characteristics of its genre, as well as Opel-typical design elements in bold form:

Wide, long front-hinged hood; sleek, short overhangs
Striking front with large air intake in honeycomb design
Wide chrome grille crossbar with integrated Opel logo
Hood with distinctive center crease and air vents
Bold 3-D headlamps in clear glass look drawn deep into the side panels
V-shaped front end with prominent lamp units
Powerfully sculpted fender with grooving and roadster-typical contours
Tailor-made fabric roof

The GT�s especially sporty characteristics include the long chrome-bordered air vents in the hood, the grooving in the front fenders with their dynamic, Opel-typical horizontal signature lines ? like on the Antara ?, the double-pipe exhaust system and the twin air scoops behind the head restraints. These are not just reminiscent of classic motor sport and roadster design, but also fulfill an aerodynamic function by reducing air turbulence.

Both in silver, the windshield frame and the trim around the roof stowage compartment further accentuate the car�s distinctive look. The GT is available in seven colors, including colorful shades such as sunshine yellow and Eifel blue.

The ergonomically perfect cockpit with high-grip sport steering wheel, chrome-ringed dials and contoured sport seats is tailor-made for sporty driving. The short gear stick considerably adds to driving fun with its crisp, uncluttered operation; short gear travel enables quick gear shifts from the roadster-typical casual seating position. Customers who choose the Premium package, which includes leather seats with visible stitching and leather trim in the doors, have the choice between classic black leather upholstery or a bold two-tone combination of cobalt red and black. The high-tech look of the surface structures, accented with black piano lacquer and chrome finishes, underline the sporty ambience, while the chrome-ringed ventilation and lighting controls are further evidence of the GT designers� careful attention to detail.

The roadster�s design was inspired by the Solstice concept car from 2002 and the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept car (2003) from the GM Advanced Design Studio in Coventry, England. The development of the new Opel GT is a prime example of transcontinental collaboration within GM. It stems from the decision to expand the portfolio with a compact, rear-wheel drive, sporty vehicle. The final Opel GT design was completed jointly at the GM Europe Design Studios in R�sselsheim and the GM Design Studio in Detroit under the direction of Bryan Nesbitt.

�Sporty Silhouette with Short Overhangs�

Three Questions for Bryan Nesbitt, Executive Director, GM Europe Design

The first Opel GT was a milestone in the history of automobile design. Doesn�t that make it very difficult for a designer to create a successor?

Certainly the market landscape has changed from the original GT�s introduction. Image vehicles have become increasingly dramatic. Our intent is to capture some of the emotional imprints of the original GT. You should recognize similarities like the leaping front fenders and long hood proportions, but interpreted in a modern perspective relevant to todays Opel portfolio. Importantly, not unlike the original, the new GT visually communicates that this is a vehicle made for enjoying the drive.

Now, there can be advantages to creating a niche model such as a roadster: You typically have more freedoms due to the more singular image intent of the product versus a volume model.

What are the Opel GT�s classic sporty roadster characteristics?

Proportions play the major role in establishing a car�s foundational appeal. The GT is broad and flat. Its elongated silhouette, long dash-to-axle with short overhangs and 18-inch wheels pushed far into the corners, are the proportional ingredients.

Where was the Opel GT design created?

In Europe. The Opel GT design takes its inspiration from the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept car, which was developed in May 2003 at the GM Advanced Design Studio in England to celebrate the brand�s hundredth anniversary. The GT�s final execution took shape at the GMs Design Center in Detroit and the GM Europe Design Center in R�sselsheim. With an international approach to design, we are using the best ideas from a diverse, talented workforce to create fresh, contemporary vehicles that resonate with our customers and stimulate their passion for driving a roadster and for the brand Opel.

Bryan Nesbitt was named Executive Director, GM Europe Design in February 2004. In this capacity, he is responsible for all Opel/Vauxhall, Saab and certain Saturn design activities. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. on January 24, 1969. Bryan Nesbitt studied Architecture and Industrial Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Automobile Design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, U.S.A.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Source: Source: Adam Opel AG