Vauxhall has unmasked its bold-looking GT Concept ahead of its first public appearance at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show this March. The car has been described as a “template for future sports cars”.
New images of the GT sports car concept show it is a long-nosed coupe model with a fixed roof and a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive chassis. The design of the GT Concept pays tribute to two other sporty cars from Vauxhall’s history, the 1966 Vauxhall XVR and the 1965 Opel Experimental GT.
Daring exterior design
There’s a distinct red line which flows along either side of the body and there’s bright red trim on the wheels too. Both exterior highlights majorly contrast with the grey and black finish applied to most of the body.
Other bold design highlights include the absence of door handles or even exterior mirrors. To open the doors, the GT Concept has roof-mounted touchpads integrated into the red signature line. In place of mirrors are cameras integrated within the front arches, which project images to the display screens found within the cabin.
Engine and performance
The engine used in the Vauxhall GT Concept is an all-aluminium 1.0-litre petrol unit. A similar unit is available with certain current Vauxhall cars, including the ADAM, Corsa and Astra. For the GT Concept, this engine delivers 144bhp and 205Nm torque.
This Vauxhall also weighs less than 1,000kg and can cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than eight seconds, according to online reports. That indicates the GT Concept is about on par with the Mazda MX-5 in terms of lightness and performance.
At the moment there’s no official word as to whether the GT Concept will turn into a production model. Vauxhall do have history in making sports cars, however, the most recent example being the VX220 which was built between 2000 and 2005.
Whether or not the new GT turns into Vauxhall’s first sports car in over ten years will likely depend on public reaction when the concept appears in Geneva this March.
