Straightline

GENEVA, Switzerland – On the eve of the first press day of the Geneva Motor Show, General Motors’ European subsidiary, Opel, unveiled its GTC concept car that strongly hints at the next-generation Vectra.

GM's European head of design, Bryan Nesbitt said the GTC speaks a new design language for Opel in the future.

The GTC (short for Gran Turismo Coupe) also is intended to inject some emotion and interest in the softening premium midsize car segment in Europe.

The GTC concept is very close to the production version due within a couple of years. It uses a good amount of the existing Vectra, introduced in its current form in 2005, but is bigger and heavier.

Opel officials said they addressed all of the criticisms of the current Vectra in the concept. It features an aggressive front end with large vertical aluminum intakes that intersect the headlamps. The elements are mimicked on the rear. The sides are extremely sculptured as is the back end.

The GTC concept further represents the next chapter in Opel's interior brand identity, Nesbitt said. The interior shapes and surfaces, like the exterior, are sculpted. And the GTC goes sporty with red accents.

The GTC introduces a clever rear-seat configuration that Opel calls Flex4. The backs of both rear seats can be docked separately to the front seats via a power remote control. The seats pushed far forward create a spacious flat load floor for luggage and cargo.

The four-seat coupe is powered by a 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 turbocharged gasoline engine paired with four-wheel drive.

The concept uses what looks like a matte silver finish, accented with shiny chrome trim, a scheme not planned for production.

—Michelle Krebs, Senior Editor, Industry