dug74
12th August 2004, 08:07 PM
It's new, it's angular and it could be a Holden. But it will probably need to be a Pontiac first, and a Vauxhall next before it is even in the frame for Australia.
Dubbed the VX Lightning, this Vauxhall rear-drive roadster "concept" was unveiled in central London this week under the gaze of General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner and GM's most senior design staff.
http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/images/2003/05/16/16vaux.jpgVauxhall is GM's British manufacturing arm and, officially, the Lightning celebrates the company's 100th birthday (it was founded in the district of the same name just south of the River Thames).
However, the car is based on the same platform as the Pontiac Solstice concept shown at the Detroit show.
According to company sources, GM's North American arm wants to see the Solstice in the showroom. Establishing a viable European version -- with right-hand-drive Vauxhall and left-hook Opel versions -- would greatly help the economics of the project.
The car was designed in the UK by Simon Cox and his team at GM's Advanced Studio in Coventry. Cox worked very closely with Opel design in Germany, which is led by Briton Martin Smith.
The look is described as having "classic British proportions" with a long bonnet and short tail, though it's a sensible 4.1m long.
Cox's team picked up on the edgy look of the Vauxhall Speedster -- based on the Lotus Elise and hampered in sales terms by its high price -- but made the car more flowing and less angular.
The interior -- mainly the responsibility of the Germans -- gives a strong clue as the inside of the next generation Astra, to be unveiled about September.
"We want to re-establish design leadership," Smith told Drive. "If you can do that it creates a need -- buyers just want to have that car."
Cox said there were shades of both the Speedster and the classic Corvette in the Lightning. "I wanted a combination of softness and tension. I'm a big fan of the 1963 Corvette and a big fan of Porsche."
The concept uses a supercharged version of Opel's 2.2-litre four-cylinder Ecotec engine -- with 179kW and 305Nm on tap, performance would be brisk -- coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. The rear-drive chassis has independent rear suspension.
GM Europe is said to be arguing for a six- or even eight-cylinder option. "With these looks and a big engine, we could be looking at a budget [BMW] Z8," said a source. GM North America wants to stick to a four-cylinder to keep to the inexpensive roadster brief.
The Speedster is not expected to last beyond this year, but if the Lightning got the go-ahead to replace it, it's likely to be more than 18 months from the showroom.
A Holden spokesman said the company was aware of the VX Lightning but added "it is not under active consideration at this time".
Dubbed the VX Lightning, this Vauxhall rear-drive roadster "concept" was unveiled in central London this week under the gaze of General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner and GM's most senior design staff.
http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/images/2003/05/16/16vaux.jpgVauxhall is GM's British manufacturing arm and, officially, the Lightning celebrates the company's 100th birthday (it was founded in the district of the same name just south of the River Thames).
However, the car is based on the same platform as the Pontiac Solstice concept shown at the Detroit show.
According to company sources, GM's North American arm wants to see the Solstice in the showroom. Establishing a viable European version -- with right-hand-drive Vauxhall and left-hook Opel versions -- would greatly help the economics of the project.
The car was designed in the UK by Simon Cox and his team at GM's Advanced Studio in Coventry. Cox worked very closely with Opel design in Germany, which is led by Briton Martin Smith.
The look is described as having "classic British proportions" with a long bonnet and short tail, though it's a sensible 4.1m long.
Cox's team picked up on the edgy look of the Vauxhall Speedster -- based on the Lotus Elise and hampered in sales terms by its high price -- but made the car more flowing and less angular.
The interior -- mainly the responsibility of the Germans -- gives a strong clue as the inside of the next generation Astra, to be unveiled about September.
"We want to re-establish design leadership," Smith told Drive. "If you can do that it creates a need -- buyers just want to have that car."
Cox said there were shades of both the Speedster and the classic Corvette in the Lightning. "I wanted a combination of softness and tension. I'm a big fan of the 1963 Corvette and a big fan of Porsche."
The concept uses a supercharged version of Opel's 2.2-litre four-cylinder Ecotec engine -- with 179kW and 305Nm on tap, performance would be brisk -- coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. The rear-drive chassis has independent rear suspension.
GM Europe is said to be arguing for a six- or even eight-cylinder option. "With these looks and a big engine, we could be looking at a budget [BMW] Z8," said a source. GM North America wants to stick to a four-cylinder to keep to the inexpensive roadster brief.
The Speedster is not expected to last beyond this year, but if the Lightning got the go-ahead to replace it, it's likely to be more than 18 months from the showroom.
A Holden spokesman said the company was aware of the VX Lightning but added "it is not under active consideration at this time".