Autocar Agosto 22, 2018

TODAY, VAUXHALL REVEALS the look and direction for its future road cars in the shape of the GTX (p6), an exciting and interesting concept. If future Vauxhalls look as striking as this, then the famous brand will have a distinctive and relevant place in the car market. But as good as the GTX looks, we must wait another year for any new generation Vauxhalls to hit the road. Up first is the all-new Corsa, a car hastily switched from a General Motors architecture to a PSA Group one, and, perhaps unnervingly for a model that needs a firm reboot, developed in double-quick time – too soon to be inspired by the GTX. Of course, we must wait to see and drive the Corsa before we deliver our verdict on it,…

Vauxhall-Opel has revealed a sporty new B-segment SUV concept at its design centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Dubbed the GTX, it has been produced to give a clear view of a changing design language for the evolving brand. The GTX, which is “far more than just a concept car” according to its maker, has been planned both to mark Vauxhall-Opel’s acquisition by the PSA Group and to demonstrate that much greater design freedom is coming to future new Vauxhall and Opel vehicles. Though quite different in its proportions, the new GTX bears an obvious similarity to Vauxhall’s previous much-praised concept, the two-door GT coupé, for which a successor was always promised. The GTX (the ‘X’ to convey a crossover function) is much more practical, having a fully designed cockpit that features…

It’s not just the new Vauxhall GTX concept that creates the optimism, though it seems almost good enough and plausible enough for production (were it not for those clap-hands doors, the lack of door seals and the meagre rear carrying space). The extra ingredient is the excitement of the people who have created the new GTX. Rüsselsheim has made some strong concepts over the years, but there has always been a feeling that its future would be decided by uninvolved people in some Detroit ivory tower in three to six months’ time. This is different. Big boss Carlos Tavares has already blessed the GTX project. Its objectives are understood by all. Vauxhalls of the future will be exciting and progressive, and this GTX will be one of the major drivers.…

What’s the most important function of the GTX? “This is our first move, now that the company is under new ownership, at reinventing the face of our forthcoming cars, and showing what the future customer experience will be like inside them.” Why did you choose a B-segment SUV? “We decided it was vital to choose a car already popular in the contemporary market, to show Vauxhall’s approachability. GTX is fresh, but it’s also genuine and has a clear connection with our history. We believe it’s ‘us’.” How soon before we see a car like this in production? “We’re not suggesting production for this car, but you’ll see plenty of big-picture features on our cars of the future: the Vizor, the purity and simplicity of the surfacing, a sense of structure…

Although the GTX has since evolved, Autocar was involved in the early days of creating Vauxhall’s concept. Soon after the PSA buyout deal was announced, the former GM brands were looking to establish themselves with a reimagined and thoroughly modernised design strategy. A show-stopping concept car was in order, and Vauxhall turned to us for help. Our involvement began with discussions between Mark Adams, Vauxhall-Opel’s design boss, to whom I contributed my own ideas about how the concept could look inside and out. My designs focused around a D-segment saloon, but it’s clear some inspiration and details have been transferred from our initial drawings to the finished concept. We’re happy to play a part in Vauxhall’s reinvention, however small……

Aston Martin’s upcoming Vanquish mid-engined supercar, a rival to the Ferrari 488 and McLaren 720S, will be developed within the Red Bull F1 team’s factory. Aston and Red Bull have established a new Advanced Performance Centre at the F1 team’s Milton Keynes campus. Aston is in the process of moving 130 staff from its advanced engineering department at Gaydon to the new facility in order to develop the new supercar, due in 2020, among other models. The relationship between the two companies is rooted in road car product development, rather than being a simple case of Aston Martin logos appearing on Red Bull’s F1 cars. The first co-developed model will be the Valkyrie hypercar, with a slightly less-expensive model, christened “son of Valkyrie” by Aston boss Andy Palmer, also in…