What's the news?
Opel has given us a big (a 4.06-metre big) clue as to how its future range of cars will evolve and look, under the ownership of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group with this, the GT X Experimental concept car.
If you squint a bit, this is probably how Opel's challenger to the next-generation of compact crossovers is going to look - smooth and sleek, and not obviously an SUV at first, but there are a number of interesting little design details going on here. Oh, and while Opel says that this concept "lays the foundation for the product side of the strategic PACE! plan presented last November" we reckon there's more than a little of the 2016 Opel GT coupe concept about it.
Opel says that the idea is to express a "New German-ness", one that "takes the best of Germany's traditional values - engineering excellence, a genuine fascination for well-executed machines, an intense focus on functionality, quality and reliability - and enriches them with warmth, open-mindedness and an attitude of genuinely caring about people."
There are a number of clever touches when you look at the car's exterior. Opel's Vice President Design, Mark Adams, has gone for a Range Rover Velar-style decluttered approach, either removing cutlines and swage lines entirely, or hiding them somehow. So the cutline for the doors blends in with the bright yellow horizontal stripe that runs down the length of the car, while the rear doors and the wraparound boot lid share a single cutline at the back. There are no exterior mirrors, but instead small cameras, that pop out of panels hidden (again) in the yellow accent line.
At the front, instead of a traditional grille, there's a new all-digital panel called the Opel Visor. That incorporates a new LED version of the Opel 'Blitz' lightning badge (which itself now has a new accent line running behind it and over the bonnet, creating what Opel calls a 'compass' effect) which changes colour depending on the operating status of the car. The Visor also contains LED Matrix healdights and wing-shaped daytime running lights, as well as cameras and sensors for the driver assistance systems (Opel says that the GT X is Level 3 autonomous capable, which means it can drive itself a lot, but still needs human supervision). Expect the Visor (or some more affordable version of it) to become a common sight on future Opel products, and is it just us or is there a touch of seventies Kadett saloon about the shape of the Visor?
Nothing seventies about the GT X's drivetrain - it's all-electric, with a 50kWh battery that should be good for a one-charge range of at least 300km (although Opel isn't yet talking about performance specifics). To help keep you up to date on the battery status, there's a tiny hexagonal display built into the drivers' side door sill, which shows the state of charge.
Other nice details? Opel says that it has kept the wheels to 17-inch diameter in the interest of ride comfort but has used some styling tricks (including tough-wearing rubber covers) that make them appear bigger. The back doors are rear-hinged (as with the last-generation Meriva) and all open to a full 90 degrees, to allow easier access and egress.
On the inside, the GT X follows current concept car protocol by having one giant screen for all instrumentation, infotainment, and other functions, along with two auxiliary screens which handle the views from the rear-facing cameras.
"We have a very clear vision of how we will navigate the future using our PACE! plan as our compass. Focus on a strong brand identity defined by our values - German, approachable, exciting - plays an integral role in our return to sustainable success. Our brand concept vehicle shows how these values will come to life in our products in the future. In absolutely breath-taking fashion, our engineering and design teams have sculpted these pillars into the Opel GT X Experimental. It gives a clear idea of how we see Opel's future mobility offer," said Michael Lohscheller, Opel's CEO.