Vauxhall reveals new GT Concept

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Vauxhall has revealed a new concept car previewing what Auto Express is calling an "exciting future for the British brand".

The GT Concept is set to be seen in the flesh on the Vauxhall/Opel stand at the Geneva Motor Show in March and could hint at a small, two-door, rear-wheel drive sports car joining the Vauxhall line-up in the near future. The magazine says it could possibly form the basis of a new Tigra.

While the show-car points to the future, its design is very much inspired by the past. It borrows its name from the Vauxhall GT concept from 1964, and the design pays homage to the Opel GT and Vauxhall XVR show-cars also from the 1960s. Vauxhall claims it builds on more contemporary reveals too – this is the successor to the Monza concept shown in 2013.

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The design cues it absorbs from its 20th century contemporaries are seen mostly in the actual shape, such the long bonnet, bulbous rear and short overhangs. Elsewhere, the font grille is inspired by the new Astra and flanked by banks of LED lights, while the tyres on the front axle are red, a nod to Opel's Motoclub 500 motorbike from the 1920s.

The designers have placed emphasis on the smooth profile of the GT by minimising shut-lines. The doors are hinged within the front wheel arch, removing the need for a crease between the wheel and the door panel, while space-saving hinges are used to open wide in tight spots.

There are no door handles, neither - they are opened by a touchscreen pad on the roof – and the wing mirrors have been dropped in favour of cameras within the wheel arches.

Powering the GT is the three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbo found in versions of the Corsa and Astra, but in a 145bhp state of tune. That's enough for a 0-62mph time of eight seconds and a top speed of 134mph, considering it only weighs 2,204lbs.

Whether the GT translates into a production car is still unknown at the moment, though Opel boss Karl-Thomas Neumann told Top Gear that "militant requests" could get the vehicle signed off. He added that convincing Vauxhall/Opel's owners at General Motors to spin a platform for the car would be difficult.

However, Autocar says "Vauxhall-Opel has a history of putting rule-breaking sports cars into production", highlighting the original Opel GT and the more recent Vauxhall VX220.