145 hp and rear-wheel drive, this is the Opel GT Concept

The guys at Opel have been working on a new concept for some time now, ahead of its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show.

It is the Opel GT Concept, a small sports car whose first official details we finally get to see today.

The previous Opel GT was a small two-seater convertible with a fabric roof, derived from an American model. It had a very sporty character thanks to its rear-wheel drive, a very low and set-back driving position, and a 2.0 Turbo engine producing over 260 hp.

Times change, and the guys at Opel have a new concept that foreshadows—in a very rudimentary way, for now—the lines of an upcoming sports car from the brand. Although the name is the same—GT—the approach is not that similar to its predecessor.

The exterior design is that of a small closed sports car, with very well-studied proportions. A large bonnet pushes the cabin far back, resulting in a very wide and sturdy rear end. The front stands out for its small, semi-hidden headlights, as well as the grille with chrome slats.

A red line divides the bodywork horizontally

The wing and the door are a single piece, with the window faired from the inside, so from the outside no joints or seams are visible. The roof, with very rounded shapes, gives a very attractive retro look. The exhausts are located in the centre of the rear bumper, faired for better aerodynamic performance. The solution proposed for the wheels, shaped like a turbine, also stands out.
We know little about the interior, except that it is a two-seat cabin, with a very wide floating centre console and digital instrumentation, trends that production models from Opel will soon adopt.

Mechanically, the GT Concept features a small 1.0 three-cylinder Turbo engine, boosted to 145 hp —let us remember that this engine currently produces up to 115 hp in road models— mounted in a front-mid position. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed sequential transmission. It also features a limited-slip differential that enhances the driving experience.

With these mechanical specifications, the GT Concept accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 215 km/h. These performance figures, while not brilliant, appear notable thanks to the lightness of the chassis and body construction.

Source | Opel