Opel celebrates 50 years of its design studio

Opel celebrates 50 years since its design studio opened in June 1964 in Rüsselsheim. The shapes, colours and functions of the brand’s cars are decided and developed there, making it a key milestone for the brand.

The official opening of this studio was a landmark, as it was the largest design studio owned by a car manufacturer in Europe. Until then, most manufacturers commissioned external experts to develop their concept cars. Names such as Pietro Frua, Giuseppe “Nuccio” Bertone and Pininfarina were responsible for designing many of the new models and concepts of car manufacturers, as the area around Turin was considered the mecca of car design.

It quickly became a European school of car design that attracted the best talent in the industry. Various names passed through that studio, giving rise to many ideas, shapes and car designs that have originated in Rüsselsheim since the 1960s.

The tasks assigned to the Rüsselsheim Design Studio are not only to develop the design of new model lines, but also to reach beyond the confines of daily activity and research the design of future vehicles. For Opel, design is seen as a strategic pillar for future success.

The Advanced Design studio of Opel has created true automotive icons. The Opel Experimental GT was the first masterpiece, presented just one year after the new Design Studio opened. It was followed in 1969 by the V8-powered Opel CD, the GT2 with sliding doors in 1975, and the aerodynamically improved Tech1, whose drag coefficient (Cx) of 0.235 was a sensation in the early 1980s.

Its latest work was shown at the most recent Frankfurt Motor Show: the Opel Monza Concept, which showcases the design solutions and technical criteria that will appear in the brand’s model lines in the coming years.

Source | Opel