Notices
Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Innova

2007 Opel GT (aka Saturn Sky)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:36 PM
  #1  
GFerg's Avatar
GFerg
Thread Starter
Speaks French in Russian
CL Folding 25,000
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
Likes: 100
From: What is G?
Default 2007 Opel GT (aka Saturn Sky)

So basically all new Saturns are going to be rebadged Opels?? That new Saturn Aura looks like some Opel sedan as well. They should have done that from the get go. I kinda like Opels style.

OPEL GT


SATURN SKY




OPEL GT


SATURN SKY



A great name doesn’t have to be long. Indeed, for many automobile fans, the Opel GT is the cult sports car of the 1970s. Now the legendary name is making a comeback in the form of a stunning two-seat roadster that could also make automobile history. Opel will present the all-new GT to the international public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show (March 2 to 12, 2006). With exciting, sharply-cut lines, rear-wheel drive, and a potent four-cylinder turbo engine with gasoline direct injection, the new sports car echoes the successful concept of the original GT, which was built between 1968 and 1973.
“The GT is a powerful addition to our range of attractive niche products, and thereby further enhances the appeal of the Opel brand”, says Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM Europe. “The Tigra, the Astra TwinTop, and the new GT mean that we will have three very different models, all of which deliver top-down driving excitement. Moreover, the GT is a perfect example of how GM uses and applies its worldwide resources for the good of the individual brands.”

The new Opel GT is fun to drive thanks to its front engine and rear-wheel drive, which together ensure a balanced weight distribution, and its 260-hp 2.0-liter ECOTEC turbo engine with gasoline direct injection. This accelerates the new GT from zero to 100 km/h in less than six seconds, and enables a maximum speed of over 230 km/h.

Another fun factor is the fabric roof, which folds down to provide open-air enjoyment denied to the owners of the first GT. The roof disappears completely beneath a cover, further underlining the GT’s sporty silhouette with short overhangs and widely spaced 18-inch wheels.

The development of the new Opel GT is an excellent example of transcontinental collaboration within GM. The design was inspired by the VX Lightning concept car, which was conceived by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham, England in May 2003 for the 100th anniversary of the Vauxhall brand. The new GT will be built in Wilmington/Delaware, in the USA, where its sister models, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, are also produced. The Opel GT is scheduled to hit the markets in spring 2007.

The original Opel GT owed much to the USA – in several respects. Its breathtaking lines were inspired by a new American design style, the so-called “coke bottle shape”, which also defined the Corvette Stingray. Furthermore, two thirds of all Opel GT cars built have been exported to the United States.
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:46 PM
  #2  
PhilipMSPT's Avatar
PhilipMSPT
Cycle Savant
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21,528
Likes: 9
From: In rehab...
Default

What a waste of badges! They're the same!!!
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:50 PM
  #3  
spwolf's Avatar
spwolf
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,238
Likes: 274
Default

well, since this is an Saturn first, it can only be rebadged saturn, not opel :-).

Nothing wrong, as long as it is suited well for Euro market, since Saturn is not sold in the Europe anyway, why not...
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:05 PM
  #4  
Gojirra99's Avatar
Gojirra99
CL Community Team
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,277
Likes: 354
From: Canada
Default

Whatever they call it, I like the design
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:42 PM
  #5  
Richie's Avatar
Richie
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 19,103
Likes: 2
From: Netherlands
Default

They are trying to get a piece of the MX5 (miata) market.
I wonder if they'll pull it off.
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:47 PM
  #6  
Falcon LS's Avatar
Falcon LS
Lead Lap
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: GB/KW
Default

Originally Posted by PhilipMSPT
What a waste of badges! They're the same!!!
Isn't that really the case with many GM products nowadays? The only difference between an Opel and a Vauxhall, for example is the badging. I guess the same would go for other vehicles like the Holden Commorode/Chevrolet Lumina, Holden Caprice/Chevrolet Caprice.
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 03:16 PM
  #7  
JJG2005's Avatar
JJG2005
Lead Lap
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: OH
Default

The Opel is a 2.0 turbo... despite the Saturn being a Saturn, if it had a turbo engine I think I would buy one
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 03:50 PM
  #8  
Och's Avatar
Och
Lexus Champion
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 17,005
Likes: 238
From: NY
Default

remind anyone of opel Sppedster / Vauxhall VX220?



Reply
Old Feb 1, 2006 | 03:58 PM
  #9  
Lil4X's Avatar
Lil4X
Out of Warranty
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Default Something in the bloodline . . .

Not sure of this Opel's pedigree, but I owned a '72 Opel Rallye and a buddy had a GT. The latter was pretty small inside, but not a bad sports car. Car and Driver dubbed the Rallye the King of the Super Coupes, an outstanding sports coupe that OWNED the early Showroom Stock and SCCA B Sedan series. It was extremely well built, light, nimble, and well-balanced. It was also a regular UN of components. It was engineered by the vernerable German Opel organization and assembled in Belgium, using Bosch electrics, a 2-bbl Solex carb, a smooth, rugged 4-speed that was supposed to be shared with GM for the Vega, but ignored. The original tires and spark plugs were French, and the manufacture of practically underhood component represented practically every nation in Europe at the time.

Oddly enough, it was sold in the US by Buick, as an early experiment in pairing US retail outlets with foreign manufacturers. By the mid '70's it was routinely advertised as a BUICK Opel. I drove it as a second car for nearly nine years, at which point I ran out of garage space and reluctantly sold it to my daughter's boyfriend. The little druggie wrecked it seven times in nine weeks, rolling it twice. Almost as an insult to his incompetence behind the wheel, the passenger compartment was undamaged and it still ran perfectly, despite having not one square inch of straight bodywork. A lesser car would have killed him.

If this Opel is one HALF the car my little Rallye was, I will probably own one. They say you never forget your first love . . .
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 05:30 AM
  #10  
mmarshall's Avatar
mmarshall
Lexus Fanatic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,461
Likes: 251
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Default

Several new Saturns in the last 5-6 years have been rebadged Opels....or at least dervived from Opel-designed platforms. This was true of the now-discontinued L-series, the VUE, the Sky, and the recently debuted Aura. The Ion and the Relay were exceptions.....they came from the Chevolet Cobalt and Chevy Ventura platforms.
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 07:13 AM
  #11  
spwolf's Avatar
spwolf
Lexus Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,238
Likes: 274
Default

Originally Posted by Och
remind anyone of opel Sppedster / Vauxhall VX220?



those were elise's with Opel's turbo engines. In fact, pretty unreliable engines and resale values of those went down a lot.
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2006 | 11:07 AM
  #12  
Richie's Avatar
Richie
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 19,103
Likes: 2
From: Netherlands
Default

Originally Posted by spwolf
those were elise's with Opel's turbo engines. In fact, pretty unreliable engines and resale values of those went down a lot.
The engines arren't that bad actually.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Seize
Car Chat
3
Nov 30, 2007 04:36 PM
GFerg
Car Chat
8
Jun 28, 2006 12:50 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:11 PM.