Opel Gran Turismo Coupe Concept

We can only hope this Opel coupe comes to the US as the Saturn Whoop-Ass, SAAB Sonnet, heck, we'd even let them call it the Allante II. For now, it's known as the Opel Gran Turismo Coupe concept. Whatever it gets called is fine with us. It's sure handsome, and if scuttlebutt is true, it can back up the fast profile with real performance. The coupe is rumored to have a 300 hp turbocharged V6 lurking under the cleanly-drawn sheetmetal. That motive force is distributed to all four wheels, and the underpinnings are donated from the next-generation Vectra. Of course the concept is equipped like the full-boat, optioned up model would be (and then some); so it has all the goodies like a hard-disk based infotainment system, parking assistance, and undoubtedly more. We'll get to see this car up close and personal at the Geneva show, which is so close now that we're like 8 year olds on Christmas Eve. For now, we'll have to be satisfied to gaze longingly at these leaked photos that turned up on Spanish website. Based on the next generation Vectra platform the Gran Turismo Coupe’s purpose is not only to pre-announce Opel’s return to the mid-size Coupe category (after it abandoned it in the 90’s with the Calibra) but also to signal the change in the German company's design strategy. That means take a closer look to the Grand Turismo Coupe’s styling cues cause that’s what we’re going to see from Opel in the very near future starting out with the next generation Vectra that'll come out in mid-to-late 2008 (expect the coupe version sometime in 2009).

Even more importantly, you should check out the near-to-production interior that takes the Astra & Antara cabin design a step further, marking a significant change from the overly subtle Vectra. As for the “mechanical” department, the 4.830 mm long Grand Turismo is fitted with an upgraded version of the current Vectra OPC’s 2.8-liter V6 Turbo pumping out 300Hp (from 255Hp). Fitted with a 4wheel-drive system the Gran Turismo can go from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in around 6,0 sec while its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155mph).