The Frankfurt Motor Show (September 12-22) is quickly approaching and automakers are starting to uncover their premieres to be displayed at Europe’s largest car show.
Opel has confirmed the Monza Concept for Frankfurt, a coupe whose face we’re already familiar with. Now, the German carmaker released a second teaser image of the car showing the front end once again, although this time it has been more generous with the lighting.
The Monza Concept is a preview of things to come at Opel in the future, especially as far as the design is concerned. The Monza features an evolution of Opel’s design philosophy of “Sculptural Artistry meets German Precision”, albeit now favoring “lithe athleticism rather than pure muscle power.”
“The Monza Concept is our vision of Opel’s future in pure form,” said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. Although the German carmaker keeps silent about the study’s technical characteristics, previous reports say the car is rear-wheel drive and may be underpinned by the architecture of the Cadillac ATS. The study is tipped to spawn a production version from 2016 that will be powered by Cadillac ATS gasoline engines, plus Opel diesels in Europe. The roadgoing version of the Monza Concept may also be badged a Buick in the United States.
The Monza study respects Opel’s tradition of presenting “ground-breaking” concept cars at the IAA. Opel says it prides itself for having been the first carmaker in Europe that built a study in its own design facilities (instead of having a coach-builder make it) – the 1965 Experimental GT, which premiered in Frankfurt. The study for an affordable sports car became a reality as the 1968 Opel GT, marking another premiere as the first European concept car ever to go into series production.
More IAA studies from Opel followed over the years: the 1969 Opel CD Gran Turismo, the futuristic 1975 Opel GT2, the 1981 TECH 1 research vehicle that previewed the design of the Opel Omega, the 1983 Opel Junior city car, the eco-friendly 1999 Opel G90, the versatile 2001 Frogster Concept or the 2003 Insignia which previewed Opel’s current design language.
Opel’s more recent IAA concept cars are the 2007 Flextreme Concept hybrid and the 2011 Opel RAK e experimental car.
By Dan Mihalascu
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