fzanetti Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Finally GM is having a more European thinking and re-utilizing its own resources in house to sell cars in the US.... Opel Antara GTC Concept: 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show Motoring Channel Staff - 13/9/2005 http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/opel-antara-concept-1.jpg Opel Antara GTC Concept http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/opel-antara-concept-2.jpg Opel's bold new concept is expected to attract lots of attention at the '05 Frankfurt Motor Show Opel's Compact 4WD Takes Shape Could this be General Motor's next-generation European rival for the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester? The exterior design certainly warrants more than one look, and with a number of useful features - such as the panoramic roof and 'floating' front seats - it has plenty of potential. If nothing else, the fancy-looking concept car provides an insight into the future design direction that General Motors will take its European models. The design is almost organic from some angles, with curvaceous extremities, while the use of LEDs and metallic highlights on the bonnet and front flanks instantly attract the eye. Furthermore, the idea of a small-capacity twin-turbo L4 diesel mill could be a real winner for huge motoring conglomerate too - 156kW is not to be sniffed at for a 1.9-litre engine. - Feann Torr, Editor http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/opel-antara-concept-3.jpg The panoramic glass roof is reinforced by a technical-looking central spine, which also acts as a rail console inside the car http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/opel-antara-concept-4.jpg Like all good concept cars, the interior is lurid, flashy and the epitome of the word 'conceptual' General Motor's German operation has released a futuristic concepts car for the Frankfurt Motor Show - the four-wheel drive Antara GTC - short for Gran Turismo Crossover Opel says the advanced-looking concept vehicle demonstrates just how dynamic and athletic an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) can actually be. The study has its premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA) from September 15-25, 2005. With the characteristic 3-door design, Opel shows a particularly sporty interpretation of an SUV and its dynamic design language in this special vehicle format. With the striking LED headlamps that run well into the fenders, and the brand's typical crease in the engine hood, the front of the four-seater accentuates Opel's new design line. Opel is confident that, when viewed from the side, attention will be captured by the frameless windows that drop right down and contribute to the coupe-like silhouette. "The Antara GTC concept vehicle conveys ‘adventure’ – even when standing still. It leverages Opel's current design language and reinterprets it for the SUV genre," explains Bryan Nesbitt, the Executive Director of GM Design in Europe. "Contrary to traditional off-road concepts, the Antara GTC communicates that its true home is more on the road than on rough terrain," added Nesbitt. With a number of optical and technical details and typical Opel versatility in the interior, the study also sets out to satisfy demanding practical requirements. The tailgate, for example, has a pantographic hinge (see image below, left). Thanks to this innovative design, when it is opened, it swings upwards and to the front so that the person loading the vehicle is not forced to take a step backwards. Opel assures us that this provides more convenient access to the load compartment. While there's nothing new in the way that the two rear seats can be folded away completely from the rear of the vehicle, the front seats are a bit different, being anchored on mono-rails, looking as though they are floating. With the aid of an EasyEntry system, they slide forward at the press of a button up to the instrument panel to allow the passengers to climb more easily into the rear seats. Beneath the bonnet, the Antara GTC - manufactured completely in house by Opel at its Rüsselsheim development center - features a 156kW (212hp) twin-turbo version of the 1.9-litre CDTI (diesel) 4-cylinder engine. The transverse installed concept power plant produces 400Nm starting @ 1400rpm, and, like all 1.9-litre CDTI engines in Opel models, is equipped with a maintenance-free particulate filter (DPF). In combination with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the predicted performance is outstanding: computer simulations show a top speed of over 210km/h and an acceleration from zero to 100km/h in around 8.0 seconds. The two-stage turbocharged concept diesel unit is absolutely ideal for this type of vehicle, says Opel. The transversally installed 4-cylinder engine features two overhead camshafts, 4-valves per cylinder and a variable turbo blade geometry. The fuel supply to the cylinders is controlled by a common-rail system with a pressure of up to 1600 bar. The heart of the innovative twin-turbo technology of the concept diesel engine is forced aspiration through two exhaust-driven turbochargers, which unlike “biturbo” systems operate in series rather than in parallel. A smaller, highly responsive turbocharger spools up for the low engine speed range, and a larger turbocharger designed for high output takes over as the revs and road speed build up. The modern chassis of the Antara GTC is also dedicated to agile handling, following its road-based application. McPherson struts are used on the front axle, and there is a four-link axle at the rear to offer sedan-like ride and handling, and rack-and-pinion power steering ensures precise handling. Inside the concept study, Opel has included a panoramic roof system (borrowed from the new Opel Zafira). The two large skylights that make up the vehicle's roof give the occupants a light and very pleasant atmosphere to travel in. Dark tinted glass provides protection from excessive sunshine, while the roof console, which runs along the roof center and extends over the whole length of the car interior, offers additional stowing space. Another ingenious storage facility for everyday utensils is the special leather bag that can be moved along a rail between the front and rear seats. It can also be taken along on a shopping or sightseeing trip. http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/images/opel-antara-concept-5.jpgThe center console accommodates not only the compact gear lever of the Easytronic transmission, but also three large round ventilation nozzles and the controls for the infotainment system and air-conditioning. Side handles to hold on at the bottom of the center console reflect the offroad character of the concept vehicle. The instruments are backlit in turquoise and are accommodated in an aluminium housing – which Opel says is an impressive combination of structural strength and optical elegance. When offroad, displays in the two circular instruments keep the driver constantly informed of the gradient (up or down) and of the lateral angle of the Antara GTC. Even the pedals have a connection with the exterior. They are covered with non-slip rubber that has the same unusual profile as the Antara tires, which cover massive 20-inch chromium alloy rims. Another divergent feature of the interior is the removal of the conventional carpet, or car mat; the SUV study is fitted with sisal (a very hardy Mexican/Central American plant fibre often used to make rope), a solution that combines a certain stylishness with excellent wear properties. "With the Antara GTC, we have again showed that a sporty design does not have to exclude a practical interior. Combining the sporty with the practical is a core area of competence for Opel," said Frank Leopold, Manager of GM Europe's Innovation, Show Cars and Advanced Packaging, when summarising the study's interior concept. From: http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/opel-antara-gtc-concept.htm This Opel Antara will be sold under the Saturn badge in the US btw!!! Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fzanetti Posted September 14, 2005 Author Share Posted September 14, 2005 Sharing designs Where vehicles do not compete in the same market, GM will create "look-share" opportunities, rebadging the same product in two different markets. For example, GM is sharing design themes between Opel and the next-generation Saturn mid-sized vehicle. GM's checks and balances will govern efforts at differentiation, Queen says. Engineers cannot release specifications to a supplier without the approval of a vehicle line executive or chief engineer in each region. If one region wants to change the parameters on a program, it must appeal to GM's Automotive Product Board, a Supreme Court inside the company created this year. "If someone really wants a different A-pillar, they can petition the company to change that," Queen said. Jon Lauckner, GM's vice president for global program management, said GM already is seeing a 25 percent savings in engineering and investment on GM's next-generation Epsilon, or mid-sized, cars. "Those are very encouraging early results," Lauckner said. "Engineering and manufacturing will have reduced costs as we eliminate duplication and engineering development cost. And we will have greater opportunities to do that in the future." Who knows? We might have a Vectra OPC as well as some other Opel cars someday in the States hehehehehe Flavio Zanetti Boston, MA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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