Vauxhall has teased its ‘daring’ new design language via a covered version of the forthcoming GT X Experimental concept car. Bosses say it embraces the brand’s core values – hinting towards a production model for the ‘mid-2020s’.
The first image comes exactly one year after PSA Peugeot Citroen bought Vauxhall and Opel outright. While it leaves a lot to the imagination, it gives us our best look yet at the firm’s a sharp front lighting design – a signature that will likely feature across the range in years to come.
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The GT X Experimental doesn’t have a conventional grille, potentially hinting towards a fully-electric drivetrain. There’s no information on what form the concept will take, although the cleverly draped sheet suggests a somewhat conventional hatchback shape. The two-tone bodywork gives it a modern look, however, while the darkened lower trim could signal a degree of crossover-inspired styling.
Vauxhall’s vice president of design Mark Adams said: “Design will be at the heart of everything that we do in future. It will truly differentiate the Vauxhall brand, and make it sharper and more relevant to our core values.”
The GT X Experimental’s look is expected to also influence the all-new Vauxhall Corsa, which is due before the end of this decade.
In a previous conversation with Auto Express, Adams told us: “The [GT X Experimental] concept is where we are going with the brand portfolio in the future. You’ll get some of the flavour and some of the ingredients but we’re trying to push the boundary with the concept beyond the Corsa.”
The design of the next generation Corsa and its fully electric sibling have been signed off. Adams told Auto Express that he and his team had to start the project again from scratch when Opel/Vauxhall was taken over by PSA.
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Adams added: “Design has a timeless quality that we want to capture. Core to Vauxhall and Opel is German engineering but we will become more expressive with our design going forward.”
Elsewhere at Vauxhall, the firm has confirmed a plug-in hybrid version of the Grandland X will be one of four electrified models launched by 2020. Following it will be the electric Corsa, while an updated Ampera-e – not sold in the UK – and a plug-in hybrid Vivaro are expected to be the other two models.
By 2024 every model line will be offered with an electrified powertrain as Vauxhall’s product portfolio begins to make the shift form GM to PSA components.
What do you think of Vauxhall's new concept car so far? Let us know in the comments...
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