Newswheel @ Geneva: Opel GT

Newswheel staff :: 02 March 2006 :: Filed under Roadster, Opel / Vauxhall, Opel / Vauxhall Opel GT, Europe & UK, Trade shows

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The VX220 / Speedster is dead. Long live the GT

Let’s be honest. When we heard the sophisticated Lotus Elise-based Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster was being replaced by the dumbed down Saturn Sky-derived Opel GT there was very little rejoicing. But we can’t deny it. The GT was one of the few cars at Geneva – in the sensible money sector, at least – that looked thoroughly ripe for a twisty road spanking.

Sure, some of the detailing is a little yee-haw, but unusually for a model based on a boggo Yank tank, the GT is waspishly compact and the front-engine, rear-drive proportions are simply bang on. Plus, with 260bhp on tap from the blown four-pot engine, this little beauty is going to really, really shift. Here’s hoping the chassis guys do a good job upgrading the car for Euro tastes.

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