'Automotive manipulator' Theophilus Chin replaced Opel's French mustache-styled chrome piece with Buick's trademark waterfall grille, and well, that's all that was done to the car.
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That said, any plans Opel might have had for a two-door coupe will most likely be put on ice for the time being if not canned altogether.
But it never hurts to imagine what a sporty coupe with an Opel (or Vauxhall) badge would look like. Enter the world of an old acquaintance of ours, designer David Cardoso, who sent Carscoop these renderings of the Opel Enigma concept study.
The GT coupe model was designed to use the rear-wheel drive platform of the Chevrolet Camaro, but we'll let Dave do the rest of the talking on the Enigma:
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The battery-operated vehicle with the exposed wheels is based on a steel space-frame structure beneath a skin of conventional synthetic material.
The reason why Opel avoided the use of exotic materials is to keep the RAK e as affordable as possible. Nevertheless, Opel managed to keep the weight down to just 380kg (837 lbs) or about 80kg (176 lbs) less than VW's NILS concept.
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The ultra-compact model from GM's Opel and Vauxhall divisions is very similar in philosophy to Audi's duo of Urban Concept cars that will also have their world premiere in Germany next week.
The rakish study seats two people in a tandem layout with power being provided by an electric motor and a battery that offer a driving range of around 60 miles (96 kilometers) and a top speed of 75mph (120km/h).
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The European automaker did not disclose any specific details simply stating the experimental car will explore "a new interpretation of ‘driving fun’" and "emphasise the company’s passion for driver-focused vehicles", adding that it will "wow the press and public with its level of innovation."
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After we got a first glimpse of the Zafira study by means of an iPad hologram, Opel released the full details of the concept which previews the next-generation Zafira MPV. Described by Opel as a “lounge on wheels”, the design study uses the same style language as seen on the Insignia and Astra models.
The front is the most eye-catching part of the Zafira's sleek bodywork, with the headlights, LED running lights and the fog lights being united in a boomerang-shaped structure, inspired by the Ampera EV's fascia. Unlike the Meriva, the Zafira sports conventional doors and has a dynamic look due to the ascendent midline and the 20-inch rims.
Even though the mainstream variants of the production Astra GTC will lose the muscular bumpers, LEDs and tall 21-inch wheels of the design study, it's safe to say that what you see here is more or less what you'll get when the car arrives in Opel and Vauxhall showrooms across Europe in 2011.
For those wanting something closer in looks to the concept, there's good news as the flagship OPC model is expected to keep most of the styling features including the chunky bumpers.
For the most part, Opel's study is a thinly veiled concept of next year's sporty three-door Astra hatch, which will carry the GTC tag. On top of that, the concept's aggressive details such as the styling of the bumpers and the large wheels (style- and not 21-inch size-wise) strongly hint at the OPC version.
Same goes for the Astra-sourced interior that we see here for the very first time. Highlights include the sporty bucket front seats and a flat-bottomed racing steering wheel with metal inserts, both of which are expected to make their way on the new OPC.
The big difference here is shaping to be extra output in a traditionally showy hot-hatch package, or a sleek and sophisticated ride with potentially less power. But first, a joke: what would a diesel Ford Focus ST be called? Think about it.
Barring all the artsy literary references and mumbo jumbo, the facts go as follows: the GTC will be a compact, 3-door hatch for five with a coupe-like roofline. It measures 4.46 meters long and incorporates modern Opel design cues like the "blade" running along the rocker. Inside the concept appear to be some optional race-inspired cheek huggers.
The teaser you see pictured above is from the concept model's seats which are laser-etched with the phrase "And the speed was pure beauty" from Richard Bach's novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
No other details were provided, but there's a good chance the study may preview the range-topping OPC version fitted with a 240HP+ turbo engine and designed to rival both the VW Golf GTI and Scirocco.
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And while many (yours truly included) may support that an Astra-based sports coupe sounds like a more reasonable and lucrative proposal for Opel, Car Magazine has returned with an update on the Calibra II / GTC Concept story.
The report claims that the four-seater coupe is still under consideration but if it gets the final okay, it could go on sale as early as 2013, which sounds plausible given that the car would be more or less a two-door version of the Opel Insignia (sold in the U.S. as the 2011 Buick Regal).
If you find the Opel / Vauxhall Ampera and consequently the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids a little too plain and boring for your tastes, then you ought to a look at this handsome conceptual proposal from GM's European arm.
The 4.7-meter long Opel Flextreme GT/E concept with its coupe-like proportions and suicide-style rear doors illustrates how GM's extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology can be plugged into a larger size vehicle with a more emotional design DNA.
"The Flextreme GT/E concept shows the shape of things to come from Opel," says Frank Weber, Vice President, Corporate and Product Planning. "Bold, expressive and highly efficient, it represents the product strategy we will apply to all our future vehicles, large and small, across all market segments."
Described by Opel as a 'five-door coupe', the 4.7-meter (185-in.) long Flextreme GT/E concept that adopts the new Meriva's rear-hinged rear doors also illustrates a further development of the firm's current design language as seen on the Insignia, Astra and Meriva.
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Opel said that the new concept car "couples expressive, beautiful design with German engineering to meet the environmental challenges of tomorrow" and that the study "is proof that size and comfort do not have to be sacrificed for a vehicle to be environmentally efficiency."
Other than that, all we have to go on for now is this teaser image that shows the concept's front grille and incorporates the 'Voltec' logo, meaning that the study makes use of the Volt's plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Earlier this week, Opel / Vauxhall boss Nick Reilly revealed that GM's European unit is planning to launch an extended-range electric vehicle in addition to the Ampera (a.k.a. the European Volt) in the very near future, so the new concept will most likely give us an idea of what the car will be.
The new concept model will be escorted in Geneva by the new Meriva small MPV, the Ampera and the updated Corsa supermini.
