Please, oh please bring this to the States with Opel! (or a nice looking option for the Solstice on which it is based.
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May 14, 2003 - Although much of the attention – at least in the United States – is on the centennial of the Ford Motor Company, which will be officially celebrated on June 16, this year is also the 100th anniversary of another motor firm: Vauxhall, which has been part of General Motors since 1925. Perhaps as a move to shine some light on the company, it unveiled the VX Lightning concept at the Dorchester Hotel in London this week.

The VX Lightning is based on the same platform used for the Pontiac Solstice concept that was shown at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

This was a joint project between GM Europe's Opel/Vauxhall Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and the GM North America (GMNA) Advanced Design Studio in England. Under the overall direction of GM Europe Director of Design, Martin Smith, the VX Lightning was developed at the Birmingham studio by a joint design team headed by Chief Designer Simon Cox, Opel Chief Designer (Advanced) Stefan Arndt, and designers Dale Grewer (exterior), and Jochen Werner (interior).

As a commemorative vehicle the emphasis in the grille and elsewhere is the Vauxhall 'V' motif. It provides a bold front, as the front fascia flares back with two hood lines completing the arrow-like shape that seems to drive the long-hooded vehicle forward. Reinforcing the 'V' theme is the creased centerline of the hood, rear decklid and facias. The angular headlamps continue the themes introduced on the VX220, integrating with the dramatic peaked form of the front fenders.

In classic British roadster style, the hood is long and the rear overhang short. The VX Lightning shows a further evolution of the Opel/Vauxhall form language from the VX220/Speedster, with a more subtle softening up of the surfaces. The rollover hoops beautifully sculpted into the rear deck, with just the touch of a crease, is an indication of the new softer, but still edgy direction this European team is taking. An interesting detail is the polished metal air vent panel in the bodyside air outlet. The rear view mirrors seem to have been formed by high-velocity air, stretching them to a speed shape.

Inside, deeply sculptured seats are finished in black and red leather, while red leather has also been used to trim the sweeping dashboard.The seats, inpired by Italian motorcycle racing gloves, are untreated red aniline leather with a thick buffalo-type grain. Pads of dark charcoal leather are added over the surface or in the case of the door and the IP hood, the red leather floats as a panel over the surface, slightly offset from the main structure. The ebony piano lacquer used as an accent on the center console and framing the instrument dials adds a note of elegance that moves this car up a few levels from the Vauxhall VX220.

The VX Lightning has a new version of Vauxhall’s all aluminium 2.2 ECOTEC engine, reworked with a supercharger to produce a maximum power of 240hp and 305Nm of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is mated to the new engine, which drives the rear wheels. The chassis incorporates independent suspension, the front end using a simple and reliable strut configuration with a rack and pinion steering.

At the rear, the independent suspension is all aluminium for weight saving. Overall, the car manages a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution for handling and agility. The vehicle has a 95-inch wheelbase, is 45 inches high, 153.1 inches long, 71 inches wide and weighs 2,900 pounds. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels in the front and 20-inch alloys in the rear, with Michelin Pilot rubber.

Kevin Wale, Vauxhall chairman and managing director, said the Lightning is "a return to our early performance roots when Vauxhall was famous as the manufacturer of the first true British sports car – while we continue to be both innovative and bold in exterior and interior design." He added, "Ultimately, the VX Lightning, as a classic roadster, represents the best of our past, and our future – a vehicle that is quintessentially British."

While rumors swirl in and around Detroit that the production Solstice will go ahead, there is no word on whether the Lightning will be put into production, but along with the GTC Geneve concept, it is an indication of Opel/Vauxhalls new design direction, and a prequel to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

 

Yeah I read about these a couple of days ago at cardesignnews.com. I really like the design very aggressive along with the interior. The lines just flow. But unfortunately I really despise the exterior design of the pontiac solstice.

On the other hand, I wish Lotus produce the M250. A model above the Lotus Elise.

 

:barf: but i guess its better looking than a TVR

 

looks mazda-ish

 

Wow, very nice. Much nicer than VX220 imho.

I'd love to see this come over here, changed or not changed. I dont care if its a opel or pontiac or anything, Id like to see it on sale in the usa.

 

This is what, the 3rd or 4th concept based off the Solstice platform? If you ask me, the Solstice is a done deal - in all shapes and forms. Its amazing actually that pretty much all the cars based off this platform turned out to be lookers. I really wish they would produce this too.

 

I think this car is great looking. It refines the style of the VX220, which is a little brash in its current state. I would take one of these in a heart beat.

 

I prefer the look/design of the Elise S2

 

I doubt that GM/Pontiac/etc... could produce a car like this with Lutz's target price of under 20k. I agree with everyone that these cars look awesome, and they'll probably perform great (quality issues aside), but I just don't see how they can reach that price target. At 20k it makes me want one alot, but if they come to the market at 25k-30k, then it suddenly doesn't sound so appealing.

 

If they are able to make and sell say 20-25K units per year the price will come down to about 23-24K.

The question is, can they sell that many per year.