Opel definitely has plans to grace the old world with a new sports car of sorts, but it won’t be a reborn Calibra. Opel has now given us two teasers to digest before the latest Opel GT concept reveals itself at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show.
But, today, we have what a modern-day Opel Calibra could look like using plenty of Buick Avista influence. CarScoops has grabbed the rendering from X-Tomi Design, which shows this reimagined Calibra ditching the Avista’s angry sports car eyes for a pair of more conventional Opel headlamps, and a touched up front grille and bumper treatment. Dare we say it reminds of an Opel Speedster?
The Opel Calibra was originally introduced to counter the influx of Japanese sport coupes in the 1980s and 1990s. As much as we wish it were, this is not the 80’s or 90s any longer, and coupes have very much become a dying breed. However, if Buick finds the guts to produce the Avista, we hope Opel can find it within itself to introduce a reborn Calibra. Or, at least a production GT.
Comments
Honda manages to sell coupes, as does Hyundai, not to mention luxury brands.
Avista is a slam dunk.
Maybe the right coupes aren’t coming to market?
Sorry but if you really look at the number of coupes sold in North America they are quite low outside the Camaro and Mustang.
The Hyundai and Honda generate enough numbers globally but not enough in North America alone to justify them.
Even the Toyota and Subaru coupes are not doing all that well. They have been looking for a way to increase volume sales.
People today are more in tune with usability and not so much style over function. Blame it on the Mini Van or what ever but styling to many is a second or third place item on the must have list. Price and Utility often trump it I am sad to say,
Luxury brands they are a different story. The higher the price the less units you need to sell to make it profitable.
Also people with money can have 2-3-4-5 vehicles at home and have a vehicle for what ever job including ego stimulation with a good looking coupe.
I wish it were different but people are not in love with their cars anymore and they expect more now to just get more out of them than just looks. Times have changed.
When I was a Kid I was embarrassed that we had two 4 door cars at home. Today i would be the cool kid but not back then.
General Motors have hired a great bunch of new designers as you’re seeing it with the Avenir and now the Avista as well as Chevy’s Malibu, these cars look great and GM’s engineers apparently understand how to build the cars better as the new cars are getting bigger and lighter; the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is another example as while it’s about the size of a Lexus LS 460, the CT6 is over a thousand pounds lighter and even with just a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cyl engine should have the same level of performance as the LS 460.
Apparently, people who want about anything, beyond what is essentially lip service, other than a crossover ,four-door sedan, SUV or giant truck are simply being discounted by American manufacturers. There are plenty of other companies who seem happy for the business.
It’s the same old arrogance.