Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept (2010)

Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept

At 4.46 metres, the Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept offers ample space for five people, yet still maintains a svelte and sporting appearance. Adams' team has maximised 'tension' in the design by limiting the amount of lines in the car's profile, and leaving the impression that the car's highlights and surfacing are 'pressed' on to the concept's 21-inch wheels.

Vauxhall's signature blade mimics that on the Insignia and creates a fine, tense crease along the rocker panel. This combines with a second line running from the door handle to the rear of the car, emphasising both a fine undercut and broad shoulder. A third line following the silhouette of the roof is finished in fine brushed aluminium accentuating the window graphic and leads to a sharply accented integrated spoiler.

Slim, eagle-eye shaped headlamps, flanked by LED running lights with chrome surrounds dominate the front of the Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept. A sharp centreline crease runs down the bonnet (a trademark styling cue from Vauxhalls of yore) and leads to a dramatically low trapezoidal grille incorporating a chrome emblem bar.

At the rear, the imposing features of the concept are enhanced with LED tail lights, showcasing a long, stretched 'wing' night time graphic.

Underpinning the Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept is a specially designed chassis with an extra-wide stance. Hinting at the car's power potential is an electronic limited slip differential and an updated version of Vauxhall's FlexRide adaptive damping system. The new Astra's unique compound crank / Watt's link rear suspension provides excellent packaging and secure, driver-focused dynamics.

A four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, with direct petrol injection and Start/Stop technology is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, providing drivers with high levels of performance and fuel efficiency.

Echoing the Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept's exterior design cues, the cabin features sweeping lines and shapes, and a bold and unique use of fabric. Creating a 'positive/negative' effect across the front of the cabin, the driver's seat is trimmed in red with black highlights, while the front passenger's seat has black trim with red highlights.

Each of the front buckets seats is bespoke to the Vauxhall GTC Paris Concept and has aggressively shaped contours to complement the car's sporting intent. The GTC logo appears on each seat-back facing, along with titanium inserts that mirror the design cue seen on the front wheel's carbon fibre inserts.

The small black leather racing steering wheel has metal inserts, while on the dashboard Vauxhall's recurring 'wing' and 'blade' motifs can be seen. In this application, the blade appears in details like the polished chrome door grabs and the gearshift moulding. The wing design cue is evident in the wraparound instrument panel that embraces front seat occupants and arcs across the cabin into the tops of the door mouldings.

Vauxhall's design team has used micro-fibres and leather for the seats, a textured black material for the instrument panel and plush carpeting throughout the cabin's flooring.