Opel/Vauxhall Concept Honors Past, Anticipates Future
Opel/Vauxhall says that despite the Experimental’s futuristic look, it is very much aimed at the C-segment where the brand has long had success with its Astra and Corsa models.
Opel/Vauxhall reveals its new Experimental concept to the public at IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, Germany, revealing a future design language that nods to its top-selling bygone products.
Mark Adams, vice-president design for Opel/Vauxhall, explains to WardsAuto that, despite the car’s overall futuristic look, it is very much aimed at the C-segment where the Stellantis-owned brands have long had success with their Astra and Corsa models--both showcasing all-electric versions at the show.
Mark Adams Design Opel
“It’s not a specific vehicle but a design language for us to use throughout the future range,” Adams (pictured, left) says. “The brand has used a crease on the bonnet on models since the 1960s, so we have incorporated an illuminated crease line front and back that we call the compass. It’s also based on the footprint of an Astra, which is where we see the focus of the brand remaining in the future.”Naturally, with any BEV aerodynamics plays a big role in dictating design profiles, yet Adams says this is a clear evolution of the brand’s previous Experimental concept. Explaining his design decisions, he says: “The most important thing for me was to focus on what we want to be as a brand when we embarked on this mission at the beginning. Now this is the next step in design language. We are not throwing everything away that we did with the GTX Experimental in 2018. We are building on that and showing how progressive and modern the brand is showing for the future.”
The brand's chief designer adds that it is important that the aerodynamics don’t detract from the overall appeal and usefulness of the vehicle. “Aerodynamics and all the functional attributes are important, as well as the car's looks, so we want a great interior package as well.”
Adams also sees a future interior that will be much less cluttered than the cabins of today, with active lighting taking the role of mood setters as a way to enhance the user experience, especially in automated driving modes.
He adds: “We want our cars also to project more technology and when you look at this car, its exposed natural materials illustrate the sustainability story. Even this side glass, when you’re in autonomous mode or when you are parked up, will go opaque so you can have privacy. While in normal driving mode, that would be clear. These are the sort of technologies that really fit with the new usage patterns of future cars.”
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