Vauxhall Calibra in shock return

Calibra the next Buick ?

Wow, looks potentially like US brand, Buick, is going to get a car to fill out it's Regal line. It's a very attractive and stylish look, one which almost mirrors the Regal, but in Coupe format. Now things are getting interesting.

By thewizardofaz on 25 November, 2010, 6:21am

shock return....bold plans....
who writes this garbage????

By dllywelyn on 25 November, 2010, 7:26am

I hope its better looking than this, as the car above is as ugly as the original calibre was beautiful. Bored already with the current trend of brutish , 'in yer face' chavish styling that is the modern trend. Not all of us are so insecure that we have to have cars that look like theyre buit to destroy all life as we know it.

By potty39 on 25 November, 2010, 9:32am

hmm......

in some ways the profile view in pic 1 reminds me of the long defunct Opel Monza which was the 2 door version of the Senator. As usual though, this is another AE mock up with the generous assistance of Photoshop so it remains to be seen whether the new "Insignia Coupe" actually appears in the form pictured. To say it's a reborn Calibre though is a nonsense. I've driven several Calibres in my time including the awesome V6 and while it was after all an overdressed lowered Cavalier, it was still good. There is no doubt that this is based on the Insignia and there's nothing wrong with that either, the Insignia is a nice looking car, so just say it's a 2 door coupe version of that and stop billing it as something it isn't.

By nick7 on 25 November, 2010, 5:28pm

Lipstick on a pig?

When is someone at Opel going to poach the designers and engineers at Audi or BMW?
This looks as though it was designed by George Formby!

By toycollector on 25 November, 2010, 6:34pm

Agree with potty39

Yes I also hate the current trend for 'in yer face' chavvish cars!

It is fashionable to call VWs and such, dull.

I call them understated and tasteful.

By pajbse on 25 November, 2010, 9:54pm

Not sure what to think of it

It looks mediocre. The foglights on the sports coupe are so out of place. The sedan looks like the 2006 Honda Civic EX. But somtimes pictures can be deceiving.

By sasander on 26 November, 2010, 7:15am

When is someone at Opel going to poach the designers and engineers at Audi or BMW?
----
Hopefully never, as BMW and Audi dont have designers just trained monkeys. They wouldnt know what a designer was in Germany if it bit them on the backside!!

Agree with it looking rather chavy. Shame really as Vauxhall have designed some nice cars recently. The new Astra is lovely and even the Corsa isnt too bad. Actually thinking about it BMW and Audi could do with poaching their designers so they could make an intresting car for a change!

By AndyG on 26 November, 2010, 12:48pm

Re previous posters: what is wrong with you idiots?

The car in the picture is clearly a concept. No production car ever comes close to looking like its conceptual inspiration.

Concepts are always over-styled for the purpose of maximising media impact, rather than to point to the details of what the production vehicle will be.

Making detail judgements about the looks of a production vehicle based on a few internet photos of the concept us just plain stupidity.

I have nothing but contempt for you all. Please, grow some intelligence before you start posting!

By evanstim on 27 November, 2010, 1:17am

Who indeed....

shock return....bold plans....
who writes this garbage????


By dllywelyn on 25 November, 2010, 7:26am


That will be Nick Gibbs - aka the conker ;-)

By Focus_your_mind on 27 November, 2010, 11:41am

Err I suggest you proof your post before calling us idiots....

Making detail judgements about the looks of a production vehicle based on a few internet photos of the concept US just plain stupidity.

I have nothing but contempt for you all. Please, grow some intelligence before you start posting!

I take it you meant IS not US? Who's the idiot now - you conker!!!!!

By evanstim on 27 November, 2010, 1:17am

By Focus_your_mind on 27 November, 2010, 11:44am

Back to the car!

Er it's an AE mock up and agree; call it a coupe Insignia, to call it a Calibra is taking the piss out of people's intelligence.

Also with AndyG: Opel/Vauxhall/GM should never use designers form BMW or VW/Audi designed by a computer and styled by Ikea; bland and minimalist with not an ounce of flare. No thanks

By Focus_your_mind on 27 November, 2010, 11:54am

Stop making mountains out of molehills!

For once can't you guys stop mocking each other??? It's always like this; people start talking about the car and then eventually it gets personal.

Next time try and keep your comments limited to the car, that way everyone is happy.

By Abdurrahman1 on 27 November, 2010, 5:45pm

Chunky Chav Moblie

Yet another horrible brash modern car... what ever happened to low-slung coupe's. This thing appears to have the aerodynamic properties of a brick. I can't wait to see hundreds of Kev's tailgating eachother in the 3rd lane in this heap of tat. If car makers are going to throw about words like 'Capri' and 'Calibra' they should at least try to make their new creations look half decent.

By Wobbletastic on 28 November, 2010, 4:42pm

Big Yawn Factor

Another boring car nobody will want.

No wonder nobody is buying new cars these days, its not because they are tight or worried about losing their jobs its more that they are not one bit interested in upgrading to rubbish like this Calibra.

Come on GM you can do better than this, the front end looks an absolute abortion and a horrible mess.

By IvorBiggen on 30 November, 2010, 6:06pm

I can't wait to see hundreds of Kev's tailgating eachother in the 3rd lane in this heap of tat.
By Wobbletastic on 28 November, 2010, 4:42pm

Agree with you. Calibra = pikey = chav.
These will be driven by "Daz" around the country in a few years, sporting a baseball cap & shell suit without insurance & road tax.

By scott1234 on 30 November, 2010, 7:28pm

Battery car

We haven't yet seen the full range of photos, I have no doubt that it will be a nice car whatever they call it, but if you are going to buy a sporty motor it doesn’t want to look like a battery car.

They have spoilt the look of the Zafira by using the same front as the battery car and now I think GM are trying to get the looks accepted, to make their investment into battery R&D pay, next they will probably make a Calibra battery car as well.
If they succeed and battery power takes on more power stations will be needed to supply recharging power, and as electricity goes up we will all be subsidising battery car drivers, the thing is, if all England drove battery cars it wouldn’t make one scrap of difference to the worlds ecology.

By Bobbybev on 3 December, 2010, 10:14am

@Bobbybev

I disagree with your comments about the new Zafira, I think it looks pretty sharp. Mind you, I owned the previous model until fairly recently and Farmer Giles' rusty old Fordson tractor could show the that thing a clean pair of heals in the style stakes. It's probably a better drive too... :~)

By sgtgrash on 6 December, 2010, 1:59am

Not a patch on the original

I had a 16v version of the original. Not great to drive (Cavalier based) but a true thing of beauty - the only car that I've ever had (and I've had lots) that I actually used to turn around and look back at once I'd parked it.

The new one might have been ok (i.e. nondescript) if it wasn't for the two weird 'slashes' on the front. Distinctive, yes. Attractive, no! All IMHO of course.

By lairdfp on 6 December, 2010, 2:28pm

MAKE IT I DARE U GM

MUST ADMIT LOOKS GOOD QUALITY FOR A VAUXHALL REGARDLESS OF WHO WILL DRIVE IT .

By BEREAL on 7 December, 2010, 2:59am

It won't sell unless

It won't sell in the UK if it wears a Vauxhall badge.

If it was to be marketed as the "Opel Monza GT" then maybe it would sell.

But that front is a real mess.

No-doubt it will be made in Australia on the Holden production line and then badged, for which ever market is needed.

Shame GM killed the Pontiac brand I could see this as a new Pontiac Firebird with the 6 litre V8 under the bonnet.

By Madsteve7 on 8 December, 2010, 11:08am