Skip advert
Advertisement

Vauxhall Opel Monza revealed ahead of Frankfurt motor show

Vauxhall Opel Monza Concept previews new Vauxhall design and will be inspiration for next Insignia

The Vauxhall Opel Monza concept – a gullwing coupe that previews the future of the brand’s design and technology - has been unveiled the day before the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show opens its doors. Frank Leopold, head of concept cars, calls the Monza a “sportsbrake” and vision of what’s technologically possible by 2020.

Advertisement - Article continues below

“I would think the next Insignia will get a lot of treatments from this car, not exactly in this way, but the designers will refer to it,” Leopold said. “We chose this kind of car – not specifically a coupe or an estate, but a mix of the two – so people don’t directly relate it to something in the current range. This is the start of something new.”

The Monza name has been used before in the UK on an Opel-badged coupe, which later became the Vauxhall Royale. And just as the original Monza was available with a futuristic digital dash, Vauxhall is pushing the boundaries again with the Opel Monza 2013 concept. It features LED projection technology, which allows drivers to use the whole dash as one large screen. It’s the same kind of set-up used to project graphics on to Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee last year, and displays range from a simple speedometer or sat-nav map to decorative elements and infotainment.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

“It’s an example of taking technology from elsewhere and using it in an automotive application,” Ivo van Hulten, chief designer of interior components, explained. “It’s feasible right now, you can see that it works, but bringing it to production will take some time.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

Frankfurt motor show 2013

The Opel Monza also has a focus on smartphone connectivity, and Vauxhall gives drivers three different modes to choose from: ME, US and ALL. ME prioritises driver information, allowing you to focus solely on the road. US is more for passengers, letting them log into the infotainment system with their phones and display their own images or play their own music. Meanwhile, ALL keeps the car connected with the outside world by – for example – allowing people to see the route you’re taking so they can hop in along the way.

This kind of information can also be used to talk to other cars and stationary objects like traffic lights to help prevent accidents and ease congestion.

The Opel Monza can be powered by a variety of sources – although the car in Frankfurt uses a plug-in hybrid system like that in the Ampera. Electric motors drive the wheels at all times, but a 1.0-litre turbo engine is used as a range-extender – and this is being tipped to replace the 1.4-litre engine in the current Ampera. However, the concept uses natural gas rather than petrol to further reduce CO2 emissions.

Vauxhall news and reviews

“Technology is helping to shape the cars of the future,” Leopold said. “Smaller batteries leave more room in the back and a smaller petrol engine allows a lower bonnet and therefore a lower roof.”

To go with its futuristic tech, the Monza features a futuristic design, previewing what we can expect from the next generation of Vauxhalls. The wing motifs in the headlights, grille and intakes will remain a trademark for the brand, but expect to see more flowing curves like the Monza’s.

Vauxhall sources have previously told us that a production version of the Opel Monza is something the brand would love to do. If the car does happen, we can expect it to be front-wheel drive and possibly use the Vauxhall Cascada platform.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs
Best electric car deals - header image

Best electric car deals: today's top discounts and incentives on new EVs

Making the switch to an EV? These car brands have an offer (or two) for you
Best cars & vans
28 Apr 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
Vauxhall cuts EV prices in response to VED changes
Vauxhall range

Vauxhall cuts EV prices in response to VED changes

Every electric Vauxhall now comes in under the £40,000 threshold for ‘luxury’ car tax, potentially saving customers over £2,000
News
1 Apr 2025
Tears at Vauxhall Luton as final van rolls off the line
Vauxhall badge

Tears at Vauxhall Luton as final van rolls off the line

120 years of vehicle manufacturing comes to an end, as Stellantis turns its back on historic British plant
News
28 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025