SQUINT a little and you’re looking at the next Vauxhall Astra.
And Manta. And Frontera.
This pebble-smooth concept — codenamed Experimental — is a rolling laboratory of ideas that will find their way on to the new wave of Vauxhalls
There’s lots of really cool stuff on this car to make it as efficient and as slippery as possible — and to help it top 330 miles on a single charge
The underpinnings of this concept allow for 2WD and 4WD
And another new motor that revives a famous old Vauxhall name. Firenza?
That’s because this pebble-smooth concept — codenamed Experimental — is a rolling laboratory of ideas that will find their way on to the new wave of Vauxhalls coming over the next five years or so.
The first being Frontera, which replaces the naff Crossland next year. Good.
It will be miles better than Crossland. It can’t be any worse.
Then Grandland is renewed.
Then Manta is reborn as a sports crossover in 2025, followed by an Insignia replacement, followed by the ninth-generation Astra expected late 2028.
Those last three will be EV-only because Vauxhall is sticking with its pledge to sell only fully electric cars and vans by the end of 2028.
‘This is Vauxhall 2.0’
That’s two years before the Government’s 2030 ban on pure petrol and diesel cars — and seven years ahead of the 2035 deadline for hybrids. Whatever “hybrid” means exactly. They have yet to tell us.
Right, Experimental.
There’s lots of really cool stuff on this car to make it as efficient and as slippery as possible — and to help it top 330 miles on a single charge.
The underpinnings of this concept allow for 2WD and 4WD.
Aero ducts in the lower front lip push air upwards over the bonnet and windscreen like a sports car.
The rear diffuser extends 10cm to make the car longer and more aero efficient over longer distances.
Aero flaps on the wheels close to deflect air around the car — then open when needed to cool the brakes.
The usual rugby ball-sized wing mirrors are replaced by tiny cameras on the rear pillars.
Solar cells on the roof add a mile or two of range. In Britain anyway. More in Spain.
But it all adds up.
Foam-like traps behind the rear wheels collect brake dust and other road particles to help clean city air.
What’s likely to be seen first is that brightly illuminated Griffin badge centred in the Vauxhall “compass”.
Ditto the super-slim brake lights with Vauxhall spelled out in the middle.
What won’t be happening any time soon is the fantasyland interior with its foldaway steering wheel, giving the driver more room to relax when the car is charging.
Or the full windscreen head-up display with the follow-me “ghost car” satnav. As cool as that is.
Or the electrochromic side windows that instantly turn the glass from transparent to opaque for privacy.
But we do like the 3D mesh office furniture-style seats.
Design boss Mark Adams told me: “The GTX Experimental in 2018 was the first opportunity to show our bold and pure design philosophy 1.0. That led to the Mokka.
“I drive a Mokka and people still say to me, ‘Wow. That’s such a cool car’.
“This is like 2.0 — where we’re going next. The footprint of this car is approximately the same size as an Astra. Which was deliberate. We have picked a car that again is in the core of the market.
“Many of the ideas in progressively different magnitudes will find their way into our future portfolio of cars.
“You won’t necessarily see everything in one car. But what you will see is some significant things that connect back to this concept.”
Stick some door handles on it and build it.
Sun man Rob gets a guided tour of the Experimental concept car
View from above – how the futuristic Experimental could look inside
The super-slim brake lights with Vauxhall spelled out in the middle are likely to make it into production Read More