Here in Detroit, the biggest show has always been the NAIAS auto show down at COBO Hall in Downtown Detroit. To my friends out in Cali, the biggest shows have always been Geneva, and Frankfurt. To them, Europe is where all the truly refined and more flamboyant designs are always released. For Example Citroen and Peugeot and all the Italian design houses release there concepts in Europe

All the Geneva Motor show’s pics have been released for over a week, and after looking over all the concepts, the one that I keep coming back to is the Opel GTC Concept. Not the most flamboyant, not the most refined, not even the most original, but it really hits a beautiful proportion, a great wedge shape, exaggerated wheel flairs, and some exciting surfaces. Some might even say it rips off some of the surfacing of the forthcoming Nissan Skyline, (that is worth some debate) but despite all of these negatives, this concept still manages to get me at a more primal level. I can imagine myself in this car cruising on the Blue Ridge Parkway, hitting perfect apex’s, with a perfectly proportioned neutral balance, that when appropriate throttle is applied, turns into the perfect power slide into the next turn. Utilizing my heal/toe technique into and out of the next turn, and so on and so forth. This type of concept really gets me because this is a car that when put into production, I could actually afford. While the new Ferrari concept, or Lambo G ride may be more “autoerotic”, they do not stir my soul like a car that can actually be in my garage. This is why people love the WRX STI, and the Evo, they are super cars within the hard working everyman’s budget, (well a used STI, or EVO).

Theme wise the GTC looks very close to production in the greenhouse and surfacing, but very concept in the details, such as the hugely exaggerated exhaust exits. There is a very nice surface break that travels from the A pillar back to create a nice wheel flair over the rear wheel. The front light graphic is not brand new, but still very fresh. The greenhouse is very 350Z, but flairs a little bit more in the center, the rest of the details I will let you discover. So the Opel GTC gets my vote, and even though when brought state side this car will read PONTIAC, I can not wait to see it on the road.

This one is courtesy of autoweek.com

Scott Digital