Vauxhall unveils Monza concept

Invoking the name of one of Formula One's most prestigious circuits is a good move; styling it after dropping a few disco biscuits is an even better one. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Vauxhall Monza Concept.

Of course, it also name-checks the original Opel Monza, a full-size, six-pot coupe that debuted in 1977 and was badged ‘Vauxhall Royale' over here. That however, is where the similarities end, because this is the Vauxhall Of The Future. We're told it will break cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show. But you can see it here first.

It's powered by a similar drivetrain setup that features in the Vauxhall Ampera - a bit of a TG favourite. So underneath sits an electric motor of unspecified power, hooked up to a battery and generator. There's also a 1.0-litre three-pot turbo engine that takes over as the range-extender, but rather than petrol, Vauxhall has modified the engine to run on compressed natural gas. So when the battery runs out, the engine powers the electric motor.

The 4.69m long body - near-enough the same as an Audi A5 Sportback - was designed by Brit Mark Adams, modelled on "ocean waves lapping the shore", along with side sills tapering off in front of the rear wheel arches inspired by "the lean physique and slim waist of a greyhound dog". Then we come to those huge, magnificent gullwing doors, "like the outstretched wings of a condor"; doors big enough to allow effortless dive-bombing into the four-seat cabin.

There's less water/dog/murderous-bird influence inside, more a tech fest. In place of separate instrumentation, there's a wide, sculpted dashboard used as a customisable single projection surface that goes from door to door. It incorporates 18 LED projectors and 3D graphics, along with voice control. There are three connectivity modes labelled Me, Us, and All: Me disconnects the driver's smartphone and just lets you drive, Us allows your passengers to connect their smartphones to the Monza, while All allows full connectivity. Be careful though, this latter option could inform the world of your secret One Direction playlist.

"We have a clear vision of how Opel/Vauxhall cars will be in the future," says Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann, Vauxhall CEO. "This Monza concept embodies what our customers can expect from us within the next years, not only in terms of design, but also efficiency and connectivity between drivers and the Internet community."

So, Internet community, what do you make of the Monza concept?

Vijay Pattni