Opel’s New GT Hints at Sky Red Line
Like the Solstice GXP, the GT hides its muscles, but they’re in even plainer clothes; the only new addition to the GT from the standard Sky is a second exhaust pipe in its lower fascia.
The Opel GT features many of the performance traits were introduced oas part of the Solstice GXP at this year’s L.A. auto show, which include GM’s new, highly advanced 2.0-litre four-cylinder, lag-less turbocharged engine with direct injection. With 260-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque driven through a five-speed manual, the Opel GT reaches 100 km/h in less than six seconds before blasting to a top speed of 230 km/h. That’s a whole lot faster than the old car could ever muster - even with a 454 cubic inch V8 heart transplant. In terms of power, that’s not only enough to surpass the GT’s current contemporary in the Opel Range, the mid-engined Speedster as well as the very fast, very quick, Turbo version. The GT should also make an excellent corner carver, as it features near perfect weight distribution, a wide track, plus grippy 18-inch wheels and tires.
Because the GT is essentially a Saturn, it would only make sense that General Motors build it on the same Delaware assembly line that constructs the Sky and Solstice. And such is the case, making it the only European-market Opel to be built in America. After its launch in Geneva in a few week’s time, Europeans will have to play the waiting game; dealers won’t be taking delivery of the vehicle until this time, next year.
But what about those of us who live on the continent of North America? Chances are that Saturn will unveil the Sky Red Line at the New York Auto Show this May, and on our roads by summer. If the Solstice’s stellar sales are any indication of what lies ahead for the Sky, Saturn dealers had better get their order books prepped for a deluge of new customers.
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