Opel revealed their latest concept car, the Monza, at a pre-show conference on Monday. Taking its name from the Opel back catalogue, the Monza is an interpretation of how future Opels will look.
The interior, too, is a statement, using LED projection technology for the instrument panel and infotainment systems to create one of the most advanced cabins ever seen on a car. 18 LED projectors create an infinitely variable environment and given that they are controlled by software, it’s theoretically possible to introduce an entirely new theme with a simple firmware upgrade.
For power, the Monza relies on an electric powertrain, but with a natural gas powered range extender, much like the Ampera in principle.
Opel acknowledge that the gull wing doors are fiendishly difficult to engineer and produce, so they will never make production, but this is the car that will inspire Opels to come.
Even the phone connection is well thought out, with three modes available: Me, Us and All. Me mode virtually cuts the driver off from the outside world so that they can concentrate on their driving. Us and All give varying amounts of access to online resources, including route sharing technology which could be used to facilitate car-pooling.
Motoring editor - The Clare Champion
Former Chairman and voting member of Irish Motoring Writers' Association