Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

Buick. Please?

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

Buick. Please?

Good idea as it DOES have a touch of sweep spear.....give it a waterfall grille and it could be a stunning Buick.

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

Interesting... it appears this is a LWB DeltaII-based product, not a 2-door Insignia/Regal like the GTC concept was/would have been.

However, given that the new Astra has a 105.7 in wb, and the Insignia sits on a 107.8 inch wheelbase, I don't really see why and/or how they are making something that slots in between in size... yet the prototype pictures does indeed seem to have a longer wheelbase than the 5-door normally does. I guess it will have an Insigna-esque wheelbase with Astra width/track measurements.

But regardless of what exactly this ends up being based on, it had better come here as a Buick something... perhaps a Reatta, Grand National, or Riviera. Oh, and make mine a black OPC/GS model w/ turbo and AWD :hyper:

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

At first it looked like a G35 competitor than I got a scope of its size with some more pics in the gallery. Thing looks a little to little. If its premium and small it has to be sportier in this country or embrace the sporty and non premium youth market...though as a Buick I question that.

Looks like a good SC2 replacement. haha

But regardless of what exactly this ends up being based on, it had better come here as a Buick something... perhaps a Reatta, Grand National, or Riviera. Oh, and make mine a black OPC/GS model w/ turbo and AWD :hyper:

Riviera? GNX? Is this RWD? Talk about trashing the line. Especially that Riviera comment. If anything a Buick CTS coupe variant can be a Riviera.

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

I thought it was Insignia/Sigma-based at first, but then I realized it was Astra/Delta-based. Wasn't there something with the same rear haunches in the GM studio that Ed Wellburn took cameras through in the last month or so? We were trying to figure out what it was...perhaps this is it, but didn't it seem to be a Buick in that studio?

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

I thought it was Insignia/Sigma-based at first, but then I realized it was Astra/Delta-based. Wasn't there something with the same rear haunches in the GM studio that Ed Wellburn took cameras through in the last month or so? We were trying to figure out what it was...perhaps this is it, but didn't it seem to be a Buick in that studio?

the calibra does look a little truncated to me. however, the insignia coupe is beautifully proportioned. it reminds me of a great mix of 330i and amg it'd be an amazing buick regal gs...4wd 350 hp turbo 2.8 v6.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/235662/calibra_heads_vauxhall_plan.html

 

A beautiful car! I remember when the Calibra earned the title of most aerodynamic production car then....I wonder what the cD of this sleek new one is?

 

John,

20 years ago I hoped that GM was going to bring the original calibra over as an Olds. It never happened. I wanted that car soooooo bad.........

This new Calibra coupe would do well as a Riviera. There is no need for a 3dr "Astra" hatch for Buick anymore (We wouldn't get any hatches according to Bob Lutz anyway). I'd rather have the 2+2 coupe...............

With the Rivera coupe, the "Astra" sedan, 5 door hatch, and the Sport Tourer "Astra" wagon, Buick would have a nice complete DELTA II line up.

Ken

 

As I recall, the first Calibra had a cD of just 0.28, which even now is rarely achieved.....I hope this new one breaks new ground.

 

Calibra cW was 0.26.

BTW, I have doubt we get a new Calibra. Opel said for some time that the new Astra GTC will look more different, aggressive compared to the 5-door. At the video below (time mark 2:00 min) you can see how big the 5-door Astra is compared to a Insignia Sports Tourer.

Screenshot:

 

Re: New Vauxhall Calibra

Riviera? GNX? Is this RWD? Talk about trashing the line. Especially that Riviera comment. If anything a Buick CTS coupe variant can be a Riviera.

Ew, you would really tarnish the CTS coupe by rebadging it a Buick? Yea and while we're at it let's make the Alfa Romeo 8C the new Dodge Stealth....

 

Don't get too excited by this. AutoExpress is a tabloid car magazine. Most of the time, they make these stories up. Note that there is no proof for the Calibra. Just some renderings and spy pics from the not-yet launched Astra.
So until there are some reports from more trustworthy sources: be very very doubtful about a new Calibra.

 

Wow Saturn Really missed out on some good product. Good for Buick if it gets the Coupe too in addition to Astra. I'm hoping too that GM has a coupe on the Delta platform that it will also mean a Coupe for Chevrolet Cruze as well.

 

One word - HOT!

 

You know that I think that Chevrolet has too many cars, but this little hatch seems to be a natural for Chevrolet, it would make an awsome TC fighter if you made here at L-Town or Mexico. Price it around $17-18 with everything standard like the TC, with the possible option of a hot litte SS hatch to carry on the spirit of the Cobalt SS?

Chevrolet Monza?

 

You know that I think that Chevrolet has too many cars, but this little hatch seems to be a natural for Chevrolet, it would make an awsome TC fighter if you made here at L-Town or Mexico. Price it around $17-18 with everything standard like the TC, with the possible option of a hot litte SS hatch to carry on the spirit of the Cobalt SS?

Chevrolet Monza?

I had to think about that for a minute. But, yeah, that would be awesome. i always liked the Monza name.

 

The 1st gen Calibra was an awesome performance rig and great looking car. A friend of mine had one.....that was one sexy car for it's time.

 

The 1st gen Calibra was an awesome performance rig and great looking car. A friend of mine had one.....that was one sexy car for it's time.

Indeed. It's amazing how many Calibra's in good shape I see lately. Okay, some are riced out but there are also really nice stock 4x4 Turbo's and V6's out there.

 

Looks Acura Integra-ish. Still kind of bland but not many cars from the 80s/90s had too much of a shape to them.

 

As one who really really likes little coupes, a fancier and more luxurious one than the Sunfire's and G5 that I have bought up to now would be more than welcome. I sure hope there is some validity in this report.
-Elliott

 

If Chevy wants a Coupe let them create one from the Cruze - no rebadges.

Why? It's not sold here as any other car, and the engineering work is done.

What I was thinking of was not a direct re-badge, but put a Cruze front end on it, some round or square tailamps ala Corvette or Camaro, a more agressive grille, sprinkle some ambient lighting around the interior and bam, your done. The $22,000 base LS Camaro is a good deal, but Chevrolet should have a smaller coupe that leads up to the Camaro, sort of a junior sports coupe. This little car would be perfect for that.

 

It would be a re-badge if it is a Buick.

Chevy has more than enough cars and GM must stop making a Chevy version out of everthing - it dilutes both vehicles message and results in lost sales and is what got GM in trouble in the past.

Buick must expand it's offerings to include smaller cars like the Calibra and can be very successful with it if it is allowed to stand alone. Not everyone wants a Chevy just as everyone doe not want a Hondotasan, for once let another brand make some sales.

This car could be to Buick what the original Integra was to Acura, a car that broadened it's customer base and established it as a legitimate near-luxury brand.

No Chevy models should be based on Opel models, only GMDAT or original Chevrolet ones - this keeps each volume car brand (there are only two now - remember) separated from one another and while there is some shared hardware there remains enough differences to retain the "feel" of each to attract different buyers. Using this model GM will maximize it global platform base while making the maximum amount of profits from the upmarket Buick/Opel/Vauxhall models. The Calibra (and Astra sedan) can be offered in a high performance AWD version with no compromises that would be required in a Chevy, and will attract buyers who will not consider a Chevy.

Chevy can develop a low cost coupe from the Cruze (like the current Cobalt does) with different engines and without an AWD model.

 

Sorry but nothing about this car says Buick, it does not fit in the line up now, and Chevrolet does need a low priced coupe/hatch, Toyota is selling TC's by the gross, GM needs to get in on some of that action.

We need to stop this "ivory tower" mentality of "blank should NEVER share with BLANK".

 

It says Buick to me and I actually own a Buick.

Chevy can create it's own Coupe from the Cruze as I have said twice already and you keep ignoring, which brings into question the "ivory tower" remark.

Why don't you think that Chevrolet can develop a competitive Coupe from the Cruze?

My outline of how Buick and Opel would share platforms and Chevy and GMDAT are exactly what GM has put into place, not because they think they know everything, but because it makes business sense to align brands based on their global target markets. VW does this with Audi and while the world gives Toyota credit for doing a great job in the global markets, VW is quietly cleaning everyones clock in fast growing markets like Latin America and China while maintianing strong sales in other regions.

VW shares some parts and powertrains with Audi to save costs but not enough to dilute each brand's global image, GM is doing the same (finally) with Chevy/GMDAT and Buick/Opel with some input from Brazil and Holden on certain models. This minimizes costs by eliminating the need for Chevy engineering to have an equal presence at Opel and GMDAT, this also shortens design times and allows more than one solution to be tried on the global market in a high volume platform.

GM is finally getting their act together on a global basis, and will make Buick into a mid to high volume selling brand of desireable high profit vehicles.

 

Not nearly as sleek as the original. This is just a two-door Astra relabled.

 

0.26 is amazing, then or now.

 

So basically there will be an Astra: Coupe, Convertible, Sedan, 3-Door, 5-Door, and Wagon?

 

Why don't you think that Chevrolet can develop a competitive Coupe from the Cruze?

Because it will take 600,000 years to do that when there already is a small hatch Chevrolet can borrow and make it's own.

They should have a car like this in showrooms in 2012-13 not 2025.

 

Ok so I dug this up because of this picture.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_643/car_photo_321799_25.jpg

It looks to me like there is an AWD drive shaft. Like seen here
http://www.tuvei.com/wp-content/uploads/cadillac-srx-2010-cutaway-drivetrain_w800.jpg

Anyone else think this mule was AWD?



P.S. I don't see how they get what they rendered out of that mule.

 

Nope, no drive shaft there. The exhaust runs along the tunnel. If you look at the right rear wheel you can also clearly see there is no stub shaft, so unless it is 3 wheel drive....

 

I really really really like this french photo shop. This is right along the lines of what I would hope for from the Epsilon II coupe.
http://blogautomobile.fr/speculation-opel-astra-gtc-vous-plait-elle-comme-cela-21495#axzz1OyBEYb23

 

While they are at it, bring that Astra hatch over. Who needs a GTI when you could have one of these?