Opel Club Cape Town

The Monza is back. A famous name from the past, the 2013 Monza represents a glimpse of the future, as Vauxhall/Opel looks to bring cutting edge efficiency and in-car connectivity to the next generation of models from the British and European brands.

Details are scarce at this stage – in fact, we aren’t even being allowed to see exactly what it looks like yet – but we do know the new Monza will take centre stage on the Vauxhall/Opel stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

According to Vauxhall, the new Monza will not only shape the way its future products look, it also “focuses on two major themes – efficiency and technology”.

To this end, it “demonstrates outstanding efficiency through its architecture and used of materials, as well as in its aerodynamics and ground-breaking powertrain solution.”

It also represents “a quantum leap in the development of infotainment systems.” Rumours that these new systems are to be called ‘Ziggy’ are as yet unfounded.

No one is saying exactly what that powertrain solution is at the moment, either. But given Vauxhall’s triumphant use of range-extender technology in the Ampera, it would be curious if it didn’t feature some kind of electric motor element.

As for the way it looks, Vauxhall is promising something that “conveys a sense of lithe athleticism, rather than pure muscle power”.

However, it will also be an “evolution” of the existing ‘sculptural artistry meets technical precision’ design language, rather than a total reinvention.

For those who can’t – or don’t wish to – remember, the original Opel Monza was a 1970s coupe that was sold in the UK alongside its Vauxhall equivalent, the Royale. It was the first car to feature a digital dashboard display.

The original and the concept share more than just a name; apparently several design cues are evident, including the “large, glazed surfaces and low belt line.”

According to Vauxhall/Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann:

“[The new Monza concept] is a study that will have a long-term impact on the next generation of Vauxhall and Opel models.”

The Vauxhall Monza coupe concept is a sign of things to come, says Vauxhall, and will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013. Vauxhall coupes are rare beasts: since the Cavalier-based Calibra of the '90s and smaller Corsa-based Tigra, we've only had the imported V8 Monaro and the Astra two-door.

The low-slung Monza previews the styling and design language of future products in the Opel/Vauxhall portfolio. Vauxhall denies that there are any plans to produce it.

Where does the Vauxhall Monza fit into the brand's current situation?

If Vauxhall did build it, the Monza would crown the range as the most exotic car in the line-up, and may work well with new Opel boss, Karl-Thomas Neumann (pictured alongside the concept), and his attempts to push both brands upmarket. Neumann himself suggests that the cabin is loaded with groundbreaking technology in line with an emphasis on ‘connectivity’, and while there’s no word on the mechanical layout, the other focus is on ‘efficiency’, according to Vauxhall. This suggests a possible hybrid layout, or perhaps even a fuel-cell given GM’s announcement that it will be working with Honda on hydrogen technology.

Why has Vauxhall used the name Monza?

The Monza name isn’t new, as it was used on a two-door Version of the Opel Senator, which was sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Royal from 1978-1982. The two-plus-two was rear-wheel drive and used a 3.0-litre straight-six engine hooked up to a five-speed manual, with later versions producing as much as 178bhp. A handful of Opel Monzas were sold in Australia in the mid 1980s using a Holden 5.0-litre V8 engine – a spiritual link to the Vauxhall VXR8 Monaros of the early 2000s.

Vauxhall isn’t afraid of spreading its wings, as shown by its current tyre-frying V8 VXR range and the VX220, which was based on the Saturn Sky, back in 2000. If the Monza is put in production – and it seems it’s a long way off it ever happens – that would place the price at more than £50,000. We’ll find out if the Monza can live up to its promise at the Frankfurt show.