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The Vauxhall Calibra is back! Hot on the heels of our news that Ford is resurrecting the Capri as a Focus-based coupé comes confirmation that Vauxhall will create a successor to its popular Nineties two-door.“I believe we should have one, so we will have one,” GM Europe chief Nick Reilly told Auto Express. As overall boss of Vauxhall and Opel, Reilly has the last word on what goes into production.He pointed to the GTC (Gran Turismo Concept) coupé unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007 as the inspiration, saying: “It will be exactly this type of car.” That concept went on to become the Insignia, which is likely to form the basis for the new sports machine.The GTC was powered by a 2.8-litre V6 turbo, and the VXR version of the production car could build on the 320bhp of the hottest Insignia to create a cut-price version of Audi’s S5 coupé.However, it’s expected that the smaller, mainly turbocharged units will offer a more appealing blend of economy and power, using Vauxhall’s forthcoming range of all-new, direct-injection petrol engines that, according to Reilly, will give economy savings of “at least 10 to 15 per cent”. The Calibra had a big fanbase, with 250,000 sold around the world before it was axed in 1997. And once again, the top-spec version of the four-seater is likely to come with four-wheel drive.Reilly also revealed that Vauxhall plans to use the Ampera name as a sub-brand to expand the number of range-extended battery vehicles. “We’re looking at other bodystyles, including a smaller Astra-sized car and a larger one,” he said. Using the same electric powertrain with the 1.4-litre generator, the new Ampera family models would be based on the second generation of the Chevrolet Volt in the US. The MkI launches in the UK in 2012, and sales of the MkII could start as soon as 12 months later. Plus, the replacement Ampera would be far cheaper, according to Reilly. “We will see a 50 per cent reduction in costs for the electrification part of the car, including batteries,” he said.This would bring the Ampera down to around £5,000-£7,000 more than a petrol or diesel equivalent, at about £27,000. The original European model is set to be priced at £36,500.
Having heard recent news of Ford reviving the iconic Capri as a Focus Coupe, Vauxhall confirmed rumors that a successor of the Calibra is in the making. “I believe we should have one, so we will have one,” said Nick Reilly, CEO at GM Europe, in an interview given to AutoExpress. If Reilly says so, we'll take his word for it, as he's the one that has the last word on what goes into production.“It will be exactly this type of car,” said the boss at Vauxhall and Opel, pointing at the GTC (Gran Turismo Concept) coupe that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007. That concept eventually became the Insignia, which will probably spawn the Calibra sport coupe.The concept had a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 which is likely to go into the production version, with the racy VXR to be powered by the 320 hp engine in the Insignia. The top-spec version is also likely to be four-wheel driven.The rest of the range is expected to be powered by smaller turbocharged units, offering a mix of power and economy, from Vauxhall's future range of direct-injection gas engines that will be at least 10 to 15 percent more fuel efficient.The old Calibra enjoyed great popularity, being sold in over 250,000 units around the world until it was discontinued in 1997.Reilly also discussed Vauxhall's intention of using the Ampera name as a sub-brand to market range-extended battery vehicles. “We’re looking at other bodystyles, including a smaller Astra-sized car and a larger one,” he said.
Who was it that said ClubCalibra will end up as a ghost town
I hope this doesn't go into production man. It'll be like when the Sex Pistols reformed, or when they re-made Clash Of The Titans. Just ruins the legacy.
that aint a calibra, thats a slightly smaller insignia...........
And I love the insignia. So what's the issue?
rip the shell off the new one and stick the original calibra shell on instead, then you might have a car that keeps people on this site happy without breaking down
Vauxhall have to try and sell as many cars as possible. Simple as. If the legacy of the Calibra (same as ford with the Capri) helps them make money in a dying new car market then why not. People will try and defend the legacy of a certain model of car but let's face it if they decide to build it I would probably get one.
Is this going to be badged as a calibra? or is it called something els and people are just going to call it a calibra?
Shame it bares NO resemblance to the original Would be interesting seeing the first new calibra owner sign up, can't see the tech threads all being about ICV's and CTS's.
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Topic: New Vauxhall Calibra 2010/2011 (Read 11276 times)
