Holden-designed Opel GT could still be built

While details of Holden's future V8-powered sports car remain shrouded mystery, there could be a second Holden-inspired two-door on the way.

Vauxhall-Opel chairman Karl-Thomas Neumann has been quoted by British publication Autocar on the future of the Opel GT concept revealed at the 2016 Geneva motor show. The Mazda MX-5-sized coupe was designed by Holden's studio in Melbourne and Neumann is still working on turning the concept into a production car.

"It's a car we all love and the public love, so we really want to build it," Neumann is quoted as saying. "The question is what the right approach is, so we are studying different directions we could follow."

Neumann reportedly believes there is still two years before a firm decision has to be made and is exploring ways to pull it off. The biggest obstacle is finding a suitable rear-wheel drive platform that would meet the demands on the concept. 

General Motors' smallest rear-wheel drive coupe at present is the Chevrolet Camaro, which uses the significantly larger 'Alpha' platform. However, previous reports suggested Opel is also trying to develop a rear-wheel drive platform by modifying the all-wheel drive system in the Opel Mokka (sold in Australia as the Holden Trax). Re-engineering it for the Vauxhall/Opel GT would reportedly be costly, something Neumann said would work against getting the project approved.

The other option is believed to be utilising an existing compact, rear-wheel drive architecture from another car maker, which is not a new idea for GM's European brands. In 2000 it launched the Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220, a mid-engined sports car based on the Lotus Elise.

On the bright side for Australian sports car fans, if the GT does make production it would most likely be as both a Opel and Vauxhall, the latter meaning right-hand drive would be available - should Holden want to add a small sports car to its range.

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