Chevy WTCC Ultra concept to debut in Paris
The Chevrolet WTCC Ultra will be in the center of the automaker's stand at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The WTCC Ultra is a ready-to-drive concept, according to Chevy, that "bends the present World Touring Car Championship regulations". Chevy says it was designed by a team around the globe, which makes sense if one compares the highly exaggerated front grille to the one found on this Chevy Malibu test mule in the States. It's stubby, muscular proportions, though, are supposed to suggest it's going fast when standing still. A 190-hp diesel engine powers the WTCC Ultra when it actually is going fast. Renderings are great fun, but we're very interested to see for ourselves in person how this concept's styling transfers into plastic and steel.
(More pics and Chevy's press release after the jump)
[Source: GM Europe)
Press release:
Exciting Chevrolet study WTCC Ultra celebrates world premiere
Striking design: Ready-to-drive racecar study with radical contours
Further novelties: Chevrolet Epica Diesel, Chevrolet Captiva
Zurich/Paris. An athlete takes centre stage: The exciting racecar study WTCC Ultra will be the highlight of the Chevrolet Europe presentation at the Paris Motor Show from September 30 to October 15, 2006. The ready-to-drive concept car was developed by a GM team around the globe. It is the optical vision of a new touring car generation and takes the Chevrolet body language to the extreme. The compact Chevrolet WTCC Ultra (length/width/height: 4,325/1,905/1,570 mm) will celebrate its world premiere on the Chevrolet stand in Hall 5.2 of the Expo in Paris.
The trade and the general public will also get to see for the first time the new Chevrolet Epica Diesel, which will be launched in spring 2007. The mid-class sedan is powered by a two-litre common rail diesel with 150 hp. After the Captiva Diesel, which will reach the European showrooms in autumn and is celebrating its French premiere in Paris, the Epica is thus Chevrolet Europe's second diesel.
World premiere: Exciting racecar study Chevrolet WTCC Ultra
The bold and aggressive design of the racecar study sounds out the limits of Chevrolet's design language. The WTCC Ultra is a design icon that bends the present WTCC regulations. Words like "aggressive, muscular and dramatic" describe the car's design. Sharp lines contrast with more organic, flowing surfaces. The WTCC Ultra is propelled by a 190 hp diesel engine. Its proportions give the impression of a car that looks fast even when it's standing still.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TicalWRX 4:46PM (9/06/2006)
Please make this for the US. I will buy this GM product. Must be diesel with good MPG and obviously toned down a bit for daily driving.
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Carchops 12:09PM (9/06/2006)
hmmmm
too boxy / pointy in my opinion
but im sure other people will like it
http://www.carchops.com
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Mikal in NYC 12:25PM (9/06/2006)
Is it me... doesn't this concept 'resemble' the Ford Focus, just enough?
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Howard Kerr 12:16PM (9/06/2006)
It's one thing to draw a decent car, another to build one or two examples, but GREAT car companies MASS produce exciting cars. Are you really serious GM/Chevy ?
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mad 4:05PM (9/12/2006)
WOW! If Chevy ever made an actual production version of a car that looked that good, i might actually consider buying one!
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iKram 12:31PM (9/06/2006)
As always, the bashers rush to judgement and nix it. Are you people for real. If this had a Toyota or Honda logo on it the drool couldn't be stopped, but since the General has produced this it is deemed crap.
As for it resembling a Focus, are you serious? It was the last thing that came across my mind.
Come on fanboys. Give the General a chance.
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Corey W. 12:32PM (9/06/2006)
"Renderings are great fun, but we're very interested to see for ourselves in person how this concept's styling transfers into plastic and steel."
Which is always the big question with GM when it comes to design concept going to production model.
I like it, smooth out some of the more sharper points in the design and they may have a winner.
Definitely try to stay away from the rendering in picture #2, it looks like a cartoon character/transformer...etc.
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Giggles of Doom 1:01PM (9/06/2006)
Cool, too bad they'll never build it. Chevy thrives on building its vehicles as non-offensive as possible. Nothing wrong with that, but this will never see the light of day as a production Chevy. Now, a Saturn (with its new look) or Pontiac (try to bring back the excitement) would seem more realistic.
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superjeff 12:41PM (9/06/2006)
The second drawing looks like a less phallic version of the batmobile.
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Tony C 12:43PM (9/06/2006)
It actually looks pretty cool for an edgy boy-racer, but a Pontiac emblem would look more at home on it than the bowtie. Nice concept, though I'd fully expect the design to not translate well into production -- that rearward visibility is gonna be worthless though.
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iKram 12:45PM (9/06/2006)
Re: Corey's comment,
"Definitely try to stay away from the rendering in picture #2, it looks like a cartoon character/transformer...etc."
The Transformer's reference may be a good thing since there is a Transformers movie in production.
http://www.transformersmovie.com/
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dude 12:58PM (9/06/2006)
*YAWN* Honda came out with this car over 20 years ago- the Civic CRX. Once again GM proves it's still 20 years behind Toyonda.
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Kowell 12:49PM (9/06/2006)
The black one looks more like a batmobile wannabe than a car
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jsforbes 12:50PM (9/06/2006)
Hideous. The front kind of looks like an aztek...
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RickDom 12:52PM (9/06/2006)
The love child of the new Lancer and the new Civic.
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felonious.monk 12:58PM (9/06/2006)
I dare Chevy to build and sell a production version that is just as exciting as the concept. If they don't, they're shit in my eyes forever.
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Tom W 1:02PM (9/06/2006)
If one of these annoying little teenage toys comes buzzing up behind me while I'm in my new Camaro I'm going to do a huge burnout just to make his TAG body spray smell like burnt rubber.
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Buggaboo 1:08PM (9/06/2006)
Those of you slamming this car lose all your credibility, this is a great, exciting little auto. The people bashing this car are the same bozo's pissing their britches over the Fit and Yaris, and we all know they look like rolling turds.
It is so juvenile to bash something just because it has a nameplate other than Japanese, it also show a total vacancy of credibility.
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Kowell 1:21PM (9/06/2006)
"It is so juvenile to bash something just because it has a nameplate other than Japanese, it also show a total vacancy of credibility."
people are not bashing the fact it's a Chevy.. people are bashing the fact it's an ugly little bitch
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Ben 1:26PM (9/06/2006)
what's the point .....
The Eruo Civic is more futuristic then this so called concept,
The Eruo Civic is better looking,
And best of all, The Euro Civic's already on the market.
Please go back to the drawing board.
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