GM Announces NA Debut of 4 Global Concepts

[Flybrian]

FOR RELEASE: 2006-12-20

General Motors Announces North American Debut of Four Global Concepts

Celebrities Carmen Electra and Mario Lopez Also Confirm Attendance at GM Style

DETROIT – In addition to an array of classic GM Designs, including the 2006 Camaro Concept (an instant classic) and the 1951 Buick LeSabre Concept (an iconic classic), four global concepts never before seen in North America will “drive the runway” with celebrity guests including Carmen Electra and Mario Lopez during January’s GM Style.

The Holden EFIJY, Chevrolet T2X, Chevrolet WTCC and Opel Antara GTC will make North American debuts on Jan. 6, 2007, in a pavilion on the Detroit Riverfront and then featured in GM’s exhibit at the North American International Auto Show the following week. These four vehicles showcase GM Design’s creative talent from four of their 11 studios around the world.

"Collectively these concepts represent GM Design's global vitality, while capturing the spirit of the brands they represent,” said Ed Welburn, General Motors vice president of global Design. "Great design transcends borders, and these award-winning GM concept vehicles are proof of that."

The four vehicles have arrived in Michigan from all corners of the world and are being primped for their Detroit debut along side some of Hollywood’s most notable stars.

Carmen Electra and Mario Lopez have confirmed they will join previously announced Cheryl Hines, Vivica A. Fox, Petra Nemcova, Danny Masterson, and Rachel Zoe at GM Style.

With an impressive body of work that encompasses television, film, comedy and theatre, Carmen Electra has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most versatile personalities.

Most recently seen on the “Dancing With The Stars,” Mario Lopez is a veteran of numerous television series including the popular sitcom “Saved By The Bell” and FX Network’s “Nip/Tuck.”

About GM Global Concepts:

Holden EFIJY – Unveiled at the 2006 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, the Holden EFIJY is a wild 21st Century “hot rod” reincarnating one of Australia’s most famous cars, the FJ Holden.

EFIJY is a radical pillarless custom coupe boasting V8 power, a Chevrolet Corvette underbody and state-of-the-art automotive technology throughout. The ‘Soprano Purple’ paintwork highlights its curvaceous 5.2-meter (17+ ft.) body, reinterpreting the classic design cues of the iconic 1953 FJ Holden.

Chevrolet T2X - Developed by the GM Daewoo Design Center in Inchon, Korea, and unveiled at the 2006 Seoul Motor Show, the Chevrolet T2X combines the body of a compact sport utility vehicle with the exciting design of a sport coupe.

The light silver body of the T2X has a bold, masculine front with prism-style headlamps. Its taut yet emotional surface is highlighted by a dynamic side character line that rises up toward the rear. With 20-inch wheels that are situated outside the vehicle's body, the T2X has a very athletic stance.

Chevrolet WTCC – Developed by a GM team around the globe, the Chevrolet WTCC Race Car Concept was first seen at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. It is the vision of a new generation of touring car -- a design icon that bends the present World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) regulations.

Opel Antara GTC – With its four-wheel drive Antara GTC (Gran Turismo Crossover) Concept, Opel demonstrates just how dynamic and athletic an SUV can actually be. First seen at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in Sept. 2005, the three-door design shows a particularly sporty interpretation of an SUV. Viewed from the side, attention is captured by the frameless windows that drop right down and contribute to the coupe-like silhouette.

[CSpec]

Umm... wasn't the Antara GTC the exact same thing as the PreVUE concept?

[Northstar]

Umm... wasn't the Antara GTC the exact same thing as the PreVUE concept?

Maybe they wanted to show the concept at NAIAS and Chicago (since it hasn't been to either yet), but didn't want to call it PreVUE because people would see how much different and worse the real VUE looks

[sciguy_0504]

Mario Lopez. On one hand he's a good choice; attractive and popular with certain segments of the population. On the other, he may outshine the cars.

[balthazar]

He's barely famous for a near universally-ridiculed TV show from the '80s. Next.

Carmen Electra and the '51 LeSabre at least have something in common: great front bumpers.

[sciguy_0504]

He's barely famous for a near universally-ridiculed TV show from the '80s. Next.

Carmen Electra and the '51 LeSabre at least have something in common: great front bumpers.

You don't like "Saved By The Bell?"

[thegriffon]

They still show it downunder every nowand then.

[ocnblu]

I think I may be in one of those "segments of the population"... those dimples! :AH-HA_wink:

[usonia]

I have to give the boy kudos. He did an incredible job on "Dancing with the Stars". In my defense, I didn't watch the whole thing, but did see a few episodes so I will always give credit to anybody who can do anything better than me. Hey, wait a minute, I'm gay, aren't I supposed to be able to dance and cook and decorate and dress with some sense of style???? I think my genes are defective.

[RangerVT]

Glad that I'll be able to see that WTCC in person! When Chevrolet announced that vehicle I was very skeptical to see how the vehicle would differ from the early sketches, but thankfully they kept that design true to sketch. I wouldn't mind seeing that Concept become a reality for production with some minor tweaks. The overall aggressive look is a bold step forward for GM's Design Studio.