A smart design, powerful drive train, sporty interior and a cleverly-designed cargo area are all features of the Combo “Eau Rouge” concept car which Opel will be presenting for the first time at the Paris Motor Show “Mondial de l’Automobile 2002” (September 28 to October 13, 2002). True to the company motto: “Opel. Fresh thinking for better cars”, Opel’s engineers and designers have used their creative skills to come up with an attractive, sporty
fun-mobile for racing fans with a lot of surprising details. The name “Eau Rouge” is a reference to the sporty nature of this Combo concept car. Its name is taken from the Eau Rouge section of the Formula 1 race track in Spa, Belgium.
The Combo Tour, the family and leisure-oriented Combo variant with five seats, four doors (including two sliding doors) and a wide double wing rear door is the basis for this new concept car. With this as its starting point, Opel has developed a concept vehicle which is sure to make the hearts of all van fans beat faster – there has never been a more attractive or sportier Combo.
As a reference to the motor show venue, the concept car is decorated in blue, white and red – the colors of the French national flag – with a brilliant blue replacing the French royal blue. Narrow white lines accentuate two wide red stripes running parallel along the entire length of the vehicle. There are also distinctive changes to the bodywork, like eye-catching Speedster-style clear glass headlamps, a wide sun visor painted in the car’s color with an integrated antenna, sturdy front and rear bumpers. Distinctive fender skirts provide ample space for OPC light alloy wheels with 215/40 R 17 tires. Red painted brake calipers at the front and rear and additional side sills underline the powerful sporty appearance of the Combo “Eau Rouge”.
The rear of the Combo concept car is also a real sensation. The rear bumper, formed in the shape of a diffuser – an aid to aerodynamics from motor sport – is positioned well below the vehicle floor and houses center-mounted, twin exhaust pipes.
A lot of attention to detail can also be seen in the interior, with its bright red driver and passenger bucket seats. The doors, side section and the lower part of the cockpit are fitted with blue Alcantara upholstery. The divided rear seat bench is in red Alcantara and the front and rear seat belts are also red. The instrument panel was taken from the Corsa GSi, but has been upgraded with aluminum decor and net lattice style techno-look covers. The speaker openings are also covered by a black lattice structure. Rows of lights at the top, on the sides and in the floor of the cargo area are reminiscent of the markings which show the way to emergency exits in passenger planes.
The Combo “Eau Rouge” also has an extra storage area in the roof which cannot be seen from outside. This is 2.20 meters long, has a capacity of 340 liters and can be used to store the likes of a surfboard or full-size carving skis. To make access easier, its loading bed is split into three individual sections which slide alternately on rails. Access to the roof box is usually through the open rear door, but passengers can also access this compartment through additional overhead flaps. When folded forward, the three-passenger rear seat, together with a fold down roof box floor, forms a solid barrier between the driver’s cab and the load area.
The Combo concept car is powered by the 92 kW/125 hp, 1.8-liter four cylinder ECOTEC engine thus far used in the Corsa GSi. To make sure engine power is transferred directly to the road, the above-mentioned wide tires and 17-inch wheels are complemented by a wider wheel tread and lower body.
Text and photos courtesy of General Motors
