2007 Opel GT Launch in Palm springs, CA

[Anonymous D]

This is official notice, that the "media blackout" imposed regarding the Opel GT Introduction Event, is now lifted. (Thursday 10AM local time).

It was necessary, to impose this blackout, to provide security for media representatives and restrict photographic assess to new Opel vehicles, during this event. Opel (as a division of General Motors) needed to know that they could rely upon the U.S. Opel Community to act in support of the extraordinary efforts they made, to ensure this event was a success.

Event participants, are now authorized to share their images and stories, that are associated with
this event.

Mod Edit: Post photos Here

[benncojr]

OK, lets see some photos!!

[neuropel]

Cancel Red Alert
Shields Down
Return to Defcon 5

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by neuropel Cancel Red Alert Shields Down Return to Defcon 5

And for us mere mortals., set fazers to stun and beam me down Scotty so I can get a closer look at this creature.

[azopelnut]

I am certain much more news is forthcoming but lets just say that the US Opel Community was treated like royality and we in turn treated the new turbo-charged GT's with respect....OK one blown tire and one speeding ticket!(many of us were guilty...its just too hard to convert kilometers to mph when your spooling up the turbo on mountain roads!) I should mention a rev limiter kicks in at 6200 rpm

[newman27]

Originally Posted by azopelnut ... I should mention a rev limiter kicks in at 6200 rpm

The rev limiter is there to protect the engine - it's on my Solstice too and I've hit it a few times. However, you can have the ECM re-tuned to remove the upper speed limiter that GM felt compelled to include and make other performance adjustments. I had this done on my Solstice and it added about 1 MPG in fuel economy and some HP gain. Of course, on the turbo GT, that probably isn't required...

[baronbors]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 And for us mere mortals., set fazers to stun and beam me down Scotty so I can get a closer look at this creature.

Captain Opel- er Kirk " Scottie- I need more power"

[Fly Boy]

My wife and I just returned from three great days in Palm Springs for the official GM launching of the the new Opel GT. General Motors spared no expense at the launch. They flew in over 450 media writers from Europe over a two week period. They also had 25 classic GT's there to represent the history of the Opel GT. Many of the classic GT owners are members of this website. The program went like this: The media would be briefed on the new Opel GT in a meeting room at the hotel. Then the media would exit the hotel to a roped off private parking lot behind the hotel. To the media's complete surprise, they would come upon a line up of 25 great looking classic GT's. The media was then allowed to drive the classic GT's to staging area a few miles away from the hotel were they would transfer to a fleet of new 2007 Opel GT's. Next, the media took the new GT for a 4 to 5 hour test drive thought the desert and challenging mountain winding roads on a predetermined route. It was quite a contrast going from the classic Gt to the new GT.
To show their appreciation, GM invited the 25 owners of the classic GT's to Palm Springs to allow us to experience the same program as the media. They put us up in a nice hotel and feed us good meals. We drove the new GTs yesterday for about five hours. We also meant the project managers, engineers, vice president and other Opel big wigs. They treated us very well.
One other bonus, the 25 classic Gt's were signed under the hood by the original designers and Opel personnel.
BTW, this was all hush- hush and we could not discuss this until the event was over. Now it can be talked about.
I would like to thank Gil from OGTS for bringing this all together for the Classic GT owners. He, and his staff , did a wonderful job.

[sawdust]

Any information about this Fatal accident ?

Fatal Opel Test Drive in CA. - Pontiac Solstice & Saturn Sky Forums

[azopelnut]

Originally Posted by sawdust Any information about this Fatal accident ? Fatal Opel Test Drive in CA. - Pontiac Solstice & Saturn Sky Forums

It was a French journalist who did not follow the course and did not wear his seat belt. His passenger was belted and was only bruised

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Fly Boy My wife and I just returned from three great days in Palm Springs for the official GM launching of the the new Opel GT.

That is so cool - what an opportunity!

[Ooooner]

Did anyone ask the GM people if they were going to bring the Opel GT to the United States?

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Ooooner Did anyone ask the GM people if they were going to bring the Opel GT to the United States?

Someone suggested half jokingly that you could always buy a Saturn Sky Redline and re-badge it with Opel...

[ronskydivepops]

How about some pictures!!

[PROPEL]

Originally Posted by ronskydivepops How about some pictures!!

We should probably start a folder in the gallery for this event. There are likely to be MANY great photos and videos!

[PROPEL]

A few more...

[Anonymous D]

We'll see if the .jpg's post well

[Gary]

Originally Posted by PROPEL We should probably start a folder in the gallery for this event. There are likely to be MANY great photos and videos!

Upload your photos and videos in the Photo Gallery located Here

[tomking]

Wow! What an event, what an experience. While the rest of us GT owners are thrilled to hear and see it, we are jealous of those who got to experience it first hand. It had to be a great time.

[Wolf Spyder]

Wish I could have been part of such a coo event!

[Gary]

Created a new forum for this event. Individuals can start their own threads to discuss.

Gary

<<Really hoping to launch our new Blogs section this weekend....>>

[jlthunder]

Dang! that looks like it was great fun! We want to hear more!!!

[Gary]

Let's hear some more stories.

[DennisGardiner]

2007 Opel GT Launch

There were 19 total 2007 Opel GTs that Opel offered to the owners who donated there Opel GTs to help promote the new GT launch for the European press.
Our Opels were used for appox. 2 1/2 weeks as a surprise to both journalists who came to Palm Springs in a fleet of Opel Astras. Opel hoped to evoke "Emotion" bringing the orignal Opel GT experience to normally very jaded journalists.
From the responce: The journalists were surprised to see the vintage Opels, instead of the new Opels in the Parker Hotel lot. They were completely blown away when they were told that they would be able to drive the vintage Opels over to the Launch point 15 minutes drive time away through beautiful downtown palm Springs.
The pay off for everyone was Wednesday the 8th. last week, when Opel pampered our group in the luxury Viceroy Hotel, Diner and New GT Drive Day.


Wednesday was our Drive Day
19 gleeming new GTs awaited us with there convertible tops down. The car I received was a yellow GT with lic. # 007M21. The 260HP 2.0L direct injection turbo with 5 speed gear box, running to a independant rear suspension onto 18 inch wheels wrapped in Potenzas.
Our group was able to take the new GTs up & over the mountains for a few hours, treated to lunch and back to the parker hotel.

The new GTs handle great, especially when the traction control is switched off & the esp was turned to 'Competative' mode. The Opel handled very responce in this mode and responded rapidly to each input. Power was smooth, no turbo lag, and felt much like a high end touring car, and not brutal like a racer.
Tight responsive and in touch with the driver. Just the way I like cars.
others felt the cars was twitchy, but I think that has to do more with personal driving styles, that the car.
All in all, it was an exceptional day, in a Opel that felt much like a European sports car.
Dennis 73 GT Targa, 73 Manta GT/E clone

[Wolf Spyder]

Originally Posted by DennisGardiner 2007 Opel GT Launch There were 19 total 2007 Opel GTs that Opel offered to the owners who donated there Opel GTs to help promote the new GT launch for the European press.

Offered as in they could buy them? Or, was it just for the ride youe mentioned?