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Vauxhall Intros New Models

8 November 2000

    London - The 2000 car show circuit has bearly gotten started and already 
General Motors and its Britain-based Vauxhall unit are talking about next 
year's show circuit. That's because they're pretty excited about something 
that is going into the final design stages, and while for now it is just a 
styling exercise, elements of the exercise will likely be included in real 
GM models in the future.  Vauxhall calls it the Signum and it combines new 
exterior design concepts with advanced and innovative interior styles.

    The Signum has a 111 in. wheelbase with a short rearward overhang, high 
wheel arches that are filled by 19 in. wheels. It has typical Vauxhall 
styling features like the prominent C-pillar and wide continuous shoulders.  
The designers rejected a B-piller above the belt line and there is a glass 
tailgate and panorama- roof extending to the to the windshield that creates 
a large greenhouse. The front has the familiar Vauxhall V-grill and three 
dimensional, vertical headlamps.

    A totally new idea is a folding rear seat that backs up to the height of 
the car's belt-line to create a level deck with the push of a button. With 
the seat up, the car looks like a two-seater and luggage can be stored 
underneath safely and out of sight.  A pull on the door handle and as the 
door swings open the seat swivels automatically toward the door making 
ingress and egress very easy. An adjustable steering wheel that can be 
lowered into the dash for easier ingress and then restored to its original 
position with the push of a button. There is a simple route navigational 
aid right on the dash and a center console houses another monitor with 
detailed road maps.

    For rear seat passengers there is an infotainment system providing high 
quality videos and DVD player.  The car makes extensive use of plastic for 
housings, the rear seat and the entertainment components. There is also 
extensive use of glass, but it's not hard to imagine much of that glass 
going to polycarbonate in a production model.  Right now the Signum is a 
styling exercise and there are no plans to build the car. It does, however, 
incorporate many of the advances car makers' have been talking about and 
demonstrates how they can be added to a lightweight, fuel-efficient package.