2000 Opel Speedster – Driven To Write

Surrogate Twins

GM Europe had a reputation for building solid, reliable but resolutely uncharismatic cars. In an attempt to shake off its fusty image, the company turned to Lotus.

2001 Opel Speedster (c) autoevolution.com

The 2000 Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 siblings owe their existence at least in part to one of the many financial crises that have regularly threatened to engulf Lotus Cars over the course of its lifetime. General Motors had owned Lotus outright from October 1986 to August 1993. It had inherited the front-engined Excel 2+2 and mid-engined Esprit, but recognised that both these ageing designs, while selling steadily in small numbers, had limited potential for growth. Instead, it decided to Continue reading “Surrogate Twins”

Car Magazine Agrees With Us

DTW might be the world’s least influential car site but sometimes our views have some resonance.

Some time back we ran an article about the Opel Speedster. We hinted that the high prices and scarcity of supply might make this a contender for early classic status. Car magazine seems to agree and describe it as “affordable, nailed-on classic in waiting.” Car considered it a “sensational driver-centric revelation”, they say on page 124 of the current edition. The next thing is that the Renault Wind will be talked up as one to keep an eye on. But we got there first in 2014.

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