2006 Chevrolet Ultra WTCC Concept

Although the Chevrolet nameplate is about as American as apple pie, the brand has been broadening its reach internationally, in all aspects of the brand. Prior to its re-launch, Chevrolets were a truly rare sight on European roads. Only the specialty goods - the ones that Chevrolet and other GM products - were sold in extremely limited quantities. The regular mass-produced stuff, such as the Cavalier, Malibu and Impala were never imported. Only the Corvettes, Camaros, Blazers, Tahoes and Suburbans really made the grade. However common those cars were here in North America, there was minimal interest in Europe due to high fuel prices, importation taxes and a tiny dealer network. Chevrolet all but dried up, and left at the turn of the 21st century.

Since 2004, Chevrolet is now back in the European market, but in a different position than it previously was. This time around, the vehicles sold across the Atlantic have little to do with the products that were designed, engineered and built in North America. Instead, Chevrolets European lineup consists of rebadged Daewoos - GMDAT products - like the Chevrolet Epica, Optra and Aveo, currently sold in Canada with clones of the cars sold as Suzukis in the U.S., dubbed Verona, Optra and Reno, plus, back in Europe, a few other quirky models such as the city car-sized Matiz and the Tacuma compact minivan. Its a bit boring, to be honest.

Despite a fair breadth of models, Chevrolet of Europe has been busy trying to expand its range. Earlier this year it officially launched the Captiva, a seven-seat crossover vehicle, the first all-new GMDAT model designed under the guidance of GM of Europe. The Captiva shares much of its architecture and interior fittings with the forthcoming Opel Antera, which is going to be sold in North America as the new Saturn VUE. Whats more, this years Paris motorshow will hold the introduction of the next-generation Chevrolet Epica - a midsize car that was never sold in the United States - but probably more important to the brands European future, an all-new concept car dubbed Ultra, which foreshadows Chevrolets next C-Segment hatchback.

Aside from being known as British TV Show Top Gears transport for its "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment, the biggest success that its main C-Segment car, the Nubira (Optra) sedan has is on the track. The race-prepared car has done an admirable job fending off BMWs, Seats (a Spanish brand owned by VW) and other European carmakers in the World Touring Car Championships. In celebration, Chevrolet decided to use the WTCC as a theme for its latest concept car, the Ultra hatchback. The vehicle itself, much like the Nubira WTCC car, has been a global effort, with styling from Australia, development work from the UK, Germany and Switzerland (Chevrolet of Europes HQ), and the final build done in Japan. The Ultras engine comes from Korea.

Speaking of which, the Ultra is powered by a tuned version of a new diesel that Chevrolet will be launching in various non-North American products later this year. The 2.0-liter inline-four common-rail turbodiesel is a very advanced motor, featuring four valves per cylinder, and a variable geometry turbocharger. Normally, in applications such as the Captiva and Epica, it makes 150 horsepower, but its been heavily tweaked to churn out a whopping 190 horsepower. No torque figures have been given, but its probably in the 300 lb-ft range, if not more. Alright, so its a fair bit less power than the average WTCC car, but its still a substantial figure for a hatchback of this size, and remember that diesels are best known for high torque ratings. The Ultra also reflects the growing movement of touring car racers that have switched to diesel. Many private teams in different forms of touring car racing have experimented with diesel with great success, not to mention the success of Audis diesel-powered R10 racer in the Le Mans/ALMS series.

The thing thats bound to attract the public to Chevrolets stands, and fulfill the brands claim that the Ultra is a true "show stopper" is its outrageous styling. Penned by 25-year old Ewan Kingsbury, the 170.2 inches long, 75.0 inches wide, 61.7 inches tall (Golf/Focus-sized) hatchback looks so wild, the sketches and pictures you see here make it look like a caricature. It starts with a massive grille that just about takes up the entire front end of the car, moving on to broad wheel arch flares, and then features a towering spoiler with sharply creased bodywork formed in between. If anything, the car really is Ultra aggressive.  It does look functional though, however, and thats because it is; Chevrolet says that the Ultra is road and race ready, even in its first appearance as a concept car.

Shortly after its debut at the Paris show, Chevrolet took the Ultra Concept out to a race-style practice run at the Estoril racetrack in Portugal. With WTCC drivers Nicola Larini, Alain Menu and Rob Huff on hand, the car was put through its paces on the track. The results for the racer are positive so far; Larini said, "Im really impressed by the turbo diesel engine. It has high torque and good acceleration even at low engine speeds. I would have never expected a concept car to be that well executed and performing so nicely at such an early development phase." The Ultra Concept also functioned as the safety car on the final race of the WTCC season, leading the other racers around the track.

We wouldnt be surprised to find out that underneath its racing suit, the Ultra is the next-generation Optra hatchback (other markets) and Suzuki Reno (here), but well have to wait around and see. Of course, even if something as radical as the Ultra Concept gets built, everyday Renos will be more conservatively penned, and being that Suzuki is reworking its lineup with fewer GMDAT cars in its future, its entirely possible that the cars next generation wont be sold here. If Suzuki does choose to sell an updated Reno here, and if that model gets an sportier edition like this concept, the Cobalt SS had better be paying close attention to its rearview mirror.