Wild Racer Concept: Chevrolet Ultra

3-Series Coupe Photos

Wow! Could this be a new Chevy? (Photo: General Motors)

While only an artists rendering, we can gather that Chevrolet is trying to get some attention on the international stage. (Photo: General Motors)

Thats one wild looking wing... (Photo: General Motors)

Chevrolets name and bowtie badge are only just beginning to get recognized by Europeans. (Photo: General Motors)

Watch out Cobalt SS, the Ultra is backing some serious heat. (Photo: General Motors)

Diesel Touring Car Concept Chock Full Of Attitude

Although the Chevrolet nameplate is about as American as apple pie, the brand has been broadening its reach internationally. Since its launch in Europe back in 2004, Chevrolet has slowly been edging into the market. Interestingly, the vehicles sold across the Atlantic have little to do with the products that are designed, engineered and built in North America. Instead, Chevrolets European lineup consists of rebadged Daewoos - GMDAT products - like the Chevrolet Epica and Optra currently sold in Canada and elsewhere, incidentally the same as the Suzuki Verona, Forenza, and in five-door guise, Reno sold here, the Aveo sold just about everywhere, plus a few other quirky models such as the citycar-sized Matiz and the Tacuma compact minivan.

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 Chevrolet. Whats more, this years Paris motorshow will hold the introduction of the next-generation Chevrolet Epica, but probably more important to the brands European future, an all-new concept car dubbed Ultra, which foreshadows Chevrolets next C-Segment hatchback.

In Europe, Chevrolet has had great success in the World Touring Car Championships with its Nubira (Optra) sedan. Its done an admirable job fending off BMWs, Seats (a Spanish brand owned by VW) and other European carmakers. In celebration, Chevrolet decided to use the WTCC as a theme for the Ultra. 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; definitely not as American as apple pie.

Speaking of the engine, 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 normally makes 150 horsepower, but its been heavily tweaked to churn out a whopping 190 horsepower. 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.

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 13-and-a-half-foot long (Golf/Focus-sized) hatchback looks so wild, the sketches you see here make it look like a caricature. It starts with a massive grille, moving on to broad wheel arch flares, features a towering spoiler, with sharply creased bodywork formed in between. It does look functional though, and thats because it is: Chevrolet says that the Ultra is road and race ready, even in its first appearance as a concept car.

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