Would You See a Brand-New Calibra in Opel's Future?

The peeps at Kolesa signed these renderings and shared them online earlier this week for no reason whatsoever. If you’re familiar with their work, and you probably are given that we’ve covered numerous CGIs from them, then you know that they tend to keep their renderings realistic, carefully modifying each pixel based on spy shots, leaked pictures, or patent images of upcoming products.

However, this brand-new Opel Calibra is not onto something, as the Stellantis-owned car marque is more interested in the crossover game, often with an electric twist, rather than investing a huge amount of money into something that might not sell in sufficient numbers to justify the cash injection. As a result, this is nothing more than a ‘what if?’ story.

So, what if Opel brought back the Calibra for the modern era? Well, then it could end up looking similar to these digital illustrations. The model is clearly an Opel up front as it features a familiar design, including the vizor-like grille, and kind of sends Volvo vibes at the rear due to the shape of the taillights. It has a flat trunk lid, frameless side windows, and a sloping roofline that emphasizes its coupe nature.

The dual exhaust tips suggest it has been imagined as an internal combustion-powered car rather than a new EV nonsense, and for what it’s worth, the car manufacturer has the right tools to create a brand-new Calibra. Such a model would clearly utilize the STLA Medium platform, which was developed for compact and mid-size cars. The construction is the foundation stone of the new Opel Grandland and Peugeot’s e-3008 III and e-5008 III.

Opel’s Calibra, which saw the light of day between 1989 and 1997 and was also marketed as a Chevrolet in Latin America, a Holden in Australia and New Zealand, and a Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, was based on the era’s Vectra. The latter eventually became the Insignia, so a hypothetical brand-new Calibra would have to be a mid-size car to stay true to its roots. Stellantis has plenty of engines that it could use on such a ride, but it won’t, as it’s not a crossover and, therefore, not a great cash cow.

Thus, no matter how nicely you ask Opel or Vauxhall, they won’t launch a brand-new Calibra, as mid-size coupes are not exactly moneymakers these days. Nonetheless, if given the opportunity, would you buy a modern Opel/Vauxhall Calibra if it looked like the one imagined by the quoted outlet?