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CONCEPT CARS

Opel STX Concept First Photos

Opel has released the first images of its upcoming Opel Sports Tourer eXperimental Concept, officially shortened to Opel STX Concept, offering the first glimpse of a radical new estate car that previews the German brand’s future design direction.

Revealed only a week after Opel announced the concept’s name, the first teaser images highlight the car’s precise surfacing, distinctive lighting elements and highly aerodynamic bodywork. More importantly, the Opel STX Concept provides an early look at the next evolution of the company’s Bold & Pure design philosophy and the future development of the Opel Vizor.

Opel STX Concept takes the estate car in a new direction

Opel has a long history with estate cars in Europe, dating back to the 1950s. The STX Concept is intended to reinterpret that heritage for a new generation, combining the practicality associated with an estate body style with a much more expressive and aerodynamic design.

“We were pioneers of the estate in Europe as early as the 1950s. With the STX Concept, we want to show our vision for the future of this body style and introduce the next step of our ‘Bold & Pure’ design philosophy,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

The company has not yet revealed full technical specifications, dimensions or details about the powertrain, but the initial images suggest that aerodynamic performance and visual efficiency will play a major role in the concept’s design.

New Opel Vizor gets a sharper look

Perhaps the most significant design detail revealed so far is the next evolution of the Opel Vizor front fascia.

The familiar design element appears substantially more dramatic on the STX Concept, with a new lighting signature built around precisely positioned vertical, slanted lamellas. The arrangement gives the front end a more technical appearance while maintaining the visual identity established by the current generation of Opel models.

At the centre of the front end remains the illuminated Opel Blitz emblem, integrated into the brand’s signature Opel Compass design.

The combination of the illuminated logo, slim lighting elements and expanded Vizor treatment suggests that Opel is looking to make its future models instantly recognisable without relying on traditional grille designs.

Aerodynamics become a central part of the design

The Opel STX Concept is also being developed around aerodynamic efficiency. Opel says the concept will explore new solutions designed not only to reduce energy consumption but also to improve directional stability and driving pleasure at high speeds.

That is particularly relevant for an estate car designed with the German Autobahn in mind. Rather than treating aerodynamics purely as a way to lower drag, Opel says the STX Concept will use aerodynamic features to influence the vehicle’s high-speed behaviour as well.

One of the most visible examples is the concept’s striking three-section alloy wheel design. The wheels have been shaped with aerodynamic efficiency in mind, helping to reduce turbulence around the vehicle while giving the concept a distinctive appearance.

This approach reflects a broader industry trend in which designers are increasingly integrating aerodynamic optimisation directly into the visual identity of electric and electrified vehicles.

A preview of Opel’s next design chapter

Although Opel has released only a limited amount of information, the STX Concept already appears to represent more than a styling exercise. The combination of a practical estate-car silhouette, aggressive aerodynamics and a redesigned Vizor could provide important clues about the direction Opel intends to take with future production vehicles.

The concept also reinforces the importance of the estate body style at a time when many manufacturers have shifted their focus toward SUVs and crossovers. Opel’s decision to use an estate as a platform for demonstrating its future design philosophy suggests the company still sees significant potential in the format.

For now, Opel is keeping the most important details under wraps. The company has promised to reveal more information about the STX Concept soon, meaning additional details about its technology, interior, dimensions and potential powertrain should follow.

The Opel STX Concept therefore serves as an early statement of intent: a futuristic estate combining Opel’s traditional practicality with a sharper interpretation of the brand’s Bold & Pure design language, a more advanced Vizor front end and a strong focus on aerodynamic performance.

Opel STX Concept: What we know so far

  • Full name: Opel Sports Tourer eXperimental Concept
  • Short name: Opel STX Concept
  • Body style: Sports Tourer / estate concept
  • Design philosophy: Next-generation Opel Bold & Pure
  • Front design: Evolved Opel Vizor
  • Lighting: Vertical slanting lamella signature
  • Brand identity: Illuminated Opel Blitz within the Opel Compass
  • Aerodynamics: Designed to improve efficiency and high-speed stability
  • Wheels: Aerodynamically optimised three-section alloy wheels
  • Production status: Concept vehicle
  • Full technical specifications: Yet to be announced

Source: Stellantis

Auctions

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Wimille Sets Auction Record at $5.44 Million

A rare 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille has become the most expensive Veyron ever sold at public auction, changing hands for 4,505,000 Swiss francs—approximately $5.44 million.

The record-breaking sale took place at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Zurich on September 26, where bidding lasted less than three minutes before the hammer finally fell. The result dramatically exceeded the car’s pre-auction estimate of $2.62 million to $3.05 million.

The final price was approximately 61 percent above the upper estimate and around $2.35 million higher than the previous auction record for a Bugatti Veyron.

A $5.44 Million Bugatti Veyron

The car in question is not an ordinary Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. It is one of just three examples of the Jean-Pierre Wimille Edition, making it one of the rarest derivatives of Bugatti’s legendary hypercar.

RM Sotheby’s had expected the 2014 Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Wimille to attract significant interest, but the final result went well beyond those expectations. At 4,505,000 Swiss francs, the car established a new benchmark for the entire Veyron family at public auction.

The previous record was held by the one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu, which sold in 2024. The Wimille Edition has now surpassed that car’s result by approximately $2.35 million.

For a production-based hypercar that is now more than a decade old, a price above $5 million is remarkable. It also demonstrates how rarity, provenance, specification and condition can dramatically influence the value of modern collector cars.

One of Just Three Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Wimille Editions

The most important factor behind the car’s extraordinary auction result is its rarity.

Bugatti produced only three examples of the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille. That puts the special edition in an entirely different category from the standard Grand Sport Vitesse, even though both cars share the same fundamental mechanical architecture.

The edition pays tribute to Jean-Pierre Wimille, the celebrated French racing driver and Bugatti factory driver. In 1937, Wimille became the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Bugatti.

The three Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Wimille cars feature bespoke design elements inspired by Wimille and his racing career, giving the limited-run hypercars a level of historical significance that goes beyond their performance figures.

For collectors, that combination of extremely limited production and direct motorsport heritage is particularly valuable.

Just 3,766 Kilometers From New

The record-breaking Veyron had another important advantage: exceptionally low mileage.

Since leaving the Bugatti factory in 2014, the car had covered only 3,766 kilometers. For a ten-year-old-plus hypercar of this caliber, such mileage is exceptionally low.

Veyrons have increasingly become collector cars rather than machines used regularly on public roads. Many examples spend much of their lives in private collections, and the lowest-mileage cars can command significant premiums when they eventually appear on the market.

In this case, the combination of just 3,766 kilometers and a three-car production run made the Wimille Edition particularly compelling to prospective buyers.

1,183 HP From a Quad-Turbo W16

The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse remains one of the most technically significant hypercars of the modern era.

At the heart of the car is Bugatti’s legendary 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, producing 1,183 horsepower. Power is delivered through an all-wheel-drive system, allowing the Veyron to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds.

Its top speed is approximately 409 km/h, placing the Grand Sport Vitesse among the fastest production cars of its era.

Those numbers helped establish the Veyron as a technological milestone, but today’s collectors are increasingly interested in the car for another reason: its place in automotive history.

The Veyron effectively established Bugatti as one of the defining names of the modern hypercar era, combining enormous power with levels of engineering complexity and luxury previously unseen in a road-going production car.

Why the Wimille Edition Is Different

The Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse was already an exclusive machine, but the Jean-Pierre Wimille Edition adds another layer of collectability.

With only three examples built, it is considerably rarer than the regular Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. More importantly, its connection to one of Bugatti’s most significant racing drivers gives the car a direct link to the marque’s pre-war motorsport history.

That historical connection is important in the collector-car market. A hypercar can be valuable because of its performance, but cars associated with significant people, races or moments in a manufacturer’s history can acquire a different kind of appeal.

The Wimille Edition combines all of those factors: extreme performance, extremely limited production, low mileage and significant Bugatti racing heritage.

The Veyron Is Becoming a Major Collector Car

The $5.44 million result is another indication that exceptional Veyrons are moving into a different phase of their lives.

When the Veyron arrived in the early 2000s, its headline figures dominated the automotive world. A 1,000-plus-horsepower W16, four turbochargers and a top speed beyond 400 km/h made it one of the most technically ambitious production cars ever built.

Today, however, the most desirable Veyrons are increasingly being judged not only by their performance but also by their rarity, specification, mileage and provenance.

The record for the Grand Sport Vitesse Wimille illustrates this shift particularly well. This was not simply a sale of an older hypercar. It was the sale of one of only three examples of a historically significant Bugatti special edition.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

News

Honda Prelude Limited Edition Is Coming to Europe With Type R Hardware

Honda is bringing the exclusive Prelude Limited Edition to Europe, giving the hybrid sports coupé a darker, more aggressive character and hardware borrowed from the Civic Type R. The first European deliveries are expected before the end of 2026.

Honda is expanding the reach of its new Prelude with a special Limited Edition previously reserved for the Japanese market. Following strong interest from potential buyers, the Japanese automaker has confirmed that the limited-run hybrid coupé will also be offered to European customers.

The move adds another layer of excitement to the return of the iconic Honda Prelude, particularly because the European Limited Edition combines distinctive styling with performance-focused chassis upgrades associated with the current Civic Type R.

Honda Prelude Limited Edition Gets a More Aggressive Look

The Honda Prelude Limited Edition stands out with a dark metallic red exterior finish, a color theme that continues into the cabin. The interior features leather trim complemented by red stitching, including contrasting details on the leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel.

Black 19-inch alloy wheels give the special-edition Prelude a more aggressive appearance, while red Brembo brake calipers provide an obvious visual connection to Honda’s performance models.

But the upgrades are not limited to cosmetics.

Honda has equipped the European Limited Edition with a wider track, adaptive dampers and high-performance Brembo braking hardware. Several of these components are closely related to technology used by the current Honda Civic Type R, giving the Prelude a considerably more serious chassis specification than its standard appearance might suggest.

That combination is likely to appeal to enthusiasts who see the new Prelude as more than simply a stylish hybrid coupé.

184 HP Hybrid Powertrain Remains

Despite its performance-oriented chassis, the Honda Prelude Limited Edition retains the same hybrid powertrain as the regular model.

At its heart is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine working with an electric motor integrated into Honda’s adaptive e-CVT transmission. The system produces 184 hp and 315 Nm of torque.

Honda has yet to reveal detailed performance figures for the European Limited Edition, but the powertrain specification suggests that the special model is focused more on delivering an engaging driving experience than outright acceleration.

That creates an interesting contrast with the hardware underneath it.

A wider track, adaptive dampers and Brembo brakes—components with clear performance credentials—give the Prelude the equipment enthusiasts would normally associate with a significantly more powerful sports car.

Where Is the Honda Prelude Type R?

That naturally raises the question of whether Honda could eventually create a genuine Prelude Type R.

Rumors and speculation surrounding a high-performance Prelude have continued despite Honda repeatedly indicating that a Type R version is not currently planned. The Limited Edition’s hardware, however, is likely to keep those conversations alive.

The idea is easy to understand. The Prelude already combines a lightweight coupé-style body with a sophisticated hybrid powertrain, while the Limited Edition adds performance-oriented chassis components derived from Honda’s more focused models.

What is missing is a substantially more powerful engine.

A hypothetical Prelude Type R with a high-output turbocharged engine—or another performance-focused powertrain—could transform the character of the car. For now, however, such a model remains firmly in the realm of speculation.

Honda HRC Has Already Shown a More Extreme Prelude

Interestingly, Honda’s racing division appears to have explored what a substantially more aggressive Prelude could look like.

Honda Racing Corporation, or HRC, recently unveiled a much more radical Prelude concept. Although it remains a concept rather than a confirmed production model, the car demonstrates how far Honda could potentially push the platform from a design and performance perspective.

The HRC project is particularly intriguing because it comes at a time when Honda is using the Prelude nameplate to re-establish itself in the sports-coupé segment.

It does not confirm that a production Prelude Type R is coming, but it certainly gives enthusiasts something to talk about.

Source: Honda