Opel GT Concept Stockholm in reality

Opel The GT Concept Stockholm is not a car you expect to see out in the real world, and it was never intended to be. In 2016, I had the honour of photographing the car in Stockholm and was also involved in selecting the location for the shoot, an opportunity to place a pure concept car in a real-world setting.

The location of the Opel GT Concept Stockholm

The choice fell on Ivar Los park in Södermalm, a place that truly conveys Stockholm with the water, the open space, and the City Hall in the background. Here, a clear contrast emerged between the car and its surroundings, an uncompromising design in the heart of a vibrant city.

Experience with concept cars

This was not the first time I had the opportunity to work with a concept car or a model that had not yet been officially presented. The Opel GT Concept Stockholm was another example of this type of assignment.

At a later time, I also photographed Koenigsegg Gemera before it reached production, and even earlier I was involved in documenting it Volvo ECC, a concept car that subsequently paved the way for Volvo's design language for many years.

The same year as the Opel GT Concept photoshoot, in April 2016, I also had the opportunity to travel to Germany to photograph BMW Vision Next 100 for Swedish Auto Motor & Sports. That car too is a clear example of how manufacturers showcase their future in concept form, and an article about that photoshoot will be published on CarsCollection later, just like the work on the Opel GT Concept Stockholm.

Read also my article about the Koenigsegg Gemera on CarsCollection.
You can also read more about the Volvo ECC here.

Opel GT Concept Stockholm as a design idea

The Opel GT Concept is a full concept car, first shown in 2016 as a clear design study for the brand's future. The focus was not on performance or ready-made solutions, but on exploring ideas and directions. The design was radical, with door handles replaced by pressure-sensitive panels, side mirrors exchanged for cameras, and a red body line that graphically tied the exterior together. It was all about showing what was possible, not what was ready for production.

What happened next?

Despite the attention, the Opel GT Concept never became a production reality, instead serving as a direction for Opel's design language and innovations. Several of the ideas, particularly the clean design language and the work with lines and proportions, have later been seen in the brand's production cars, but as a whole, the car remained what it was intended to be, a pure concept car.

Capturing the feeling

The aim of the photos was not just to show the car but to capture its feel in a real environment. Reflections, contrasts and the interaction with the city became an important part of the result.

No test drive

A test drive was naturally out of the question this time, which also reinforces the car's character as it exists outside the usual boundaries.

An unusual moment

Occasions like this are rare, and working with such an uncompromising car in a city like Stockholm created something special. For a brief moment, the Opel GT Concept became a part of reality, and that was precisely what I wanted to capture.