THIS REBADGED LOTUS IS THE COOLEST CAR YOU CAN LEGALLY IMPORT IN 2025

The start of a new year is upon us, and with it, a whole host of foreign cars that can now legally be imported to the US under the 25-year rule. As car enthusiasts keep an eye on all the different models that can now be brought into the country, there is one slightly left-field car that might slip under the radar, as it was only in production for a few years and never really enjoyed a great degree of popularity even on its home turf.

The Opel Speedster, known in the UK as the Vauxhall VX220, is a quirky sports car based on the Lotus Elise. Although Opel went to great lengths to disguise the car’s origins during the design process, plenty of similarities between the two models are still apparent. Let’s explore the unique chapter of automotive history that led to its creation, as well as its characteristics and the even rarer variants it spawned.

Making Deals: How The Speedster Came To Be

The origin of the Opel Speedster can be traced back to a curious combination of factors: new safety regulations and Lotus’ financial difficulties. Just before the turn of the millennium, changes to European crash safety regulations meant the original Lotus Elise had to be replaced with a new version for the 2000 model year. Lotus, however, lacked the necessary funds for the development of the Elise’s second generation, and approached General Motors with the intent of striking a deal that would allow them to create a new model with GM’s financial backing.

GM accepted on the condition that Lotus develop Opel’s new model, the Speedster, and its rebadged British counterpart, the Vauxhall VX220. Lotus proceeded to use a variation of the second-gen Elise chassis to build the Speedster, with minor modifications such as a longer wheelbase and lower door sills. A concept car was prepared in time for the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, where the Speedster made its official debut.

One Of A Kind: An Overview Of The Speedster

Powertrain

The Speedster may have been based on the Lotus Elise, but does not share its powertrain. The first-generation Elise was powered by a 1.8-liter Rover K-series engine, while the Series 2 Elise (developed in tandem with the Speedster) was fitted with a 1.8-liter Toyota ZZ engine. The Speedster itself, on the other hand, used neither of these engines, with Opel choosing to use an existing 2.2-liter Ecotec from the Astra.

In 2003, three years after the Speedster was first introduced, Opel responded to demands for a more powerful variant to be built. The Speedster’s powertrain was upgraded to a new version of the Ecotec engine. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder boosted output by 55 hp (from the original 145 to 200 hp). Both engines were paired with a five-speed manual transmission, manufactured in Italy by German firm Getrag.

Design

One of the Speedster’s most striking characteristics is its decidedly unique look, unlike anything else on the market at the time. Despite using the Elise as a basis to design the Speedster, the team at Opel added plenty of original elements on the visual front: the stylistic influence of the Elise can be recognized by a trained eye, but the two cars still look very different at first glance. While the Elise leans towards smooth, flowing lines, the Speedster goes for a boxier, more aggressive look, with angular headlights instead of circular ones and vertical air vents on the side.

A UK-Only Track Version: The VXR220

Opel models are sold under the Vauxhall brand in the UK, and the Speedster was no exception. While the regular, road-legal Speedster was known as the VX220, a lesser-known track-only version of this car also existed, called the VXR220. It had a very limited production run, with only 60 units produced, and was exclusive to the British market. All 60 cars were finished in Calypso Red.

The VXR220 was tuned to produce a higher power output (220 hp), and had several performance-focused modifications including a lowered suspension, larger brakes and upgraded tires. Its wheels (custom Speedline alloys, 16 inches at the front and 17 at the rear) were inspired by the Elise, which also sported differently-sized wheels. Inside the car, the regular seats were upgraded to more performance-oriented ones.

Wind Of Change: The Scorpions Edition Speedster

The Speedster also produced a very unusual special edition dedicated to German rock band the Scorpions. Best known for their 1990 hit Wind of Change (a power ballad about the political turmoil in Eastern Europe around the fall of the Berlin Wall), the Scorpions made an appearance at the 2003 Classic Open Air Festival in Russelsheim, where Opel is based. The company decided to pay homage to the band and their concert by releasing a limited-edition version of the Speedster, finished with a silver paint job.

The unique features of the Scorpions Speedster include black alloys, a black windscreen surround and window frames, and black leather interior. The rear of the car was adorned with a special “Speedster Scorpions” badge. And that’s not all the customer got as part of the deal: each car came with a Gibson Flying V guitar signed by the band, as well as a copy of the Wind of Change single.

Around 80 cars from this small production run are rumored to exist, so if you manage to get your hands on one, you’ll be joining a very exclusive club.

When Diesels Were Clean: The Opel Eco Speedster Concept

One of the most interesting variants of the Speedster is a one-off concept called the Eco Speedster, which was unveiled in 2002. The Eco Speedster had a sleeker, more streamlined design, with gullwing doors completing the look. Its 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine produced 110 hp, sent to the rear wheels.

Shortly after its release, the Eco Speedster was put through its paces at Opel’s own testing facility, a circular track in Dudenhofen, Germany. Here, the car was driven continuously for 24 hours (well, nearly 24 hours, due to electrical issues cutting its run short), in an attempt to break as many records as possible for cars with turbodiesel engines. The Eco Speedster succeeded in its endeavor, breaking a total of 17 records for speed, endurance, and fuel efficiency.

The Eco Speedster embodies one of the principles that dominated the automotive world of the era: that diesels were not only clean, but the future of motoring. This idea would be dismantled only a few years later with the DieselGate scandal and the popularization of electric and hybrid vehicles.

How Much Will It Cost?

The only model you can legally import for now is the standard 2.2 NA, and there are several examples for sale across the pond. The average price of a VX220 is £12,000, which is a few bucks shy of $15k. And that's before you add shipping costs, and everything else related to the 25-year rule. You could easily buy a mint condition ND Mazda Miata for $15k, but it won't be the same sort of experience.

While both cars are indeed drop-top performance cars, the Opel Speedster is a raw kind of driving experience, while the Mazda is way more refined and can easily be used daily. Still, the Opel Speedster provides a driving experience you can no longer buy new, and because of legislation, it will never be repeated. That makes it worth the money in our book.

Sources: Opel, Lotus, Stellantis, GTPlanet

2025-01-17T04:00:09Z