THE Opel GTC's low-slung profile has already led to it being dubbed the "new Calibra".

But according to GM insiders, it is a lot more radical than that.

The car's coupe profile is what you will get with next year's new Vectra.

"Imagine the GTC with two extra doors. That's Vectra," said one GM executive who has seen finished Vectra prototypes.

The Vectra will take a radical approach with regard to saloon and hatch versions too - they will be virtually identical in terms of styling, and will share the same side profile.

There could be another bonus for the UK too - as with the Corsa last year, the timing of the new Vectra makes a launch at the 2008 London Motor Show a distinct possibility.

GM spokesmen confirmed the production Vectra would not be launched at the 2008 Geneva Show, but its on-sale date of September 2008 would be too early for the Paris Show.

A London date in June or July could suit GM down to the ground, and would provide a welcome boost for the UK show. The new Vectra's "four-door coupé" looks signal a shift in attitude toward Vauxhall's upper medium contender. Whereas the Vectra has traditionally been a fleet vehicle, more and more private buyers are choosing the current model, and that is something GM wants to encourage.