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Vauxhall unveiled its Monza concept car at the Frankfurt motor show last week, giving a glimpse of what it believes to be the future of driving.

And while Maserati, Jaguar, Citroen and others all revealed their own vision at the world's biggest gathering of automobile firms, few drew a more positive response than this gull-winged beauty.

On-road performance remains the key indicator of any vehicle's quality, but Vauxhall believes their concept car's other features will provide the foundation the for the company's future design.

That is to be seen, but in the meantime here's what the Monza has to offer:

Design

Firstly, those doors. The gull wing design may not allow an easy escape in a supermarket car park, or when throwing money into the Dartford toll basket, but does provide the most eye-catching feature. And for the taller man or woman, it delivers a much simpler entry angle and therefore greater ease and comfort.

It also underlines the amount of space available inside the vehicle with ample legroom in the backseats - something too often an afterthought in any car.

Elsewhere, the exterior is equally as impressive. Vice-president of design, Mark Adams, likened it to a greyhound, with a raised hind, striding posture and a "great bone structure". Supporting the body are four large tyres nestled under high wheel arches.

Aesthetically, it's a star, even if the practicality of gull-winged doors is yet to be decided.

Technology

Increased connectivity and infotainment are the crux of what Vauxhall are trying to get across in the Monza. A door-to-door dashboard, powered by 18 miniature LED projectors, will dazzle those looking on with 3D graphics and the ability to browse the internet.

And while this may not be beneficial to the already-busy driver, the ability to have text messages read aloud and an ever-improving voice command facility will mean he or she is connected more than ever before. This kind of technology works in other areas of life, but now Vauxhall want to make it a reality in cars as well.

Sustainability

And with technology in mind, the Monza also displays capabilities that will create a more environmentally-friendly automobile future. Increased awareness of traffic congestion through technology will help cars avoid hotspots, therefore reducing time on the road, keeping people on the move and, crucially, lowering CO2 emissions. Alarms will be sounded when emergency vehicles are approaching, helping ambulances and police cars get to where they need to without disruption.

Even paper manuals, forever stuffed into the glove compartment of a car, will be a thing of the past with greater smartphone use. Take a picture of the area you need help with, and all the information will appear on screen.

This marriage between car and smartphone, car and technology, will help create a more sustainable future, according to the car maker. And with a target of cutting CO2 emissions by 27 per cent by 2020, this part of the Monza should be at the forefront of car design over the next few years.

Drive

The car has a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, but the Monza is all about the design and future technological capabilities. How it performs on the road is yet to be determined.

The future?

Vauxhall believe the Monza showcases its thinking on future car designs, but not in its current form. This design is almost certain never to get to the production phase.

But as the company admits, physics and chemistry are setting the limits of what a car can achieve on the road now and in the future. A switch to hybrid and fully electric vehicles is inevitable with fuel sources dwindling, making other details - such as connectivity - all the more important.

And while the Monza is unlikely to be brought onto the market, it does show one thing: the interior of a car and the way a driver interacts with the vehicle are no longer an afterthought. The driving experience is only going to get better and better - and this is just the start.