The Irmscher Coupé '90 was a concept study shown by the Opel-focused German tuning and conversion company Irmscher at the Berlin motor show, a venue not typically associated with new vehicle debuts. It was built as a 2+2-seat coupe based on the Opel Kadett GSi 16V, intended to demonstrate that attractive small sports coupes could still be created in Europe, comparable to models such as the Nissan 200 SX. No production version followed, and observers regretted that the car remained a one-off prototype.
The design incorporated styling elements drawn from Opel's contemporary model range, most notably a sharply tapering rear side window and semi-fastback roofline reminiscent of the larger Opel Manta and Vectra coupes. Less typical of Opel was the front end, featuring a rectangular cooling intake integrated into the bumper and apron unit along with small twin D/E headlamps for high and low beam. The body was made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GFK), bonded to the floorpan using adhesive bonding techniques, and rode on 7-inch star-design wheels from Irmscher's accessory range fitted with 225/45x16 tyres. Engine modifications to the intake and exhaust raised output of the Kadett's 1998 cc DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine to 162 hp.
The interior featured a newly developed, leather-covered dashboard, leather-trimmed sports seats, padded sports steering wheel, and matching trim panels. Irmscher's development department spent over a year building the running prototype, which measured 415 cm long, 166 cm wide, 129 cm high, with a 252 cm wheelbase and 140/140.5 cm track.
