Blaire Guntra

front view of a 1988 Blaire Guntra (EU)

The Blaire Guntra is a small car manufactured by Blaire Automotive Company from 1980 to 2014 as a city car and from 2014 to 2020 as a subcompact car. It entered its second generation in 2007, produced by Blaire of Europe in Cologne, Germany. A third generation was introduced in 2014.

From 1980-2014 the Guntra had a three-door hatchback body style, with the third generation also having a two-door convertible version that was marketed as the Converta and a sporty hatch version, the VS.

The fifth generation was produced as a five-door hatchback. It was initially only available in Brazil, and later was introduced in India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, South Africa (where it was marketed as the Blaire Leo), Argentina, and Poland. European sales ended in 2019, and in 2020, it was taken out of production in Brazil.

## Powertrain

### Engine

1.2L Naturally-aspirated I41.3L Turbo-charged I41.2L TDCI I4

## Performance

### **Background**

In 2007, the European Guntra was replaced with a model developed and produced by Blaire of Europe, unlike the previous generation which was Blaire's Latin American team. The car was built in Taimania's Washington, England, factory alongside the Blaire Borough, and Taimania Psionic. Production started on 10 March 2007.

Based on a heavily modified version of the Blaire B1 Platform, its interior offers optional Bluetooth phone connection, wireless voice control, a USB port, a CD Radio, MP3, an AUX connector, steering-wheel audio controls, and a speaker system consisting of six speakers, a subwoofer, and an amplifier.

### **Versions & Engines**

The second-generation Guntra came with a choice of three engines, a 1.2-litre petrol with 81 LB-FT (77 HP), a 1.3-litre Turbo-charged petrol engine with 97 LB-FT (113 HP), And a 1.2-litre TDCi diesel engine with 90 LB-FT (83 HP). All engines come with sub-120 g/km CO2 emissions (119 for the petrol and 112 for the diesel).

### **VS**

In late 2007 Blaire introduced a hot hatch model of the Guntra called the VS, it featured a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine (described above) pushing the 0-60 to 8.3 seconds from the previous 9.3 seconds. The VS featured shock absorption revised from the Borough along with a rear antiroll bar enabling 30% softer springs and accordingly retuned dampers to improve ride performance over uneven road surfaces. Some of these improvements were subsequently adopted on Leo VS and Albatross VST models. The VS uses an electrically assisted steering system, which makes the steering much lighter and more energy efficient than its predecessor.

### **Laundalet**

The fixed-profile convertible variant of the Guntra debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007 alongside the base Guntra, historically recalling the fixed-profile convertibles as similar fixed-profile convertibles such as the Vespa 400 (1957), Citroën DS 3 (2013), Nissan Figaro (1991), Citroën 2CV (1948–1990) and the Nash Rambler Convertible "Landau" Coupe (1950).

The Laundalet features fully stamped body-side panels retaining the hatchback Guntra's profile (door frames, roof pillars and side windows) to increase structural rigidity, reduce scuttle shake, and retain side and curtain airbags, in exchange for a less open experience than a fully pillarless convertible. Weighing 40 kg (88 lb) more than its hatchback counterpart, the Laundalet features a slightly longer windshield than the hatchback, with a concealed and reinforced upper structural cross-member, a stronger front cross-member behind the instrument panel, a rear strut on which the retracted roof folds, reinforced B-pillars, and the rear anti-roll bar setup from the VS, high-performance model.

### **Reception**

The Guntra was received well upon its debut, the small size was notable cramped but allowed the car to squeeze into most tight city spaces. It was renowned for its great reliability having a taller boot compared to its sister model the Borough which was panned for its hard to access boot door. The Guntra was also widely renowned for its great performance for how low the power was while retaining great fuel economy. In 2012, cumulative sales reached 350,000, and in 2014 the Guntra would be updated for its fifth and final generation.

## Fifth Generation (GN05; 2014-2020)

Fifth gen

[[Category:Blaire Automotive Company]]