2011 Opel Astra GTC and GTC Turbo, Could Rival VW Scirocco
Opel will soon bring the total body count of the new Astra range to three with the presentation of the sporty Astra GTC, also known as the Vauxhall Astra in Britain, that will join the already available five-door hatchback and the recently revealed, Sports Tourer estate.
Even though we'll have to wait for the Paris Motor Show in October for the official unveiling of the GTC, we can give you a glimpse of the sporty looking three-door Astra as two prototype models were caught on film during testing in Germany.
As you can see in the video after the jump, the first camouflaged Astra GTC features a single tail pipe at each corner of the rear bumper and beefy tire/alloy combos, suggesting it's a turbocharged model, quite possibly, the rumored GSi that's said to be fitted with a more potent version of the 1.6-liter turbo delivering a little over 200HP.
Turbocharged or not, the Astra GTC looks far sportier and more dynamic than the current three-door model. And even though it is based on the five-door model, Opel's design team has given the GTC a lower, almost coupe-like roofline as well as sharper profile thanks to the pronounced crease above the rear wheelarches.
The three door model is also expected to get unique tail lights and possibly even a reworked fascia.
Judging by the spy shots and video, we wouldn't be surprised if Opel targeted the Volkswagen Scirocco with the new GTC - let's not forget that VW's "coupe" is in fact a three-door model also.
The basic engine lineup will be shared with the five-door Astra ranging from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot to a 180HP 1.6-liter turbo petrol and a 160HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel, while as we noted before, there's talk in Germany about a 200HP+ GSI version to close the power-gap with the OPC / VXR variant [...]
Opel Shows Off New Insignia Sports Tourer OPC in Promo Film
For those of you who want to see more of the new Opel Insignia Sports Tourer OPC, General Motors' soon-to-be-sold European unit has released the first video footage of its Audi S4 Avant rivaling estate. Like the Insignia OPC sedan, the Sports Tourer combines a 325HP and 435 Nm 2.8-liter V6 Turbo engine to Opel's all-wheel drive system and an electronically controlled rear limited slip differential [...]
2010 Opel/Vauxhall Astra Officially Revealed with Video
The first pictures and details of the all-new 2010 Opel Astra aka Vauxhall Astra have been released. Opel's Golf rival takes the majority of its styling direction from the award-winning Insignia [...]
New 2009 Opel Insignia Interior Shots
Photos of the new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia’s interior have been officially revealed by the maker in anticipation of the car’s final debut. The pictures show the car’s updated look is centered around a back-lit instrument panel and center console, with ample room for the optional built-in navigation unit [...]
