Opel Astra’s line-up is going to welcome yet another addition in the form of a brand new three-box sedan. The mule pictured in these spy shots sports a mildy disguised rear end that let us understand pretty well the sort of the design the final model will use, and quite frankly there’s nothing really exciting there. This kind of body-type hasn’t been successful in Europe for quite a while, and at the moment it is unclear whether Opel will have it marketed in these countries.

The Opel Astra sedan is expected to borrow the same engine range of the hatchback, meaning the naturally aspirated 1.4- and 1.6-litre (producing 100 and 115 hp respectively), a turbocharged 1.4 litre unit delivering 140 hp and, possibly, the 180 hp supercharged 1.6 too. As for diesel options, there is a 95 hp 1.3 and a 1.7-litre unit available in three power steps, 110, 125 and 130 hp, this last one with standard start-stop system. At the moment, the inclusion in the range of the powerful 2.0-litre CDTI unit (producing 165 hp) seems quite unlikely.

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Opel continues the celebration for its 150th anniversary with the introduction of a special trim package for its Corsa, Meriva, Astra and Insignia models, dubbed ‘150 Year Opel’.

With this celebrative package, both Corsa and Meriva will get 16″ wheels, tinted rear glass, fog lights, heated steering wheel, cruise control, an MP3-CD stereo and an adjustable panoramic roof or sunroof with separate air conditioning for both the driver and the front passenger. whereas the Astra will get the same goodies but with a set 17″ rims. As for the Insignia, the package is completed by heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a Navi 900 Europa info-tainment system, an electric sunroof and a glazed panoramic roof as well as 18″ alloys. Needless to say, the whole lot will also receive slew of anniversary-themed badges and finishing.

What makes the ‘150 Years Opel’ jubilee trim even more interesting is that it promises to be quite cheap, savings of up to 2,100 € over the usual price of the aforementioned extras. The jubilee trim packages start at 450 euro (recommended retail price in Germany including VAT). Depending on the model, they represent a cost saving of 876 euro.

via | CarFanaticsForum

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Opel has released images and technical details of the new Astra OPC, a version based on the GTC model and powered by a turbocharged 2.0 direct injection petrol engine. Engineers from Opel Performance Center provided the car with 280 hp and 400 Nm of maximum torque, giving it 250 km/h of top speed. No Astra ever went that fast before. In order to handle all that power, this version of the German compact car is equipped with HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) front-wheel suspension, FlexRide active chassis, Brembo braking system and limited slip differential.

The FlexRide active chassis allows the driver to adjust the shock absorber line, the steering and the gas pedal responsiveness with the touch of a “Sport” and an “OPC” button. Aesthetically, the new Astra can be easily recognized by the new bumpers, the wider side skirts, the rear spoiler and the two trapezoid-shaped exhaust end cans. Highlights of the cabin are the sports seats, sporty leather steering wheel and specifically designed instrumentation.

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The Opel Astra Cabriolet won’t debut for a while yet, but we already know a fair bit about the model, what with the Astra Cabriolet teaser pic joining recent spy shots. The new open-top Astra which should go some way to competing with models like the revived Volkswagen Golf Cabrio, will have a fabric roof and a style said to be inspired by the Astra GTC.

That latter model will also lend its engine range to the Astra cabrio, which promises to be a sporty little model if all this comes to pass. The cabriolet model, according to Car Magazine, will be offered as a separate model to the rest of the range and not as simply a drop-top Astra, much like the distinction between the Volkswagen Eos and the Golf.

In an interview with design head Mark Adams, we find out that the Opel Astra Cabriolet will be called something different as the model will have quite different aspects to the Astra nameplate we know. The new model forms part of a specific strategy from the German brand that also includes changes to the Insignia and a remodelling of the Astra and Meriva models.

The Opel brand relaunch has begun and will include niche models like the small Opel Junior, this Astra cabrio and the compact SUV currently called the Opel Cross Corsa. The Opel Astra cabrio model should get a 2012 launch, with sales starting in Europe in summer.

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Opel has revealed more technical details regarding its Astra GTC model recently released. The GTC has got a new chassis job from the guys at the Vauxhall Engineering Centre in Millbrook. The team focused on providing the most dynamic car in its class, even for demanding drivers. Hence, the steering has been updated and the suspension fine-tuned to provide a sportier drive compared to the standard five-door Astra, but one which is also comfortable.

Most of the work has been carried out on the front suspension, which now equips a HiPerStrut setup based on the Opel Insignia OPC model, The HiPerStrut uses the same original mounting points provided by the Astra, but has a reduced angle and shorter setup than the MacPherson models. The benefits include preventing too much torque steering - often a problem on powerful, front-wheel drive cars - and exploiting the GTC performance to its full potential.

In addition the new Astra GTC front suspension reduces camber variation on the front wheels, providing more precise steering and better control when cornering. The new suspension geometry also allows for bigger tyres where the Astra GTC can now fit 20-inch units.

Continue reading: New Opel Astra GTC details

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The new Opel Astra EcoFLEX has reduced CO2 emissions at just 99 g/km. The new EcoFLEX model replaces the previous four-cylinder, 1.3-litre diesel with 95 hp, and has managed 17 percent reduced fuel consumption despite an increase to 130 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The new 1.7 CDTI registers an average fuel use of 3.7 l/100 km thanks to brake energy regeneration, start&stop fuel saving, and tweaks to the six-speed manual transmission.

The Astra ecoFLEX also has a few aerodynamic upgrades and low-resistance ContiEcoContact 5 tyres. The suspension has also been lowered by 12mm. The 1.7 CDTI has a new electronics and injection system, with reduced compression ratios and a new variable turbocompressor. Overall, further changes to temperature and valve management make this a far more efficient engine, without compromising performance.

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The new Opel / Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet will get a traditional fabric roof as the company substitutes the retractable metal roof it has used recently. The folding metal mechanism hasn’t been as popular as hoped and with advances in technology, the Astra Cabriolet will go back to a soft top, and probably compete with the new Golf Cabrio on the way.

The new Opel Astra cabriolet should complete the new Astra range by the time it debuts in about 18 months’ time. It will appear after the new Astra hatchback, the three-door Astra GTC and a more performance-oriented OPC version next year. This image, released by Vauxhall design head Mark Adams, shows a four-seat Astra cabrio and enough room for a decent-sized boot even with the top down.

We don’t know when exactly we’ll be seeing this model, but the new fabric roof and rear overhang are been designed so as not to compromise the rear look of the Astra, which is supposed to be the strong selling point of the model’s style. The Astra Cabriolet could prove to be quite a looker when it’s released and we can’t wait to see more.

Source | Autocar

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The fact that the new Opel Astra GTC doesn’t share much design with the five-door Astra is enough to indicate that it’s aimed at an entirely different market, but this video really drives that message home. From family hatch to sexy coupé, the GTC is more dynamic, wider and longer, and has plenty of style to keep Opel fans in the game with the likes of the Volkswagen Scirocco and the Renault Megane coupe.

Set to be a cool lifestyle car for young people enjoying themselves (or so we’re lead to believe from the video), the Astra GTC will be officially unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The GTC will first be launched with five engine options: the 1.4-litre turbo with either 120 or 140 hp, the 1.6 turbo with 180 hp and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 165 hp and 380 Nm of torque. All in preparation for when we will see the rather less nice Opel Astra OPC. We’re thinking a different video will be made on that occasion.

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The new Opel Astra GTC, or Vauxhall Astra GTC, has been revealed in these official pics before its public unveiling at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The sporty little coupé has got some very sculpted lines from the Paris Concept seen last year and shares not one body panel with the five-door hatch. Opel has big plans for the model on the European car market, expecting that it will make up to 20 percent of total Astra sales.

The Astra GTC is an aggressive and rakish-looking vehicle with a lower and wider stance than the standard hatchback. It has been lowered by 15mm and is wider by another 10mm, and the 18 to 20-inch wheels on offer accentuate its purposeful looks. Despite this sports style, Opel wants to the coupé to keep some of those space-friendly features from the hatchback, with room for five occupants, a boot size that starts at 370 litres and a redesigned interior with extra room for storing objects.

On the technical front, the Opel Astra GTC borrows the Hiperstrut (high performance strut) suspension from the Insignia OPC and comes with the FlexRide settings of Standard, Tour and Sport. Three petrol engines and a diesel will be available from launch date, although we can expect addition engines to be announced at the 2011 IAA. The Astra OPC won’t appear until sometime in 2012. The engine range is as follows:

Continue reading: Opel Astra GTC unveiled

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Official pics of the Opel Astra GTC being taken have allowed for spy shots to leak to the internet, published by the French site Autoplus. The three-door Astra is based on the Paris GTC Concept from last year’s show in that city, and is hotly anticipated as a sporty new model from Opel.

The Astra GTC should measure 4.46 metres when it hits the market, which is 17cm more than the current model. Engine options should include 1.4 and 1.6 Turbo units, and a 2.0 CDTI. The performance Astra OPC version will probably get a 2.0-litre turbo engine with about 290 hp which should appear in 2012.

The Opel Astra GTC should complete the Astra range along with a cabriolet. We saw a rendering of the Astra Cabriolet recently and this model should appear in 2013. Not early enough for us to provide some competition to the relaunched Golf Cabriolet but we’ll be keen to see it when it does get here.

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A new Opel Astra cabriolet is planned for 2013 and after coupé-cabrio models don’t seem to have demonstrated the same charm as the traditional soft top with folding fabric roof, Opel will be going back to cabrio roots with its Astra convertible. The new Astra Cabrio will replace the TwinTop model and will revive a more classic style while doing so.

Opel has already confirmed that a traditional Astra Cabriolet is in the works, which should debut in 2013. The model could be the next from the German brands in the classic cabrio camp, after Volkswagen just revived its own Golf Cabriolet. It replaces the current Volkswagen Eos, with a folding metal roof, which will be discontinued.

The rendering above is from WorldCarFans and shows what the Astra-based cabriolet could look like, although no official details are available right now. The Astra cabriolet will be built in Poland at the Gliwice plant.

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After the Opel Astra GTC preview pics and the news that we’ll see this released on June 7th, Opel has also released an Astra GTC video. After the GTC we should also see the Astra OPC eventually appear, sometime after the Astra GTC debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Details are scarce on both models at this stage and the GTC should be more akin to the standard five-door Astra. The OPC is likely to get new aerodynamics and modifications to the engine with the two-litre unit nearing 300 hp. It could appear at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Up first, though, we’ll see the Opel Astra GTC get a press unveil on June 7 where we hope to receive some more images of the new coupé. Details revealed on that date will include technical specs, with some information on what is expected to be significant chassis changes to the standard Astra, that will also preview those to be seen on the OPC/VXR model in the future.

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