Leakage: The new Opel/Vauxhall Astra
Leaks of new designs come from all over, and the source of this image is quite odd. It has appeared on a user forum of a Brazilian car magazine but shows the new generation of the Astra that GM Europe is getting ready. Now that its main competitors - VW with the Golf (Rabbit) and Renault with the Mégane - have finished their new revisions, GM must have felt left behind. For now, all information we have is the bad image you see to the right, which was taken on a camera phone during a video presentation to German Opel dealers. This means the only thing we can currently discuss is aesthetics, which is more than the teasers we saw in September and tells us that the new Astra looks quite similar to the Opel Insignia. Remember, this is the Astra that shares a platform with the new Chevy Cruze and Volt. [Source: Forum Auto Hoje via Carangoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BoneHeadOtto 8:40AM (1/09/2009)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE offer this in the US with that wonderful 2.0L turbo!!! That is a good looking hatch.
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Red 11:04AM (1/09/2009)
Supposedly, it's to receive an IRS (versus the Delta's current TB) because there's a rumored AWD VXR in the works, but there's also the Flextreme version of the Volt that was unveiled a year or two ago.
The problem is, if GM decides to move the Opel design language to Buick as it is using in China, we may never see this vehicle here in the states. The sedan model planned is too small for the Buick lineup.
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Mike 11:46AM (1/09/2009)
Well considering the Astra is already sold in the US as a Saturn, I don't see why this wouldn't continue...
Mike F. 12:36PM (1/09/2009)
The Astra may or may not continue due to dismal sales, I believe just over 10,000 this year. Dealers aren't even seeing the 09's yet.
I think it's a great car and it's at the top of my list for my next vehicle. I just hope they can sell some more so parts won't cost an arm an a leg
Mike F. 12:38PM (1/09/2009)
By "this year" I meant last year, 2008.