The Astra hasn't sold well in the States, but that doesn't mean that its Euro-trash cousin can't make a comeback tour. Take a peak at the handsomely-designed 2010 Opel Astra and its agro-counterpart, the GTC.
The current Opel Astra and its U.S. Saturn-based variant are getting a little long-in-the-tooth both in design and in driving dynamics when compared to its much newer rivals, the Ford Focus and VW Golf. The design will be in-line with current Opel design cues which began with the Opel Insignia and will ride on the new, larger Global Delta platform. These new cars will feature both a wider track and a longer wheelbase, allowing for an aggressive, well-proportioned stance. Also in store is a new estate 5-door model with a slightly longer wheelbase and increased rear interior storage.
Also, pictured in sketch form is the high-performance 2010 Opel Astra GTC, which is poised to take on the new Ford Focus RS and VW GTI. Power will likely come from a version of the turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0L Ecotec featured in the Cobalt SS Turbo. The new GTC will trump the previous model's power numbers by about 20, totaling around 260-horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, while returning a rough highway estimate of 30 mpg.
Will we ever have a chance at the new Astra? With current Saturn Astra sales not meeting initial expectations, it would be unlikely, but another small car in GM's lineup is just what the doctor ordered. It would make the perfect utilitarian choice over the Chevy Cruze and with the collapse of GM's U.S. performance operations, a Euro-tuned Astra GTC would fill the gap nicely. According to GM, we'll see the 5-door version at the Frankfurt Auto Show later this year.
