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Spy Shots: Opel Astra caught
by Dan Roth on Aug 8th 2008 at 9:28AM 
Ja, Bjorn, tink dat's de new Astra? Shoor looks like it, Jan. Lutz will be asking you to kiss this thing when it comes out from under that checkerboard camo. The current Astra is good, and the new one promises to be better, with looks that aren't revolutionary, but nicely done nonetheless. We'll see this world car version of the Astra sometime around 2011 with a variety of drivetrains, including hybrid power. The C-Pillar remains obscured, leaving our curiosity about the hatch's ultimate form unfulfilled. From what we can see, though, the new Astra will be like the current Astra - competitively styled and priced.
[Source: autoblog.nl]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Kowell 9:43AM (8/08/2008)
As long as their offer us an engine with a little more power then the 1.8L, it should be OK. It doesn't even have to be a 200hp+ turbo, a simple 160-170HP option to complete the US lineup will do.
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Noz 1:55PM (8/08/2008)
What do you need 160-170 HP for? What's your hurry?
Wobbly_ears 9:55AM (8/08/2008)
Stupid GM!
Bring the Euro hatch model! That's what the Uh-mericans are crying for! Uh-merica looveees hatches!!!! Why wouldn't Detroit bring Euro models? Euro models would sell like hot cakes! GM would sell 15 million copies in 3 days!! Stupid GM/Ford/Chrysler....
/ end sarcasm
That's what folks on Autoblog would say. (Along with calls for RWD & 400hp Turbo for 'Tuners'....ya know, the usual Autoblog cliches...
Sigh, GM listened & brought Astra to US. How many are they selling?
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MM 10:26AM (8/08/2008)
There is a slight problem right now with bringing the Euro models to the US... The Euro to Dollar exchange rate. As it stands right now GM is losing money on every Saturn Astra because no American is willing to pay $25K for an econo hatch.
Pacman 10:45AM (8/08/2008)
But they cost $16K for the econo hatch model.
Pacman 10:47AM (8/08/2008)
http://www.saturn.com/byo/byoSelectStyle.sa?year=2008&make=Saturn&model=ASTRA&modelId=140&subModel=&subModelId=221
No Astra starts at $25K.
BlackCanary 10:56AM (8/08/2008)
With every option and accessory I can still only get the price a bit over $23K. That is not bad at all and right in line with Civic, Corolla, and Rabbit. $16-23K is not a bad price.
rwcmick 10:58AM (8/08/2008)
Well, Astra did just have its best sales month in July. Who knows, maybe it's ramping up?
Wobbly_ears 11:09AM (8/08/2008)
Astra, although a good car, is not selling because Americans don't trust GM not to burn them again like in the past. GM has low brand equity, Saturn even less.
Since GM/Saturn is improving on quality, why not make a splash about it & increase the bumper-to-bumper warranty converage to 5/60 like Hyundai/Kia from the present 3/36? Honda & Toyota can get away with low warranty coverage because of their perceived quality. GM/Saturn don't have that image in public minds. (Can you blame them since GM has burnt them before).
Learn from Hyundai & Kia. The reason why people seriously started looking at Hyundai/Kia was when they announced their 5/60 & 10/100 warranty.
Gerolsteiner 10:34AM (8/08/2008)
Bjorn? Cute, but Sweden ain't Germany.
Hopefully they put front armrests on this one.
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Andrew 11:58AM (8/08/2008)
Except the car was spotted in the Netherlands if you RTFA. It clearly states it was spotted at Schiphol (Amsterdam).
Swede 2:59PM (8/08/2008)
Euro-model Astra always have front armrest, GM deleted it on the US version to save money spent on the airbag sensors in the chair.
YO MAMA 10:15AM (8/08/2008)
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think GM is going to have to revise their Astra engine offerings and make a decent attempt at more effective marketing if this car is to make it on U.S. soil. I for one like the Astra but the lack of a more powerful engine option and some serious sport tuned suspension bits will keep me on the sidelines.
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Seoultrain 10:31AM (8/08/2008)
looks a bit like an impreza with a different grille.
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BRILL 10:42AM (8/08/2008)
i test drove one a while back. i really liked it, the interior was way better then expecting. but you sit it next to the GTI or Cooper S and it falls short. hopefully the next gen model will have more sporting engines/suspension.
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Jim in Tampa 10:48AM (8/08/2008)
I liked the outside of the current Astra but the interior falls way short compared to the Rabbit.
BlackCanary 10:58AM (8/08/2008)
I dont know if it is way short of the Rabbit but it is not as nice I agree. It is a nicer interior than the Civic, Focus, Cobalt, Corrolla, Accent. It could be better but it is not bad.
Jared 11:02AM (8/08/2008)
Brill,
How much more do those cars cost? You think that is a fair comparison, really, come on?
BRILL 11:56AM (8/08/2008)
Jared,
yeah they do cost more, but the GTI/Cooper S are the "faster" versions. if there was an Astra Redline, it'd been more fair, but there isn't. the only thing i wasn't thrilled about was lack of a more sporty option. i think its a great car for the price. but i think our version of the Astra was just to replace the Ion, and its years miles ahead of that for sure.
Avinash machado 10:45AM (8/08/2008)
Considering how the present Astra is selling in the US, GM might decide not to send this over to the US after all.
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