Spy Shots: Next Vauxhall Astra caught in the buff
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 10th 2009 at 3:32PM 
The next Opel/Vauxhall Astra – which may or may not make it to the States as a Saturn – has been caught outside General Motors' testing facility in Germany. The singular spy shot reveals a new greenhouse design, hatch, taillights and rear wing. The Opel Insignia's influence is apparent from the side, where the chunky creases of the current model have been dropped in favor of a smooth swage line that runs the length of the two doors and terminates ahead of the rear wheel arch.
The new Astra's sheet metal sits atop GM's new Delta platform, shared by the Chevrolet Cruze, Volt and upcoming Vauxhall Ampera. The suspension should carry over from GM's other mid-size offerings, with a MacPherson design in front and a torsion beam mounted in the rear. Expect a thoroughly revised interior inspired by the Insignia when the new Astra goes on sale late next year.
[Source: AutoCar | Image: BurlappCars]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mazda FTW! 3:37PM (2/10/2009)
What the 2010 Mazda3 should have looked like.
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Torrent 3:51PM (2/10/2009)
That's actually kinda hot. Nice clean design. Makes a great Astra. dare I say Skylark...
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Seminole 3:55PM (2/10/2009)
Looks pretty good from that one shot.
Here is to hoping if they bring it to the US, they give it decent powertrain choices and actual cup holders for the front passengers.
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RayJ 3:56PM (2/10/2009)
I love it !!! Hope it ends up as a Buick.
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TBlueMax 4:06PM (2/10/2009)
Agreed, and agreed. If not a Buick, then possibly a Pontiac (although I'm not a huge fan of the Pontiac nostrils) - if it can't be a Saturn, let it at least cross the pond as something for the USDM, and with better powertrain options.
Ligor 9:38AM (2/11/2009)
how bout they just bring it over as a Chevy
no need to convert Buick into somethign it's never been, no need to have a FWD Pontiac and no need to waste more money into Saturn, a brand that's just there fro rebadging
xspeedy 3:56PM (2/10/2009)
I just fear it is going to look soft and somewhat bland next to the redesigned Focus. But I'm sure some people will go for that. Different strokes for different folks.
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Phil 4:10PM (2/10/2009)
Bring it to the USA as is and forget the Cruze, dont waste time get it to market.
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Polly Prissy Pants 4:25PM (2/10/2009)
Forget the Cruze? I'm not even sure how to respond to such an absurd comment.
If they can bring this over badged as a Chevy with an MSRP starting at $16k nicely equipped they'll probably have a winner. Something tells me this is another one of those localized versions that they can't sell anywhere else without extensive modification though.
Conundrum 6:38PM (2/10/2009)
Cruze will be a Chevy.
This Astra should come as a Buick. The Insignia looked good with a Buick face.
Mr_Pie 4:23PM (2/10/2009)
looks big... lancia delta size?
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MemphisNET 4:25PM (2/10/2009)
Is it a stretch to offer this as a premium compact along the lines of an Audi A3? A Buick perhaps?
And off topic, but if the E-Flex ever comes to the Buick lineup, it needs to be called the Buick Electra :D
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inline6 4:47PM (2/10/2009)
As one of the few, proud owners of the current Saturn Astra, this looks to be quite nice.
This would work VERY well if it came over as a Buick, complete with a waterfalled grille and chrome-rimmed taillights, not to mention the requisite new ventiports (see the new Chinese Buick Regal for reference).
A perfect "premium compact", and a perfect car to replace my current Astra when it comes time to trade in. And I'll be more than happy to visit my local Buick dealer to get it...as long as it comes with a manual.
And I'm with you on the "Buick Electra". Perfect.
TRL 4:35PM (2/10/2009)
If there is such a thing as Pontiac in a year or two make this the replacement for the G5 & G3.
Just when Buick seems to be getting a focus don't scew with it and give it a small car. If you can't imagine a Lexus badge on something it shouldn't be a Buick. Please remember that GM.
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inline6 1:11AM (2/11/2009)
I couldn't disagree more, actually.
Buick doesn't need to water itself down. But it does need to move further to improve its image, not by copying Lexus (they will get ZERO respect that way), but by being what Buick should have been all along: high-quality, luxurious, satisfying, powerful, and brashly beautiful mid-priced vehicles.
Buick is going to die on the vine if they stick to big cars and crossovers. CAFE won't allow it, and the market won't, either, as it's skewing more toward compacts every day.
Buick will need to fight there, and steal a march on the likes of Lexus by offering a "premium compact" like the Astra could easily be. They can't just soldier on with the new Epsilon+ LaCrosse replacing both sedans, and the Enclave being the lone crossover, as big as it is.
Buick used to market "compacts", and respectably so - the original '61-'63 Special/Skylark for instance. But that car had its own unique styling, engine, and marketing and came off as a nicer product that the Olds F-85 and Pontiac Tempest that debuted alongside it on the same platform. And it was very successful.
The smaller Buicks of subsequent years weren't much to respect. The '73-'79 Apollo/Skylark was a (very lightly) retrimmed Nova/Ventura/Phoenix/Omega. The '75-'80 Skyhawk was a lightly retrimmed Monza/Sunbird/Starfire. And the '82-'89 Skyhawk was just another version of the Cavalier/J2000/Sunbird/Firenza/Cimarron.
Buick can do good smaller cars, as long as they offer uniquely Buick virtues. The 2010 Astra could do that, with its high build quality, well-damped suspension, comfortable interior, and fluid styling. Add the waterfall grille, chrome-rimmed taillights, ventiports, QuietTuning, and tastefully detailed wood and chrome inside, teamed with the right marketing, and if the car itself is inherently excellent, you're bringing the proud old marque to a whole new level of respectability, and a whole new generation. Plus, it wouldn't just be a retrimmed version of another car sold in this market.
I think that GM could find success in marketing the higher-margin Astra as a Buick. They could make the conversion fairly inexpensively, while bringing Buick into a burgeoning, avant-garde new market, while commanding the higher prices GM will need the Astra (change the name) to sell at in order to make a decent margin. It'll help with CAFE, too.
jm99 4:54PM (2/10/2009)
Sorry to nit, but the Delta is a compact platform, not a mid-sized one...this goes for its longer replacement, the Delta II, as well...
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U.K. 5:29PM (2/10/2009)
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/222861/vauxhall_astra_vxr.html
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Xcountryflyer 5:31PM (2/10/2009)
Very nice. Classy looking. Look forward to additional pics. Well it's not going to be a Saturn.
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Dave 5:51PM (2/10/2009)
I think that they should just dump all their brands except Chevy and call it General Motors and then a name. Then they can keep the models they want and the names they want. If they want to sell it here in volume it's going to need a trunk but this is much sleeker than a Golf and not as dowdy looking as a Renault.
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montoym 8:48PM (2/10/2009)
It will be coming with a trunk and it will be called the Cruze.