Spy Shots: Is this the next Opel Astra?
by Chris Paukert on Mar 26th 2009 at 3:29PM 
2010 Opel Astra Spy Shots - Click above for image gallery
Saturn's Astra has been something of a commercial non-starter stateside, but it remains a perennial favorite in Opel and Vauxhall guises in Europe. Thus, even with General Motors' touchy-feely brand on the rocks here at home, it's still a pivotal model overseas that warrants attention, even if we probably won't end up seeing it in America.
Thankfully, then, the folks at Autoblog.nl (no relation) have dug up a set of small images showing what looks to be a pair of production-ready 2010 examples. Details are slim, but the car is expected to eventually be offered in a whole range of models, including hatchback, sedan, wagon, and performance-oriented GTC. Look for it to hit the stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show this Fall.
Gallery: 2010 Opel Astra Spy Shots
[Source: Autoblog.nl]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
another_one 3:37PM (3/26/2009)
Am I the only person who thinks the opel badge is cool?!?
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Swede 4:12PM (3/26/2009)
Nope. It's a lightning bolt. Lightning bolts are awesome.
another_one 4:14PM (3/26/2009)
Ahmen!
Wayfarer 5:14PM (3/26/2009)
Yeah the Opel lightning bolt is pretty cool but I think the Vauxhall emblem maybe even better. Either one beats the Saturn emblem for sure though.
Aprime 3:39PM (3/26/2009)
That's not what I had in mind, but it sure looks great.
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Doctor Kum 3:42PM (3/26/2009)
Uhh, Who cares?
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cbird2 3:58PM (3/26/2009)
Who cares? They've sold over 10,000,000 Astra's worldwide. It's sold as a Saturn, Chevrolet, Holden, Vauxhall and Opel.
It's the fifteenth best selling nameplate in history, right between the Camry and 3-series. It's one of the most important cars in the world dude.
RayJ 3:46PM (3/26/2009)
HOT!!!!!! I love it and in something like black with some nice rims with a lip it would look twice as good.
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indijanac 3:48PM (3/26/2009)
I really don't like this new trend of the rear quarter windows having that forward slant. Most new hatchbacks not called VW Golf have it.
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Jim in Tampa 5:39PM (3/26/2009)
I agree! I hate that look. Just look at the difference 'tween the original Infiniti FX35 and the Nissan Murano. The FX35 was elegant and sleek while the slanted window created a jarring line in the Murano.
DJ_Swammi 3:55PM (3/26/2009)
Hyundai Elantra GT?
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sk 7:56PM (3/26/2009)
No, Opel Astra 2011
ChopperDave 3:58PM (3/26/2009)
That's a nice evolution ...
If they do (for whatever reason ... brain fart, a sudden run on Saturns, whatever) decide to bring it over as a Saturn, they would be wise to actually advertise the thing ... I always thought it was a competitive car that suffered from a complete lack of consumer awareness. That would explain why I've seen maybe three on the road.
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artandcolour 4:21PM (3/26/2009)
the new front overhangs are getting out of control——i guess because of the pedestrian/hood laws over there. i think the car has a lot of great lines, but the profile is odd.
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Steve H 4:15PM (3/26/2009)
Agreed. Why can't they develop a front-drive car in which the engine sits behind the front axle?
letstakeawalk 4:59PM (3/26/2009)
@ Steve H
You mean, like the original Opel GT? Since the engine in that car was behind the centerline of the front wheels, it's one of the few cars with the engine in front of the driver that can be properly called mid-engined.
André 5:29PM (3/26/2009)
A FWD car with engine behind the front axle can be done: it's called Citroën Traction Avant, Citroën DS/ID, Citroën SM, Oldsmobile Toronado, Cadillac Eldorado, Saab Sonnett, Renault 4 or, with transverse-mounted engine, Toyota iQ.
johncuyle 10:29PM (3/26/2009)
The original Opel GT was RWD. There are a number of front-mid RWD cars. The S2000 and Corvette, the RX7 and, I think, the 8. A front Mid FWD car is sort of a weird idea.
If you're building a FWD car you've basically already written off absolute performance, so the weight distribution is less of a concern. Buyers don't care, or they would be buying something else anyway. The big concern is cost and stuff people who view cars as appliances notice, like interior volume. A front mid doesn't help with interior volume in proportion to the rest of the car, and it's cheaper and easier just to tag an extra foot to the front end of the car.
It may look odd, but half of fashion is fitting in. Since pretty much everything has that problem it's not really a big selling point to not have it. Sort of like how most cars today are ridiculously tall. Even when there's a legitimate safety concern (like the roof crush standards necessitating A pillars large enough to lose a truck behind) since it is a problem that afflicts every manufacturer, there's not much incentive to do anything about it.
Personally I think the sanest thing to do is to tell pedestrians that if they don't want to be hurt when a car hits them they should drive instead of walking...
letstakeawalk 12:26AM (3/27/2009)
Thanks johncuyle, for politely pointing out my error.
As the owner of a '72 GT, I think I was more excited about it being a front mid-engine, and completely overlooked Steve's request for a FWD car.
I shall now slink back to my corner in shame...
johncuyle 4:20PM (3/26/2009)
Cool. I hope they bring it over. Maybe if they get rid of Saturn they could bring it over as a Chevrolet or, you know, do what they should have done ages ago and confine Chevrolet to the larger/performance oriented market and simply sell Opels as Opels in the US and make it be the GM budget line.
Either way, the current Astra is a pretty nice little car, especially for the money. Granted Saturn somehow forgot to bring over the 240 horse turbocharged version, but the base model is really good transportation.
I hope this one makes it over here in all its trims.
Also I second the whole Blitz == awesome thing. Certainly much better than the lame rings badge Saturn sticks on it.
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