2010 Opel Astra hatch, GTC coupe and wagon revealed
2010 Opel Astra renderings – Click above for image gallery
What we have here are reported to be official renderings from General Motors of the next-generation Opel Astra line, including the hatchback, high-performance GTC model and wagon, or what the Europeans call the Estate. Due out in Europe as a 2010 model, the redesigned Astra will feature many design cues from the well received mid-size Insignia sedan, including swept back headlamps, concave surfacing and a more soft appearance than the all-angles current Astra. The GTC model also appears to have shape shifted from its current form as a hatchback to a coupe. The profile of the Estate model, meanwhile, gets some extra rear overhang versus the five-door hatch and a forward-tilting D-pillar.
The big question left unanswered is whether or not the new Astra will be seen on this side of the Atlantic. The current Saturn Astra is a direct import from Opel in Europe, but General Motors doesn't plan to supply Saturn with vehicles anymore after its current lineup's lifecycle. That won't happen until around 2012 and the new Astra should be unveiled in Europe later this year, which means there's overlap there. Regardless, GM is likely not willing or able to spend money on importing a car for a brand it has pledged to shed.
Gallery: 2010 Opel Astra - Renderings
[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
TriShield 1:01PM (4/10/2009)
Hey GM, bring it to America! Everyone will buy one!
Oh wait.
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zamafir 1:18PM (4/10/2009)
lol, burrrn. It looks nice though.
ken_aisin 1:29PM (4/10/2009)
+1, haven't seen good looking compacts for quite sometime. Good job, Opel. GM, please bring it over with the Opel badge. The Saturn badge would look weird on it.
ken_aisin 1:39PM (4/10/2009)
Besides, many people are staying away from GM brands these days when they shop for a new car. They're afraid that once GM goes bankrupt, no one would honor the warranty. It might be a good idea to turn all Saturn dealerships into Opel dealerships, and market Opel as a German brand.
Mazda FTW! 1:50PM (4/10/2009)
The last thing GM needs right now is a new brand in North America.
This car won't come here for the simple reason that the Cruze is the next big "small car" for us.
BoneHeadOtto 2:07PM (4/10/2009)
@triShield
apples to oranges. Did you check out the last Astra? It needed two "s" in its name. That interior was a joke and it was neither sporty nor efficient and who buys saturns.
GM should bring this over as an Opel!
Val 10:12PM (4/13/2009)
Yeah, exactly, coz Opel is not a GM brand, and if GM goes down, Opel won't be affected in any way whatsoever... riiight... and so many people in the us know what opel is, and the ones who know probably know who owns the brand
Jim 1:03PM (4/10/2009)
Looks very Vibe like in shape.
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PiCASSO 1:47PM (4/10/2009)
I don't think so. The new Vibe has a plump look to it, with tall roofline to provide more "room" in it. Unfortunately with the Vibe you sit like you are sitting in a chair in your dinning room. This Astra, on the hand, has a shorter roofline and doesn't have that stubby look of the Vibe.
Blake Luttrell 2:45PM (4/10/2009)
I agree, sort of. The first thing that crossed my mind when I read this article was "Bring it over as a Pontiac." This thing looks worlds better than the current Vibe.
Protzenegger 3:42PM (4/10/2009)
Most cars look loads better than the current Vibe.
PJSkittles 1:05PM (4/10/2009)
Anyone else think they had the 04-09 Mazda3 hatchback?
Plenty of obvious differences, but the side profile and more specifically the rear looks very similar to the mazda3
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Joe Donaldson 1:08PM (4/10/2009)
I agree, it does look quite a bit like a Mazda 3.
styleguy 1:09PM (4/10/2009)
Even the tail lights look like the Mazda3's. Or at least from the side
Protzenegger 1:10PM (4/10/2009)
Looks more deserving of being a Mazda 3 than the actual new 3.
ken_aisin 1:33PM (4/10/2009)
FYI, if I remember correctly, the Mazda3 designer said that the Mazda3's styling was inspired by the Peugeot 307.
PiCASSO 1:56PM (4/10/2009)
I've owned a 2005 Mazda3 hatch (before having it written off due to flood damage). Anyways, I've always disliked the fact that the rear bumper protruded so much from the back of the car in comparison to the relatively flat front end:
http://www.auto123.com/09photo/mazda/3sport5dr-gx.jpg
Compare that to the snug rear of this '10 Astra:
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/001_2010opelastra.jpg
I see some similarities, but the Astra looks a lot more cleaner than my old Mazda.
J.Crew 1:12PM (4/10/2009)
Umm... Saturn can import these cars after they are spun off as an independent. They can source product from anywhere and these cars were designed with the North American market in mind. They also fit the brand image already started under GM. It would be up to the group taking over Saturn and the group taking over Opel to decide if they still want to work together outside of what remains of GM. They still can use the world class Saturn retail experience and European tuned Opels. Currency fluctuations could be a major hurdle if the USA keeps pumping out new dollars weakening it against the Euro.
Either way, bring it over as the car looks fantastic!
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TriShield 1:16PM (4/10/2009)
Umm...Saturn won't exist to import or sell anything after it's "spun off", har har. It's going the way of Oldsmobile whether they want to admit it or not.
And why would GM want to try the Astra scheme again after it's already failed once (just like every other sell an Opel sold in the US)? Isn't that the definition of insanity?
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Taglane 1:26PM (4/10/2009)
It's supposed to come here as a Buick...
I know, right?