Baby's Got Back: Opel Astra Sedan goes public in Istanbul

Alex Nunez — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:04:00 EST

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The big deal about the new Opel Astra sedan we told you about earlier last month is that it does, in fact, have a full, traditional derriere (all the other Astras have hatches). The Astra With A Real Trunk made its formal debut Saturday at the Istanbul Motor show, and the whole presentation was about the car's butt. So much so that when the Astra Sedan was announced to those gathered around the Opel display, it backed onto the stage. You know, just in case people forgot what a trunk looks like. Ok, we kid. The fact is, that notchback body with trunk is the thing that sets the Astra sedan apart from its siblings, so why not lead with it?

Naturally, GM surrounded it with bikini-clad dancing girls, ensuring that all eyes in the room would be aimed in the car's direction even if they weren't necessarily analyzing the car.

The Astra Sedan will be produced in Poland and be sold primarily to the Eastern European market, where that traditional bodystyle is more popular than the hatches favored in other regions. I still believe that, given the American consumer's taste for sedans, we'll see this in some form here in the US after GM brings the Astra over to kick Saturn's current Ion to the curb.

(Press release, additional photos after the jump)

[Source: GM]

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Baby's Got Back: Opel Astra Sedan goes public in Istanbul originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opel Astra Sedan unveiled. Is this the new Saturn Ion?

Alex Nunez — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Saturn

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OK, time to have some fun and speculate. We already know that the Opel Astra will appear here in the US as the next Saturn Ion. Until now, Astra was available only as a hatchback, wagon, and C+C, all of which are appealing to the eye, and an improvement over the current mess wearing the Ion badge by several orders of magnitude.

We also know that for the American market, automakers insist on offering their small cars in notchback sedan form in addition to (or instead of) the other body styles. This is where the Astra/Ion saga gets interesting. Opel has unveiled a new Astra sedan for "growth markets," particularly Eastern Europe, where like the US, there is a demand for the notchbacks that don't get so much love in Western Europe, where hatches rule the roost.

The guys over at Autoblog Spanish immediately noted that this car and the Brazilian-market Chevrolet Vectra sedan are one and the same, so despite Opel releasing only two photos, we can show you what the car looks like from every angle. As small sedans go, it's quite good-looking. Much better than the Ford Focus and Nissan Versa notchbacks, if you ask us. So take a good look and familiarize yourself with this car.

We're willing to bet the farm you'll see this exact vehicle as the next Ion (assuming that remains the name). We just hope the General gives us the hatchback, too.

Related Items:

(Gallery, press release after the jump)

[Sources: Opel, Chevy Brazil via Autoblog Spanish]

Continue reading Opel Astra Sedan unveiled. Is this the new Saturn Ion?

Opel Astra Sedan unveiled. Is this the new Saturn Ion? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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