Up close with 3dr Astra

[duglet]

Up close with 3dr Astra

We get exclusive access to GTC Paris, points to sizzling three-door Astra SRi.

We first clapped eyes on the Astra GTC Paris on the stands in the French capital earlier this month. But now, Auto Express has been given exclusive access to Vauxhall’s stunning show car.


It previews the three-door Astra, due late next year – yet it can barely be called a concept. Vice president of design Mark Adams explained: “As we’ve proved with the Insignia and Meriva, we can bring dramatic cars from concept to production, and the final Astra three-door will be no exception.” Some features will be axed for the showrooms, though. Adams confirmed that the striking red paint is too expensive to offer on road models, while those huge 21-inch wheels will make way for a smaller set.


The cabin is essentially production-ready, and neat touches such as the contrast-stitched leather and Alcantara seats give a sporty feel. However, the writing on the bases – a quote about speed and beauty from Richard Bach’s novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull – won’t feature on roadgoing models.


Despite the sporty bodykit, Vauxhall sources tell us the Astra GTC doesn’t preview the new VXR performance model, but an SRi warm hatch. The flagship will get an even more aggressive design and, as with past VXRs, will be the most powerful car in its class. That means the direct-injection 2.0-litre turbo will give more than the Ford Focus RS’s 301bhp.

Source: Autoexpress

[KFuNk]

Thats an ugly car despite the review!

[luke 3mps]

what they did is took a honda civic shape and made it ugly.. and dropped a ford rs/mps/xr5 engine in with 300hp... thats orginal

[MISSMPS]

It looks ok....steering wheel is a bit crap.....

[bd581]

Hate the shiny steering wheel.
Hate the pretend sports look back seat.
Front looks like a ford fiesta.
Dash and console from a 370Z with a few hundred more buttons thrown on.
Hope they do a better job than their last effort. It had too much power for it's capabilities

[luke 3mps]

Hate the shiny steering wheel.
Hate the pretend sports look back seat.
Front looks like a ford fiesta.
Dash and console from a 370Z with a few hundred more buttons thrown on.
Hope they do a better job than their last effort. It had too much power for it's capabilities

There tryn to keep with the high power hatchs.. power can be tamed controlled but ITS SO UGLY

---------- Post added at 01:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:22 PM ----------

There tryn to keep with the high power hatchs.. power can be tamed controlled but ITS SO UGLY

good on them for haven a go but the way it looks seems rushed.. scrap teh body and interior get something that looks good and is fuctionable

[Lachlan]

There tryn to keep with the high power hatchs.. power can be tamed controlled but ITS SO UGLY[COLOR="Silver"]

But they didn't tame nor controll the power on the last one, it was nuts....well according to every review atleast.

Seems like they are just going to make things worse by beefing it up even more.
And yes..........having an interior with both lots of hyper-reflective serfices, angles, and millions of buttons just looks horrible.
But i do like.....................well actually after looking closely I cant find anything i like other than the novelty writing on the back seat

[BradstaMS]

soooooooooo hot.

[luke 3mps]

soooooooooo hot.

Are we looking at the same thing?

[BradstaMS]

I have an Astra, obviously I love this.