JoeT - A most excellent find!

The pictures look great.
The talk about a turbo 1.4 encouraging.
Even the possibility of 4wd......

The Astra will continue to be front-wheel drive, though it’s possible a version of the new Haldex all-wheel-drive system developed by GM’s Swedish arm Saab could find its way under range-topping versions of the small car.

 

That chop is fugly, the front lights look 80's and there is no insignia character lines anywhere to be seen

 

The chop doesn't look impressive, but nice find. Nice also to see that the new nodel will be out so soon. The current 5-door I find boring as hell. The coupe is nice, but the interior is plain.

Anyone know about the interior or have photos/ renderings?

 

The chop doesn't look impressive, but nice find. Nice also to see that the new nodel will be out so soon. The current 5-door I find boring as hell. The coupe is nice, but the interior is plain.

Anyone know about the interior or have photos/ renderings?

The interior will probably look alot like the insignia cause Opel usually uses one dash design for most of it's cars

 

I saw a few other renderings in German magazines. Some looked much better than this.

 

So it's coming down under?.

 

So this is the 2010 Saturn Astra? Don't worry Slick, I'm sure Holden will get a version.

Short model cycle for Saturn, but I am glad they got their feet wet.

I think the current Astra will have more of a cult following like the first Saturns and the Saab hatchbacks. I know this is a chop, but it looks very A3 ish.

 

I think it will be the 2009 Saturn Astra folks. I think we may have a winner here !!!!! The 2010 Cobalt will have similar underpinnings !!!!

 

That would make sense, but what I've been reading lately, the Cobalt, Chevys 'premium' small car is Gamma based? If so, GM is dumber than dirt.
Can anyone confirm this?

 

I, for one, actually like that rendering. It's a bit of an improvement over the current Astra.
Stick a better engine in there with faster acceleration and I'm sold.

 

Looks like an egg. Kind of cute lookin' The rendering looks ok, but need to see an actual model to draw my final conclusion. So far so good. Can't wait to see the interior. Hopefully, if they say the car is going to borrow from the Insignia, the interior should be similar which I like.

 

I like what I see here. The silhouette is definitely sportier than the current Astra. I look forward to the new car. GM is on to something good.

I think the chop is a bit conservative compared to this disguised prototype.

 

Nice chop. I like it.
So this platform will also be the future Cadillac AT1?

AWD is promessing!

 

Nice chop. I like it.
So this platform will also be the future Cadillac AT1?

Let's hope not.

 

I can't wait! I hope they have a GTI competitor version here, maybe an Astra Redline?!? GM really needs one since they won't give one to Pontiac. I think I might be trading in my Aura for this!

 

Opel’s next-generation Astra will be armed with sportier styling and improved handling to take the fight to small-car leaders Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.


Aehm, sorry, but I call BS on parts of this Article. The OPEL Astra does mainly compete with the VW Golf and various entries from Frances Renault and maybe Skoda and other European Brands.
Mazda seems also to be much more prominently solds than Toyota. If those two are the buyers OPEL aims for, they missed the market big time.
Now talk about Saturn, different story (because of america's ongoing love-affair with imports)

 

This particular story was done in Australia, for the Holden Astra, where the biggest sellers in the class are the Corolla and Mazda 3, hence them putting the focus on those too.

 

I'm glad it's a chop--it looks dopey. The real thing better be better or a replacement better follow shortly.

 

While I like the current Astra, it seems to come up short in several comparisons due to its poor transmission, weak performance and so-so fuel economy. Assuming the new one improves on these shortcommings, this could be very big for Saturn.

With gas prices going up and people looking for smaller vehicles GM really needs to become a leader in smaller vehicles and this could be a great start. Maybe all those folks who bough hatchbacks in the 80's will rediscover them. From a utility standpoint they can't be beat.

 

I would hardly call the exterior sexy.

 

Few things look worse on a car than diagonal separation lines between the bumper covers and fenders. Yet GM just loves that.

 

Will the US be getting the TwinTop?

 

My favorite part of the article is where they said it will ditch the rear torsion beam and finally get an IRS. It's about time they broke tradition with the 1982 Cavailer if they want the Cobalt to compete with the Civic and Mazda3. I love my Cobalt, but I hate looking under the rear and seeing a beam instead of A-arms.

 

FYI - Honda use torsion beam on the Euro spec version.

 

To me it looks a little plain, fat, and clumsy from the rendering and spy shots of the test mule. I was hoping for a more edgy and angular design. But I'll hold out hope GM will not fumble the ball on this one because the GM North America desperately needs a real competitor in the small car market.

 

good effort, but I hope that the chop is not very accurate at all.

 

“The current Astra’s torsion-beam rear suspension will be replaced by a more expensive independent set-up that aims to improve the small car’s ride and handling.”

It’s about freaking time. Since the Focus has had it since 1998. “Opel: we’re only 11 years behind the competition”.:lmao:

 

"STREET LEGAL ALIEN"

Holy crap! Foxnews.com has a front page article on the Astra XP. Yes, a MAIN STORY!

Here is the main link: http://www.foxnews.com/

Here is the link to the story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/foxcarreport/index.html

There front page stories change all the time, so it might be gone when you read this. However this is huge free publicity for GM. Millions read this site everyday. Great exposure.

 

I hope some of the eggy shape goes away otherwise I like it.
Here is an interior shot.

It looks like it takes some cues from the Insignia, that is a good thing.

 

Hum... Joan Rivers' plastic surgeon has a job at Opel? That’s horrible; then again I knew it would be seeing the camo-ed pic. It’s got Geo Metro Proportions…

 

I'm digging this. I'm not a fan of the 4-door so I'm waiting for the 2-door renderings. As long as the interior resembles the Insignia, I'll be satisfied.