Search Car Reviews



See all makes



Astra three-door ready to take flight

Vauxhall plans to release stylish new hatch at Paris Motor Show

Vauxhall Astra GTC

August 2010

Poetry in motion. That’s the new three-door Vauxhall Astra!

Bosses have announced that the wraps will come off a concept version at October’s Paris Motor Show – and they say it’s inspired by the 1970 philosophy novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

The styling is described as “dramatic and sculptural”, while designers have laser-etched a line from the book – which reads “And the speed was pure beauty” – into the front seat upholstery!

We revealed how it could look in Issue 1,083. Official images of the car – to be badged the GTC Paris – won’t be released until nearer the event. A production version isn’t due in dealers here until late 2011 or early 2012 – even though the five-door went on sale last December. Vauxhall staggered the outgoing car’s launch in the same way – and top brass say the MkV three-door is still proving a strong seller.

The newcomer will form the basis for the high-performance VXR flagship, which will arrive around the same time. This will retain the MkV’s front-wheel-drive layout, although it promises a 20 per cent increase in power.

As the outgoing VXR delivered 240bhp, the latest car should be much closer to the 300bhp of its Ford Focus RS arch-rival.

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous   Next >

Sponsored Results

13 Comments

Vauxhall/Opel seem to be going from strengh to strengh.
What a shame their model pricing is a complete joke!

By toycollector on 5 August, 2010, 12:20pm

G R E A T !

Another Pikey mobile!!

By Bond_James_Bond on 5 August, 2010, 1:44pm

What are the tennis balls stuffed up the exhaust pipes doing??

By barina47 on 5 August, 2010, 2:52pm

Nice

Well, if the production version looks like the above image then it will sell millions of them in a short space of time provided the specs are right, and if sales of the current Mk V Sports Hatch is anything to go by then it won't have a problem in that respect. Vauxhall/Opel are turning out some decent cars at the moment and they deserve some success with the new Astras. Haven't seen a great many of the new Mk 6 model around here yet but I'm sure it will be a firm favourite.

By nick7 on 5 August, 2010, 4:16pm

Coming to a council estate near you... in several years!

G R E A T !
Another Pikey mobile!!

By Bond_James_Bond on

Give it ten years; wait and see loads of battered ones with neons and bass pumping out, with some uninsured yob cruising the urban jungle thinking he is really cool.

Meantime though, I agree Vauxhall are churning out some decent metal. Sadly though a bit like Ford, VW and the French trio the prices are a little too high. Hello the reccession is still on!




By Focus_your_mind on 6 August, 2010, 10:29am

Design inspiration?

Hmm... were they inspired by the F430? Rear window shape, side windows, lip on boot-lid, etc... http://www.sport-cars.org/site_img/large/ferrari-f430-5.jpg

By ian0KE on 6 August, 2010, 10:34am

Design inspiration?

Hmm... were they inspired by the F430? Rear window shape, side windows, lip on boot-lid, etc... http://www.sport-cars.org/site_img/large/ferrari-f430-5.jpg

By ian0KE on 6 August, 2010, 10:39am

Pikey.....coming to a council estate near you......

......and totally chav.

By scott1234 on 8 August, 2010, 8:56pm

If you compare the rake of the rear window and general proportion of this to the earlier spy shots, these are two different cars. The rear window on the 'real' car spy shots is much less angled and much nearer the back of the car. This is either an over ambitious rendering or there are two new astras coming our way - a two door version of the hatchback AND a coupe? Doubt it.

By Designer_Drew on 10 August, 2010, 8:39am

If that man Clarkson was writing this he would say

Rubbish it's a Vauxhall. Rubbish it's a Vauxhall. Rubbish it's a Vauxhall. The thing is though just for once. He may have been wrong!

By cabcaster on 10 August, 2010, 11:39am

Welcome to the game grid...

ROLL UP... ROLL UP!!! BUY YOUR BRAND NEW VIRTUAL VAUXHALL HERE, COMPLETE WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT COVERS EVERYTHING!!! (Vauxhall won't be held responsible for damage caused to your bits and bytes by malicious code of any sort... Purchase your programme 12 months in advance to avoid disappointment). XD

By sgtgrash on 10 August, 2010, 11:42am

...and finally

Vauxhall reserve the right to change the design completely, or deny the model ever existed, at the drop of a hat... ;~)

By sgtgrash on 10 August, 2010, 11:50am

Prefer the 5 Door

I actually think that the 5 door and Sport Tourer look better than this... I feel that it looks too much like a coupe on its own, not a 3 door version of a family car...

By CHARLIE_995 on 26 August, 2010, 7:52pm

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -

Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -