New Live Photos of the 2010 Opel Astra Hatchback on the Road

Either Opel is putting the final touches on its recently revealed Astra or the final prototypes have started finding their way among the company's employees. This grayish-blue example of the five-door Astra that was "scooped" somewhere in Germany providing us with our first live photos of the five-door model. Since GM's European unit has already published a set of official images of the 2010 Astra, there's no reason to hide the car so the only bits of camouflage remaining on the prototype cover the front and rear logos.

Selected journalists will have their first contact with the new Opel - Vauxhall Astra next month while the public will have to wait until September 17 for the Frankfurt Motor Show to see the car up close.

The new Astra is scheduled to arrive in most European markets by the end of fall 2009. The initial range will comprise of eight engines, including 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol units producing 140HP and 180HP respectively plus four common-rail diesels from 1.3 to 2.0 liter with outputs ranging from 95HP to 160HP.

Later on Opel will enhance the Astra's range with the presentation of a three-door GTC version, a four-door sedan, an estate and a coupe-convertible.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

New Wallpaper Photos of 2010 Opel Astra

Opel may have just released initial details on its sixth-generation Astra only a couple of days ago, but General Motors' European division is trying to keep the momentum going by publishing a new set of desktop wallpapers of its Ford Focus challenging hatchback. We'll be hearing more about the Astra shortly as according to Carscoop sources, Opel is planning to introduce the car to the members of the press in mid-June., ahead of the scheduled world debut at this September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

VIDEO: 2010 Opel Astra Hits the Road

After the release of the full blown photos and preliminary specifications on its brand new 2010 Astra, Opel has now published the first official video of its Focus challenger. The five-door hatchback will make its inaugural appearance in front of the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September with European sales following shortly after. For more detailed info and photos of the new Astra, click here.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

2010 Opel Astra Fully Revealed: New 1.4 and 1.6 Turbo Engines, Sales Start this Fall

While these aren't the first photos of the all-new Astra, they are certainly the best we've seen up until now, revealing Opel's (Vauxhall in the UK) new subcompact hatch in all its glory ahead of its scheduled world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Clearly influenced by the Insignia, the sixth generation Astra hatch is based on GM's new Delta platform that also underpins the Chevy Volt and Cruze models and it comes with a new set of engines including 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol units.

Unlike VW's rivaling Golf VI with its stale design language that keeps evolving from previous generation models, the new Astra features a new design and from what we reckon by looking at the photos, it will be a head turner. Its up to date and clean looks combine a sleek and sporty shape with the latest Opel styling cues such as the characteristic scalloped side blades and the Insignia-inspired headlights.

Opel has not disclosed any photos of the new Astra's interior yet, but thanks to our spy photographers, we have a few shots of the hatchback's dashboard that borrows heavily in design from the Insignia. Highlights include the four deeply positioned instrument dials in front of the driver and the swoopy central console with an elevated lower section.

European buyers of the Astra will be able to select from a broad selection of gasoline and diesel engines. Aside from an entry-level 1.4-naturally aspirated engine and the Insignia-derived 1.6-liter Turbo with 180HP, the Astra's petrol range will also include GM's new 1.4-liter turbocharged unit. It will be offered with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. General Motors says that the 1.4 Turbo engine will deliver fuel savings of up to 8 percent compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines that it will replace.

The diesel range comprises of 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged units ranging from 95 to 160HP while Opel also plans to introduce an ecoFLEX version with low CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy sometime in 2010.

Depending on the market, the five-door Astra will go on sale in Europe this fall. It will be joined by a sporty three door fastback variant called GTC Coupe and the more practical station-wagon in late 2010 - early 2011 followed by a four-door sedan model and a coupe-cabriolet with a retractable hardtop.

And no, we do not know if the Astra will make it across the Atlantic and arrive in one form or another in U.S. showrooms due to the instability in GM's current situation and of course, the pending sale of the American automaker's stake in the Opel / Vauxhall brands.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

*Click Here for an Updated High-Resolution Photo Album of the 2010 Astra