OPEL ASTRA GTC CONCEPT TAKES TO THE PARIS STAGE

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OPEL ASTRA GTC CONCEPT TAKES TO THE PARIS STAGE

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By Drew Johnson

General Motors' German Opel brand has fully revealed its upcoming Astra GTC model at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The GTC model on hand at the Paris show is still in concept form, but the production version expected to bow early next year at the Geneva Motor Show.

Opel says that "And the speed was pure beauty," a line from the novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull, inspired the Astra GTC Paris. Opel’s Vice President of Design Mark Adams also helped the project move along, asking the design team to show him "the most emotional side of Opel’s new design language, ‘sculptural artistry meets German precision’.”

The GTC features a more aggressive "bulldog stance", putting Volkswagen's Scirocco -- rather than its GTI hot hatch -- directly in its cross-hairs. The Astra will bridge the gap between the two by offering more usable proportions than the Scirocco -- including seating for five -- but a lower and sportier roofline than the GTI.

The Opel GTC Paris will use an up-rated version of GM's turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0L four-cylinder, developing a robust 290 horsepower. Power will be sent through a six-speed manual transmission, eventually hitting the ground via 21-inch wheels.

The Astra GTC could come to North America as a Buick model, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. Buick will launch a compact sedan based on the Astra by 2012, leaving the door open for a performance model.

link:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/opel-astra-gtc-paris-concept.html