New Opel Astra GTC 2011: Sharp Looks, Sharp Drive

July 27, 2011

New Opel Astra GTC 2011: Sharp Looks, Sharp Drive

Stunning design: Sports Coupé with dramatic proportions and road-planted stance
Exclusive chassis layout: All GTC versions receive the high performance front strut
Perfect for everyday use: Roomy, flexible and packed with innovative technologies

Rüsselsheim. Opel will have a busy fall this year with the introduction of three new icons: the revolutionary electric Ampera with extended range capabilities, the new generation Zafira Tourer flexibility master, and the Astra GTC three-door sports compact. The Astra GTC will have its world premiere at the 64^thInternational Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main, September 15 - 25, 2011.

The new Astra GTC stands out with sharp design and driving capabilities. On the outside, sculpted shapes with precise accents add drama to clean, sweeping coupé lines. And on the road, all Astra GTC versions benefit from a premium front axle layout with HiPerStrut – High Performance Strut – that ideally combines with the clever Opel patented Watt’s link rear axle to provide unmatched stability and the sharpest driving precision. Only very few, radical sporty cars in the segment offer such a sophisticated front axle architecture.

“The Astra GTC is the sporty member of the Opel family,” says Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Chief Executive Officer of Opel/Vauxhall. “It has been designed and engineered in our facilities in Rüsselsheim to be a highly desirable sports coupé with invigorating driving performance while remaining affordable, roomy and flexible. We’re convinced that it will bring a breath of fresh air into the sports compact segment”.

The GTC is the ultimate Astra in design and driving dynamics. Accounting for 15 to 20% of all Astra sales, it will further energize the successful Opel compact family, which increased its segment share in from 8.3% in 2009 to 11.4% in 2010.

Four engines to start with - sporty versions to come soon

The Astra GTC can be ordered immediately with a choice of four powertrains – one diesel and three gasoline units.

The upgraded 2.0 CDTI common-rail turbo diesel engine with output raised to 121 kW/165 hp is fitted with a diesel particulate filter and a six-speed manual transmission. Opel’s new Start/Stop technology which reduces fuel consumption in urban stop and go traffic is standard equipment. The 2.0 CDTI combines excellent performance with high efficiency. It delivers up to 380 Nm of torque thanks to an overboost function and allows the Astra GTC to reach 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. Top speed is 210 km/h. The combined fuel consumption does not exceed 4.9 liters of diesel per 100 km and CO₂ emissions are 129 g/km. With its 56-liter fuel tank, the Astra GTC 2.0 CDTI can cover over 1,100 km.

Start/Stop is also standard with the two 1.4 turbo-compressed gasoline engines with 88 kW/120 hp and 103 kW/140 hp outputs. Both have a six-speed manual gearbox, deliver 200 Nm of torque and require 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (139 g/km CO₂). The gasoline offer is currently topped by the 132 kW/180 hp 1.6 turbo with six-speed manual transmission, which has a top speed of 220 km/h.

More powertrains will be offered around the world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The sportiest versions including the future high-performance OPC will follow in 2012.

Innovative technologies enhance driving fun and safety

Whatever the engine, driving an Astra GTC is a rewarding experience thanks to its outstanding chassis. Fun – as well as safety – can be enhanced by a host of innovative systems.

The second-generation Opel Eye front camera system benefits from improved and extended functionalities. The Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) can identify more signs than before and the information it provides is supplemented by input from the navigation system. In addition to the familiar Lane Departure Warning(LDW), the camera now also supports a new Following Distance Indication function (FDI) that visually informs the driver about the distance to the vehicle ahead.

The new, fourth-generation Bi-Xenon Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL 4) makes its debut in the Astra GTC. In addition to the nine functions from AFL+ – which include a High Beam Assist that switches the high beams on and off depending on the presence of other vehicles – it can be enhanced with anIntelligent Light Ranging system (ILR) that uses the front camera from the Opel Eye to measure the distance from the vehicle ahead and adjust the headlamp low beam pattern. This allows it to continuously optimize roadway illumination without blinding. With these ten functions, the Astra GTC features the best lighting package in the segment.

Stylish, purposeful design

Compared to its competitors, the Astra GTC does not compromise on functionality despite its coupé-like design. It does not only accommodate five persons in its cockpit, its flexible luggage compartment also provides 370 to 1,235 liters of space – over 200 liters more than the competition. The storage volume in the cockpit has been improved by 50% over the previous generation GTC, also thanks to the electric park brake that frees up space in the center console – exactly where storage is the most accessible.

The design of the Astra GTC high quality cockpit combines sculptured shapes and dynamic lines, and its distinct sporty character is enhanced by new fabrics, colors and decors on both the Enjoy and Sport executions. The standard sport steering wheel with enhanced grips also highlights the GTC’s exciting character.

To fit all kinds of drivers, the front seats in the Astra GTC offer the widest range of adjustments in the segment. Ergonomically enhanced front seats with eight-way adjustments, four-way lumbar and upper leg extension, certified by the independent back health experts from the AGR organization (Aktion Gesunder Rücken - Action for Healthy Backs) are an accessible option with prices starting at 390 euro.

The Astra GTC has been designed and developed at Opel’s International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim and will be built in Gliwice, Poland.

Four powertrains and two trim levels can be ordered as of June 7, 2011. Prices so far range from 21,750 euro (Astra GTC Enjoy 1.4 Turbo 88 kW/120 hp) to 27,855 euro (Astra GTC Sport 2.0 CDTI 121 kW/165 hp).