Opel Astra GTC: First Look

By Feann Torr

The Paris Motor Show comes and goes every year, and while it may not be quite as opulent as the Frankfurt Show or as daring as the Geneva Motor Show, it's always fashionable.

And leading the way in the style stakes is Opel's Astra GTC, the marque's three-door hatchback version of its small car that will rival the likes of the VW Golf, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus.

The GTC, or Gran Turismo Compact if you like, is different to its 5-door sibling mainly in that it has all-new styling, omits two doors and gets a host of sportier options and driving aids, where the 5-door model is more utilitarian in concept.

Its striking new look is quite futuristic, particularly the newly sculpted rear end with distinctive tail lights that incorporate the new 3-door style.

Interestingly, the new Sports Hatch, as it will be called in some markets, makes use of all new sheet metal, sharing no exterior panels with the 5-door hatch.

The Astra GTC has impressively aggressive proportions thanks to short front and rear overhangs, not to mention flared wheel arches, and the more pronounced tapering of the front and rear ends again separates it from the 5-door model.

An arched sloping roof and the stylised angular rear side windows create a particularly "taut profile" in Opel speak, while the the wide, sculpted shoulders accentuate the powerful shape of the body, culminating in the unconventional slim line rear window.

Hans Demant, Opel head honcho and engineering expert, said "We have given the Astra GTC a unique look without compromising Opel’s customary everyday driveability. The three-door model addresses customers who are looking for an expressive design and a car that is really fun to drive."

Opel's eye-catching GTC also sits some 15 millimetres lower than the 5-door Astra and in addition to a huge range of engines, which we'll get to later, some Astra GTC models will get IDS, or the Interactive Driving System, which works in tandem with CDC (Continuous Damping Control).

In theory, this should improve the car's ride (and its handling to a lesser degree) by changing damping rates on the go, rewarding occupants with a smooth drive even when surface conditions change.

There's also a button-activated sports mode that regulates damper adjustment as well as accelerator-pedal and power steering action for quicker response and a more sporting drive.

Such flamboyant styling and the new driving aids will put the head-turning Astra GTC/Coupe/Sports Hatch in good stead with its rivals, such as the upcoming all-new Ford Focus, Volvo V30 hatch, Volkswagen Golf and BMW 1 Series, and if General Motors can keep the pricepoint keen, the new 3-door Astra hatch will be hard to go past.

When it comes to engine choice, the Astra GTC doesn't disappoint, and there will be no less than eight 4-cylinder engines on offer when the sporty hatch launches in European territories in the second quarter of 2005. When the Astra GTC launches in Australia under a different moniker (possibly SRi) it is unlikely to get the 1.4-litre engine, however.

Here's the Astra GTC's engine line-up:

The range-topping turbocharged petrol model should be a real rip-snorter with 262Nm of torque on tap from 4000rpm, and seeing it's a bit more of a rev-happy screamer than the low-pressure turbo engine, whose max. torque peaks 2050rpm lower in the rev range, it should appeal to those who enjoy a good thrash through the mountains.

The engine is ignited via a push button - no key twisting needed - and all models will be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, except for the 1.9-litre turbo diesel and both 2.0-litre turbo petrol models, which will benefit from an extra ratio in the form of a sportier 6-speed manual.

General Motors will also be offering some Astra GTC models with traditional 4-speed automatics, and some high-spec models can be specified with a 5-speed 'Easytronic' auto gearbox.

Another big selling point for the new Astra GTC is its active and passive safety levels.

The 'SAFETEC' protection system, which was crucial in Euro NCAP awarding the five-door Astra the maximum five star rating, ensures that it is one of the safest vehicles in its class.

The SAFETEC system combines the aforementioned IDS and numerous other aids (such as ABS and ESP, plus multiple airbags) with a high-strength safety body to ensure optimum safety in the event of a crash.

Step inside the new Astra GTC and you'll be greeted with all the mod cons, including a new "Infotainment-Program" complete with LCD display and a flashy MP3-equipped stereo with digital sound processing, plus there's digital radio with CD quality (DAB: Digital Audio Broadcast) and a 6-CD changer.

Other options will include voice controlled operation, a sat-nav system with color monitor, steering wheel remote controls with a scroll function (that enables safe selection of infotainment functions - take that iDrive) and even the patented Twin Audio® for separate listening pleasure in the rear. And as far as practical interior space goes, the GTC offers the same luggage compartment volume (380 litres) as the 5-door Astra.

The rear seat backs can be folded down (standard 60:40 or optional 40:20:40 split) for more flexible use of interior space, and even though the designers snugly pulled in the side windows to give the rear-quarter panels more tightness, Opel is confident that two adults will comfortably fit in the rear.

When all things are considered, the new 3-door Astra makes a great case. It's an impressive hatch that goes above and beyond the call of duty with unorthodox-but-impressive styling, a great range of engines to suit all types of buyers and plenty of intriguing features, such as the Continuous Damping Control (CDC) and the Infotainment-Program.

The 2005 Opel Astra will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show (September 25 – October 10, 2004), and is manufactured in Antwerp, Belgium, where the five-door model and the station wagon are also produced. It will be badged a Holden Astra in Australia and a Vauxhall Astra Sports Hatch in the UK, while the rest of Europe will see the GTC and Opel badges.

We'll have full reviews of the appealing new Astra 3-door when it lobs in 2005, and planned capacity for the three-door model is around 70,000 units per year. The marketing people in Rüsselsheim expect the GTC to make up 15 to 20 percent of Astra registrations in Europe, and it will go on on sale in the second quarter of 2005.