2012 Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC: official details, photos, specs and price
By Andrew, 06 Jun, 2011. 0 Comments
2012 Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC
Opel/Vauxhall is preparing to launch the Astra GTC later this year – a car that it claims will be the most dynamic car in its class. Developed in the UK, the Astra GTC is meant to go up against the Renault Mégane coupé and Volkswagen Scirocco. The Vauxhall Engineering Centre made this three-door coupé undergo extensive chassis tuning. The carmaker claims that as a result, this car has “unmatched stability and handling precision.” Vauxhall gave all the models the Insignia VXR’s sophisticated HiPer strut front suspension and combined it with a Watt’s link axle at the rear – a move that enhances steering precision and feedback, lessens torque steer, and boosts grip and cornering power.
Retained from the GTC’s five-door sister car are just the door handles and roof aerial. Its ride height is lower by 10 mm; its wheelbase is 10 mm longer; and the track is wider by 40 mm at the front and wider by 30 mm at the rear. The Astra GTC has received FlexRide adaptive damping that instantly adjusts to varying road surfaces and driving styles. At just the touch of a button, the driver may select the mode -- whether Standard, Sport or Tour.
The body panels of the five-door aren’t retained and its styling stays true to the GTC Paris concept by Opel/Vauxhall design chief Mark Adams that was unveiled last year. Adams had intended to build a car that appears to belong to a higher class, “with its low, wide stance and simple, yet rakish lines.” Included in this lineup of turbocharged engines are a 1.4 petrol that has either 118bhp or 138bhp, a 178bhp 1.6 petrol and a 163bhp 2.0 diesel. Vauxhall hasn’t released the final performance figures yet but the 1.6 petrol is expected to reach 132mph. Offering the best figures is the diesel version, which can go from a standstill to 62mph in 8.9sec and reach a 130mph top speed. It also offers a CO2-emissions rating of 129g/km and a combined economy of 57.6mpg. All GTCs are equipped with stop-start and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. Vauxhall asserts that even if the GTC has a sleek profile, it can seat four adults and their luggage comfortably. It has a boot space of 370 litres but when the rear seats are folded, it can go as high as 1235 litres.
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