General Motors announced today that the brand new 2010 Opel Astra was awarded with five stars for safety, the top rating for new tough regulations that took effect this year. The new vehicle received the highest points ever awarded for Astra’s active head restraints which protect against whiplash but it also scored very well on its front passenger occupant protection in a frontal impact (thanks to Electronic Stability Controlplus – a computerized technology that improves a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids). The 2010 Opel Astra comes with many safety features such as advanced dual seat belt pre-tensioners, heavy knee airbags, smart seatbelt reminder system and a passenger airbag switch-off to allow child seats, ABS with numerous assistance functions, tractions control, new generation ESPPlus, adaptive brake lights, Adaptive Forward Lights (AFL+) and the Opel Eye camera system. Photo gallery after the jump!

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These are the latest shots of the 2010 Opel Astra taken by regular cameras and not the automaker’s own glitzy press shots. While other cars might not look as great on non-official photos, the 2010 Opel Astra really does look every bit as dashing and attractive as it had been made out to be.

The new Astra’s interior furnishings are truly a major improvement from the current model’s boring styling. Fans might be disappointed to know that the 2010 Astra won’t be coming to the US as a Saturn like the previous model; however, GM has promised to bring the latest Delta-based car to American shores (most likely in sedan form) wearing the trademark Buick badge and chrome waterfall grille. These plans are not expected to change now that GM has offloaded a majority stake in Opel to Magna. Photo gallery after the jump!

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At last, after a long series of previews, the 2010 Opel Astra has been unwrapped in high resolution images with additional details. The latest Astra is essential in the company’s attempt to regain what the present model lost to its strong-selling rival Ford Focus hatchback and Vw Golf VI.

Although it is uncertain whether the model will hit US markets or not as a Saturn since the future of that brand is quite doubtful, the European market, with its penchant for hatches and more stringent emissions requirements, will be a different story altogether where Opel expects to bring hatch sales up. After its Frankfurt Motor Show introduction this September, the 2010 Astra will hit the European market. Opel is planning to release its latest two-mode hybrid variant set to arrive at the end of next year. More details ad photos after the jump!

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The anticipated introduction of the Opel Astra at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show is almost here, General Motors has opted to unwrap the car, almost, with several official teaser photos.

The images show the car with head designer Marc van der Haegen and Laszlo Kreth, engineering coordinator, and only the lights are covered by some design renderings. An early prototype has also been featured with broadened tracks that employsthe body of the current Astra model. There are five trims for the upcoming Astra, namely, a five-door and three-door coupe, a four-door saloon, a coupe-convertible and an estate model. Powerplant lineup includes a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline unit, a choice of diesel powerplants, and the 237 hp 2.0-liter turbo for the OPC model. This coming Wednesday the first non-camouflaged official photos of the Opel Astra, which will hit the market this coming December, will be published on the web. For those tired of teaser, here is how the new model will look like: 2010 Opel Astra!

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Thanks to some “evil” Opel fans we are able to show you today more photos with the brand new 2010 Opel Astra but also the first sketch of the upcoming GTC model.

As you can see from the photos the new model looks way better than its main rivals, the Ford Focus or the Vw Golf, and features a longer wheelbase and wider track thanks to the new General Motors Delta platform. The resemblance with the Insignia design is evident but this is not all: the interior is also inspired from its bigger brother showing an improved quality comparing it to the older models. The new sport or estate model shows an extended body with about 20 cm being more spacious than the previous model. The celebrity from this new family will definitely be the GTC coupe and it is likely to achieve more than 15% of the total sales. The new vehicle will hit the showrooms by December while the GTC version is expected to come later in 2010. More photos after the jump!

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Tags:2010 opel astra, 2010 opel astra details, 2010 opel astra gtc sketch, 2010 opel astra images, 2010 opel astra photos, car news, opel news
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This is the new Opel Astra! As you can see the images of the new model are now more clear than ever (although they are very small). The new Astra, which will make its official debut this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, follows the design line of the Opel Insignia, which was also named the “Car of the Year 2009”. The new model will be available in versions: hatchback, sedan, station wagon and GTC. More details to be revealed! More photos after the jump!

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The family car segment will be starred by the latest Vauxhall/Opel within 12 months with the introduction of the fourth-generation Astra. The hallmarks of the family hatchback: reliability, practicality and value for cash, are the main factors why it has remained the British best-selling car.

But the latest version will be following in the steps of the Insignia with the addition of style and drivability. It will also feature the latest technology such as the innovative Front Camera System which is able to read traffic signs and relay them to the driver. The new hatch will also come with Adaptive Front Lighting which adapts headlight beam according to driving conditions. Also a possibility is an adaptive chassis system which adapts the suspension to order. Continued after the jump!

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