Even though the mainstream variants of the production Astra GTC will lose the muscular bumpers, LEDs and tall 21-inch wheels of the design study, it's safe to say that what you see here is more or less what you'll get when the car arrives in Opel and Vauxhall showrooms across Europe in 2011.
For those wanting something closer in looks to the concept, there's good news as the flagship OPC model is expected to keep most of the styling features including the chunky bumpers.
In the event that Opel does come to Australia as a stand-alone brand, HSV is looking for its own hot hatch to go up against the likes of the Focus RS and Subaru WRX, and the Australian developed Cruze 5dr hatchback is on the cards.
For the most part, Opel's study is a thinly veiled concept of next year's sporty three-door Astra hatch, which will carry the GTC tag. On top of that, the concept's aggressive details such as the styling of the bumpers and the large wheels (style- and not 21-inch size-wise) strongly hint at the OPC version.
Same goes for the Astra-sourced interior that we see here for the very first time. Highlights include the sporty bucket front seats and a flat-bottomed racing steering wheel with metal inserts, both of which are expected to make their way on the new OPC.
The big difference here is shaping to be extra output in a traditionally showy hot-hatch package, or a sleek and sophisticated ride with potentially less power. But first, a joke: what would a diesel Ford Focus ST be called? Think about it.
Barring all the artsy literary references and mumbo jumbo, the facts go as follows: the GTC will be a compact, 3-door hatch for five with a coupe-like roofline. It measures 4.46 meters long and incorporates modern Opel design cues like the "blade" running along the rocker. Inside the concept appear to be some optional race-inspired cheek huggers.
The teaser you see pictured above is from the concept model's seats which are laser-etched with the phrase "And the speed was pure beauty" from Richard Bach's novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
No other details were provided, but there's a good chance the study may preview the range-topping OPC version fitted with a 240HP+ turbo engine and designed to rival both the VW Golf GTI and Scirocco.
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Aside from the small crossover model that has already been confirmed, McCormack said Buick is considering several options including a coupe, a convertible with either a soft-top or a retractable hardtop and a station wagon.
One question was about whether or not Buick is considering the possibility of a coupe model, in which McCormack answered: " Yes, very strong consideration."
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Even though we'll have to wait for the Paris Motor Show in October for the official unveiling of the GTC, we can give you a glimpse of the sporty looking three-door Astra as two prototype models were caught on film during testing in Germany.
As you can see in the video after the jump, the first camouflaged Astra GTC features a single tail pipe at each corner of the rear bumper and beefy tire/alloy combos, suggesting it's a turbocharged model, quite possibly, the rumored GSi that's said to be fitted with a more potent version of the 1.6-liter turbo delivering a little over 200HP.
The exterior design of the Astra Sports Tourer brings to mind the Insignia ST, and that's a positive thing. Unlike its boxy predecessor, Opel's styling team led by Mark Adams opted for a much more 'lifestyle estate' design with a more raked roofline and a less perpendicular tailgate.
The Sports Tourer shares its footprint with its five-door sibling, with a similar 2,685 mm-long wheelbase and front and rear tracks of 1544 and 1558 mm respectively.
We've already shown you a bunch of revealing spy photos (here) and videos (here) of the upcoming Astra Sports Tourer and from the looks of it, the new model boasts a slicker style with a more raked roofline than today's Astra estate.
Due to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October before arriving in most European markets in early 2011, the new three-door variant of the Astra hatch follows in the footsteps of the outgoing GTC boasting a more rakish appearance than its five-door sibling.
Based on the most-powerful version of the new Astra, the 1.6 Turbo, the German tuner's engineers squeezed out an extra 20HP and 65Nm of torque from the four-cylinder petrol unit boosting output to 200HP and 295Nm or 217.6 lb-ft.
Irmscher's package also bundles a sport suspension that lowers the car's ride height by 30mm and a choice of 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels in beefier sport tires, which help give the Opel a meaner stance.
Scheduled to be shown for the first time this summer with a Paris Motor Show debut to follow in autumn 2010, the Astra Sports Tourer looks like a smaller version of the Insignia station wagon boasting a more raked roofline and a less boxy / conservative shape than the current model.
People get a little antsy in the pantsy, lose their concentration, and wreck their car. The real point of interest here is the potential costs involved (other than that of a damaged car and pride).
Other tuning options include a new lowering kit that brings the compact hatch 30mm (1.2 inches) closer to the road and two 19-inch alloy wheel designs, both of which run on tires size 235/35 R19.
We don't know if GM will keep the 'Excelle' nameplate for North America, but we do know that the General is planning to bring the car to the States in 2011.
