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.
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.
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.
Based on the standard OPC, this should basically be the Corsa version of the Astra-based 2008 Nürburgring Edition model. That means it'll most likely come with the standard Corsa OPC's 192-horsepower (141 kW) / 170 lb-ft (230 Nm) turbocharged 1.6 liter mill and extra add-ons.
Other baubles to expect are upgraded Brembo brakes, Recaro leather seating, carbon-look decor for the interior, unique lightweight wheels, and maybe even a tuned suspension.
Stylistically inspired by the larger Insignia Sports Tourer, the Astra Estate is evidently longer than its hatchback brethren which should translate to a more cavernous and practical boot.
The estate will use the same engine line-up as the five-door hatch, which means a petrol range stretching from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot up to a 180 horsepower 1.6-liter turbo, and a comprehensive diesel range that tops out with a 160HP 2.0-liter CDTi.
A sister model to the North American Chevrolet Volt, the road-ready Ampera features a few minor styling tweaks and additions over last year's concept model (see pictures here).
At the front-end of the plug-in hybrid, we find a slightly revised front grille, relocated front turning signals, plain black decorative trim on the bumper and the addition of washers on the bonnet.
At the back, the boot lid spoiler has been extended and features a larger third-stop light, while the reflectors on the corners of the bumper have been pushed outwards and the diffuser on the bumper has been redesigned and incorporates center mounted lights.
At launch, it will be marketed with six engines offering a power bandwidth from 75 HP to 140 HP and a choice of 5 and 6-speed manual transmissions (depending on the engine) as well as a 6-speed automatic gearbox
According to Opel, fuel consumption has been reduced by an average of 15 percent compared with the current generation Meriva.
Designed and developed at Opel's engineering center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Meriva will be built at GM's plant in Zaragoza, Spain and is scheduled to go on sale across Europe this summer.
Just last week, we brought you a set of photos showing the new Opel Meriva small MPV with its rear-hinged back doors wide open. Now this time, our man with the long lens has really outdone himself snagging a 2010 Meriva test car without a single trace of camouflage! These new pictures give us our best look at the five-seater minivan that's clearly inspired by the 2008 Meriva concept while sharing many styling cues with both the Insignia and the new Astra hatchback.Aside from suicide rear doors with the front-mounted handles that are said to open to a 90-degree angle to the body, another distinguishing feature of the new Meriva is its unusual glasshouse design that incorporates a downward kink at the back doors just behind the B-pillar.
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though we don't have any photos of the Meriva's front end, previous spy shots suggest a similar treatment to the latest Astra with wing-shaped headlights and Opel's family grille.
In other aspects, the new Meriva will be slightly longer than the current model while engine choices at launch will include 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter naturally aspirated gasoline units with outputs of 100HP and 115HP respectively as well as GM's new 140HP 1.4-liter turbo. The diesel lineup will most likely comprise of 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CDTIs.
Designed to compete against small MPVs like the Citroen C3 Picasso and Kia Venga, the Opel / Vauxhall Meriva is expected to make its world premiere at next March's Geneva Salon with European sales following shortly after.
No more hiding and trick camouflage for the new Meriva as our spies finally managed to snap Opel's new small MPV with its rear-hinged back doors open wide confirming once and for all that the production model will indeed keep the 'FlexDoors' of the 2008 Geneva Show concept car. Both rear doors of the five-seater MPV will open a full 90 degrees away from the body but unlike most models with suicide style back doors, the Meriva maintains a central B-pillar.It is expected that like the concept model, passengers can open the rear doors even when the front doors are closed but only when the vehicle is stationary.
A closer look at the spy photos reveals that the 2010 Meriva, which will be sold in Great Britain with the Vauxhall logo, will be fitted with three individual seats at the rear that can be separately folded down to increase luggage capacity or/and pushed inwards and backwards to create more legroom.
Albeit toned down, the production model's exterior styling remains close to that of the 2008 concept. Even the unusual kink in the rear window line that promises to improve the view of the rear passengers has been retained. The Meriva also incorporates plenty of design cues from both the new Astra and Insignia.
Earlier spy shots suggest that the Meriva will get a dashboard similar in design to the one found in the latest Astra with four deeply placed gauges in the instrument cluster.
Based on a slightly larger platform with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks than the current model, the new Meriva will benefit from the 2010 Astra's revised engine lineup.
The gasoline range will include 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engines with outputs of 100HP and 115HP respectively as well as GM's new 1.4-liter turbocharged producing 140HP. A sporty OPC version with a 1.6-liter turbo pushing out 180HP or more will also be offered at a later stage.
As for the diesel lineup, the initial range is expected to include 1.3-liter, 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter CDTIs.
With the Frankfurt Motor Show long gone, the world debut of the Meriva will most likely take place at next year's Geneva Salon in March, before going on sale across Europe at the end of Spring.
