new auto cars 2012: 2012 Opel Astra GTC

2012 Opel Astra GTC

2012 Opel Astra GTC, Opel 10:22 AM

The new Opel Astra GTC is very much inspired by the Opel GTC Paris Concept revealed at the 2010 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. A compact, sporty five-seater with coupé appeal and dramatic proportions, the Astra GTC has a unique design: it does not share any exterior element with other members of the Astra family, except for the outside rear view mirror housing and the rod antenna. Six of the seven 17- to 20-inch wheel designs on offer are also GTC-only features. The Opel Astra GTC mechatronic chassis features an exclusive, high-tech front suspension architecture, similar to the one of the Insignia OPC, that improves handling performance and provides the sharper steering demanding drivers expect in a sporty-looking car. Compared to the five-door Astra, the ride height of the GTC is lowered by 15 mm while the basic dimensions of the chassis slightly increase. Due to extended control arms in the rear, the wheelbase grows by 10 mm, from 2,685 to 2,695 mm. Both tracks are wider, at 1,584 mm (+ 40 mm) in front and 1,588 mm (+ 30 mm) in the rear. This allows for the accommodation of sporty wheels with enhanced tire diameter, which improve both stability, road stance and visual impact.

The Opel Astra GTC can be ordered immediately with a choice of four powertrains - one diesel and three gasoline units. The upgraded 2.0 CDTI common-rail turbo diesel engine with output raised to 121 kW/165 hp is fitted with a diesel particulate filter and a six-speed manual transmission. Opel's new Start/Stop technology which reduces fuel consumption in urban stop and go traffic is standard equipment. The 2.0 CDTI combines excellent performance with high efficiency. It delivers up to 380 Nm of torque thanks to an overboost function and allows the Astra GTC to reach 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. Top speed is 210 km/h. The combined fuel consumption does not exceed 4.9 liters of diesel per 100 km and CO2 emissions are 129 g/km. With its 56-liter fuel tank, the Opel Astra GTC 2.0 CDTI can cover over 1,100 km. Start/Stop is also standard with the two 1.4 turbo-compressed gasoline engines with 88 kW/120 hp and 103 kW/140 hp outputs. Both have a six-speed manual gearbox, deliver 200 Nm of torque and require 5.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (139 g/km CO2). The gasoline offer is currently topped by the 132 kW/180 hp 1.6 turbo with six-speed manual transmission, which has a top speed of 220 km/h.