Steinmetz Hatches New Tuning Program for Opel Astra GTC

With the future Astra OPC, Opel and its sis company Vauxhall have pretty much included the needs of the go-fast audience, but for those that already have a regular GTC model and would like some small improvements, Steinmetz unveiled a new adjusting program at the Essen Motor Show that operates from Nov 26 to November 4.

The In german business choices contain a appearance kit that consists of new black upper and lower front grilles, a fron attire, roof and footwear spoilers and new fatigue longest tail plumbing, plus side lines in gold and anthracite, and home handle protects and reflection limits set in finished metal.

The sporty-looking three-door hatchback also gets a new 19-inch tires with 245/40 R19 powerful tires from either Ls or Michelin, while a new sports revocation ehnaces its position and offers to improve managing by losing the trip level by Thirty millimeters (1.2-inches).

The inside variations contain the Steinmetz electronic speed warning, new floor pads with padded company brand name and finished metal sill clothing and a fender protection for the footwear.

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Report: New Opel Astra GTC May Make it to the States as a Buick

The sporty-looking Opel Astra GTC was only just introduced in Frankfurt last week, but there are already reports suggesting that it could be one of the compact cars General Motors said it would build at an unspecified plant in the U.S. under the details released Tuesday of its tentative pact with the United Auto Workers (UAW).

According to Auto Observer, in a meeting with journalists and analysts at Opel’s Rüsselsheim headquarters in Germany, the firm's CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, said "I could easily see it as a Buick" referring to the Astra GTC.

It would make sense from a marketing standpoint since Buick would automatically gain a new contender in the small sports car segment against the likes of the Hyundai Veloster, while also widening the reach of the brand to a younger audience.

Furthermore, the fact that the soon-to-be launched in the States new Buick Verano is essentially the sedan version of the Opel Astra series, means that the production costs can be minimized as the two cars will share many common components.

In the European market, the three-door Astra GTC will launch with a choice of five engines delivering between 100HP and 180HP, including a 1.7-liter CDTI exoFLEX diesel available with 110HP and 130HP, both fitted with a fuel-saving Start/Stop system.

But the icing in the cake will be the Astra GTC OPC (VXR in the UK), which is rumored to carry a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine pushing close to 300-horsepower, and is expected to be introduced in the second half of 2012.

If GM makes the move to sell the Astra GTC as a Buick in North America, then it is almost certain that it will offer the OPC as its flagship GS model.

Story sources: Auto Observer

 

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IAA 2011: New Opel Astra GTC Takes the Stage in Frankfurt

We've already given you the full scoop on the all-new Astra GTC, but in Frankfurt, Opel held the world premiere of its latest C-segment model that blurs the line between three-door hatchbacks and coupes.

Based on the five-door Astra, the low-slung GTC sports a unique body shell as well as different platform dimensions as it has a 10mm longer wheelbase and wider tracks (+40mm up front and +30mm at the rear).

Opel says it has also fine-tuned the chassis with an exclusive HiPerStrut front wheel suspension and a Watt’s link rear axle to further hone the car's driving dynamics.

Initially, the Astra GTC will be offered in Europe with a choice of five engines delivering between 100HP and 180HP, including a 1.7-liter CDTI exoFLEX diesel available with 110HP and 130HP, both fitted with a fuel-saving Start/Stop system.

Future plans include the introduction of a high-performance OPC (called the VXR in the United Kingdom) model believed to be equipped with a turbocharged four-pot generating close to 300-horsepower.

 

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