The new Astra range continues to expand. Following a series of spy shots and videos of the Sports Tourer model, our man with the long-lens has snapped the dramatically styled replacement to the three-door Opel / Vauxhall Astra GTC while out and about in Germany.
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.
In fact, as you can see in these revealing spy shots, the new Astra GTC appears to be even more aggressively styled that the outgoing three-door model featuring a lower, almost coupe-like roofline. The heavy cladding doesn't allow us to see all the details, but expect to see a pronounced crease above the rear wheelarches as well as unique tail lights, possibly even a reworked fascia.
Changes to the interior -aside from the less spacious rear compartment that has fallen victim to style- are expected to be limited to the dashboard trim.
Underneath the sheetmetal, Opel's engineers will most likely tweak the chassis for a sportier ride, while the basic engine range will be shared with the five-door model and range from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot to a 180HP 1.6-liter turbo petrol and a 160HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.
The range will also grow to include a successor to the Astra OPC / VXR with its 240HP 2.0-liter turbo engine, while we've also heard rumors about a GSi model with a more potent version of GM's 1.6-liter turbo with a little over 200-horsepower.
