Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) has unveiled their sporty new mid-size coupe, the 2012 Astra GTC which in the UK is already available for order starting from today.
Expected to premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK next month, and at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the 2012 Opel Astra GTC features a driver focused chassis layout and a wheelbase measuring 2,695 mm (10 mm more than the regular Astra).
The Astra GTC is also wider and lower than the 5-door hatch upon which is based, with a ‘straight-from-concept’ design and a sophisticated suspension at the front (HiPerStrut -High Performance Strut) combined
with Watt’s link axle at the rear.
The engine lineup available for the 2012 Opel Astra GTC at launch will include one diesel (a 2.0-litre CDTI delivering 165 HP / 380 Nm) and three petrols (a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder delivering either 120 HP or 140 HP and a 1.6-litre turbo rated at 180 HP).
The diesel version 2012 Opel Astra GTC sprints from nought to 62 mph in 8.9 seconds (top speed 131 mph) and returns 47.9mpg (UK) / (4.9-litres per 100 Km). CO2 emissions in this case are 139 grammes per Km.
The 2012 Opel Astra GTC price starts at 18,495 GBP in the UK for the 120 HP model, and reaches 22,430 GBP for the 165 HP SRi 2.0 CDTi.
All engine options come with a 6-speed gearbox and Star Stop technology as standard, plus the diesel range also gets a particulate filter.
The automaker also said that a high output VXR version will join UK’s hot-hatch segment in 2012.
