The Vauxhall Astra ST 2011 - public debut at Paris Motor Show.
Vauxhall/Opel are to reveal the Paris GTC Concept at the Paris Motor Show in October – the 3 door Astra to you and me – plus the Astra ST gets a public reveal.
October is seriously late in the year – almost winter, for goodness sake – so when we got an email from Vauxhall today telling us that the Paris Motor show – Mondial de l’Automobile Paris – was getting close and Vauxhall and Opel had big plans we thought naah, that’s like having Christmas in the shops in September. But it’s not. The Paris Motor Show is just two months away – almost in winter – and we still haven’t had summer.
So Vauxhall will be previewing the GTC Paris Concept, which by another name is the 3-door Astra. Why the subterfuge for a 3-door version of the new Astra we’re not sure – even if it will look quite different – but that’s what we’re getting. Vauxhall tell us that the Astra GTC combines ‘Speed & Beauty’, so the Concept will have ‘And the speed was pure beauty’ – a line from Jonathan Livingstone Seagull – embroidered in its upholstery. Brave.
Actually, the full quote from JLS is “But the speed was power, and the speed was joy, and the speed was pure beauty” as Jonathan Gull flew along at 214 mph. Somehow we don’t quite see the 3 door Astra being able to emulate that unless – like the Gull – it drops from the sky. Mind you, in this eco obsessed age we’re delighted to see a car maker using JLS to demonstrate that speed is beauty. And Joy. And Power. Sounds good to us. Can’t wait for the VXR.
Also on offer on the Vauxhall stand will be the Astra Estate, better known – at least to Vauxhall – as the 2011 Astra Sports Tourer. A good looking car and one we have no doubt will sell by the bucket load.
Still, sad it’s just two months to winter.
Have your say - leave a comment