Auto Express online has released some info on the new Astra. Relevant information being:-

"Performance car fans are certain to be excited by the promise of the 250bhp GSi edition, which will be powered by a 2.0-litre Saab-derived four-cylinder turbo"

Relying on the experts for the beefy stuff http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/fawlty.gif

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_17/car_portal_pic_8660.jpg?5257

IIRC SAAB are now responsible for all vauxhall/opel turbo works....
Can't be all bad then! 250bhp 9-3ss aero anyone?

is it just me, or does that actually look okay?

Doesn't look too bad.

Wish GM would use Saab engines in all their cars: it would make a lot of sense as Saab seem to be able to build very good engines. Having said that my friends JH reg Astra estate is well on its way to 230K miles and it still runs quite well (it just got through its MOT).

Steve

I always thought vauxhall engines were pretty good......it was the handling/styling that let them down.....
The old astra gte, then the gsi had cracking engines......

is it just me, or does that actually look okay? *[/b]..that's what I was thinking. Surprising isn't it?

It doesn't look too bad - quite a similarity to modern small pugs IMO. The "detail" around the front fogs is too fussy and the wing mirrors look peculiar the way that are mounted off the door rather than being closer to the base of the A-pillar. But, hell, what do I know about car design?

Is it me or does it look a bit like the new Nissan Primera at the front?

Originally posted by Woofage:
Is it me or does it look a bit like the new Nissan Primera at the front? [/b]Nah, looks nothing like you, Martin

Nah, looks nothing like you, Martin *[/b]No, not "streamlined" enough!

Something about the hunched back, and pointy-yet-angular nose reminds me very sadly of the Mercedes "Sport" Coupe. Urk...

Looks like a Mercedes Coupe to me too.

As for the Astra GTE having a cracking engine, I used to have a very boring looking Vauxhall Belmont GLSi which had the same engine as the GTE and it was a hoot to drive, it was like having a GTE in disguise. Also no matter how much you enjoyed yourself, it always returned high 40s to the gallon http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/fawlty.gif

Vince

Well if t does look a little bit like a merc then that must be a result after the previous years efforts!

if it does look a little bit like a merc then that must be a result[/b]Better to resemble Merc than Pug or Nissan, IMHO!

What on earth are you all on about? This is hideous - I thought it WAS a picture of that new Nissan hatchback till I saw the Opel badge.

Hideous, OK?

I'm with Fawlty on this one- it looks like a squashed bastardised son-of-a-merc!

Hmmm. It's pretty hideous, but then so are a most of the modern cars from which it seems to take its design cues.

Good news about the engine, though http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/fawlty.gif

James

Originally posted by /john:
It doesn't look too bad - quite a similarity to modern small pugs IMO. *The "detail" around the front fogs is too fussy and the wing mirrors look peculiar the way that are mounted off the door rather than being closer to the base of the A-pillar. *But, hell, what do I know about car design? * * *[/b]You nearly made me faint /john Modest praise (by your standards ) and then rapidly returning to the /john we all know and love

Well, I disagree with most of you lot 'cos I don't think it looks too bad at all. Better than the bland effort they make now.

Anyway, this is SaabScene not AstraScene (sounds like a dodgy Sci-Fi book)!

Originally posted by WelshWizard:
You nearly made me faint /john * * * Modest praise (by your standards * * ) and then rapidly returning to the /john we all know and love * * * * *[/b]Yeah, but it's all relative. Whilst it may look like praise, we all know that Vauxhalls are absolutely terrible in design/aesthetic terms - so even though this one is the b'stard son of the butt-ugly monster - it looks OK in comparison to the others.

Like Woofage says, it is better than a lot of what is offered. Is this Vauxhall/Opel being daring?

Wouldn't mind caning a VX220, though

Originally posted by /john:
Wouldn't mind caning a VX220, though * *[/b]Now that is an ugly car, though I too wouldn't mind a quick blast around some country lanes in one.

Vince

Swap the badge on the front and I'm thinking long-awaited son of 96 here...

Having driven Vauxhall company cars for about 10 years/450K miles I concur with the view that engines OK (though not unbreakable!!) but handling is pants, even the sporty ones. Bit like my (old shape) 9-3 really... Why am I wasting brain power on VX talk?!

I see in the paper tonight there's a new turbo VX220 - have Saab had a hand in that too?

Originally posted by Joel Whittle:
I see in the paper tonight there's a new turbo VX220 - have Saab had a hand in that too? [/b]I believe so!
And 6 have been written of by journo's!

The actual mags has a 'tweaked' version of pictures of the car, with the Flying V instead of the Opel symbol. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Photoshop job straight off the Corsa - this is where the :yuk: emoticon would come in very useful.

For a 'mainstream' car I think Vauxhalls are pretty good (and I'm on my 4th) but it's just a mainstream car http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif I just don't want Saab to go down that road and lose its exclusivity. When you think that BMW sold around 50,000 3-series cars in the UK, it is now becoming too common and mainstream.....

I had a Cavalier Gsi Turbo 4x4 way back in 1993, which had a 4 cylinder 2 litre turbocharged engine, producing 205 BHP. So why did it take SAAB another 8 years to get that power out of their 9-3 engine, and why do we still not have 4 wheel drive?? I also have to add that the Gsi was a superb car, and didn't experience the same performance again, till I had my 9-3 Aero modified by Abbott last year.

Neil

I had a Cavalier Gsi Turbo 4x4 way back in 1993, which had a 4 cylinder 2 litre turbocharged engine, producing 205 BHP. So why did it take SAAB another 8 years to get that power out of their 9-3 engine,[/b]I didn't.

Saab have had on and off a 200 bhp 2.0l engine since 1988. The Original 2.0l 9000 Carlsson was 204bhp which ran until 1990/1. After that their 2.3 engine produced 200bhp easier, so the 2.0l at that level wasn't needed.

There was laterly a 150 to 192 bhp upgrade from saab for the 9-5 lpt which was close. and gave a step between the 170bhp 2.3 lpt and the 230bhp 2.3 Aero.

Andrew

Originally posted by Neil M:
I had a Cavalier Gsi Turbo 4x4 way back in 1993, which had a 4 cylinder 2 litre turbocharged engine, producing 205 BHP. *So why did it take SAAB another 8 years to get that power out of their 9-3 engine, and why do we still not have 4 wheel drive?? *[/b]But how many 13 year old Cavvies will you see still reliably pushing out 200hp+?

Why no 4wd? It simply isn't needed in everyday driving (even pretty sporty style) if you get the basic handling right- so why burden yourself with all that extra weight, complexity and costly things to go wrong... and just for good meaure I wouldn't be suprised if a regular 175hp 2wd Saab isn't putting more power put on the road than the 4wd Cavvy owing to the lower transissiom losses.

The 4wd Cavvy was simply a marketing ploy IMO.

And no, I'm not a Cavvy hater- I had 2 8V 2Litre injections, MY 89 & 91 and loved them.

On the contrary, the Gsi Turbo was far quicker than the 900 turbo (220 bhp Abbott) that I had up until last year. 0-60 in the dry was 6.5 sec, and in the wet it was 5.8 sec. Plus it went round corners like it was on rails - vauxhall basically built it to beat the Cosworth, and that it did, but not many people know that!

Neil

0-60 in the dry was 6.5 sec, and in the wet it was 5.8 sec. *[/b]Huh? How'd you do that? Watercooled tyres?

Originally posted by Neil M:
*vauxhall basically built it to beat the Cosworth, and that it did, but not many people know that!
[/b]oooh I dunno....
Cossies are still worth a fair wedge...

Yeah, Ford really pulled a marketing blinder with the Cosworth editions, the repercussions of which are seen in the second hand prices today. Even if they are as good as Fraud fanatics say they are, they are still ludicrously overvalued and overrated .. so overpriced in fact that even a T16S advertised in the SOC driver would seem like a bargain in comparison.

Yes cossies are too much money, but it's fun looking at the drivers through their rear mirror when they are caning it, and you still just behind them

Andrew

Huh? How'd you do that? Watercooled tyres? *[/b]Cooler damper air makes the turbo more efficient, plus in the wet you could spin all 4 wheels pulling away, keeping the revs up and keeping the turbo "in". In the dry, you would drop the clutch, the tyres would stick to the road, the revs dropped momentarily, and the turbo would drop out till the revs got back to 2000-2500 revs.

Neil