2009 Opel Astra

The Age

Saturday March 8, 2008

Barry Park

REMEMBER the TV ads for the Holden Astra from several years ago? A bunch of people running around in the buff, exposing their, ahem, joy for the new small hatch?

Opel, the company responsible for the Astra, has learnt something from Holden's experience. It has ensured that this next generation of the German-designed small car, caught dashing through the snow in Finland, is well and truly covered up.

You can't tell a lot through the chequered disguise, but there's enough to show that this is a development mule of the five-door hatch.

There's a restyled front facia and a lower rising hipline running along its flank compared with the model that's been on sale in Australia since 2004.

The wing mirrors have a more tear-dropped shape to them but the high-mount tail-lights look little changed from their existing design.

The rear bumper has been redesigned to incorporate what looks to be a separate diffuser, while the rear haunches appear more rounded.

We expect the new Astra line-up to carry over its mix of three-door and five-door hatches, as well as the station-wagon. Engine choices are expected to be similar to the mix of petrol and diesel engines available now. -- BARRY PARK

© 2008 The Age

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