2009 Opel Astra Scooped: Insignia-Inspired Styling and New 1.4 Turbo

A prototype version of the forthcoming 2009 Opel Astra has been snapped at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands by a reader of our Dutch friends at Autojunk. Aimed directly towards the new VW Golf VI (see details here), the new Astra will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 with sales following shortly after. The Astra will also make it to the States as a Saturn and in Australia as a Holden.

The 2009 Astra is based on General Motor’s new global Delta platform, which also underpins the electric-hybrid Chevrolet Volt. Seen here in five-door trim, the Astra will be adorned with styling cues from the new Insignia both inside and outside. The range will also include a sleeker, more sporty three-door version, plus a station wagon, a sedan and a cabriolet with an electric-folding hardtop. -Continued

Powerplants will stretch from GM’s all-new 1.4-liter turbo to a 2.0-liter turbcharged engine developing at least 250HP in the top-spec OPC / VXR model. The 1.4-liter turbocharged engine will be offered in 2010 with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. It is estimated that this unit will deliver an approximate 8% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-liter engine that it will replace.

Via: Autoblog.nl , Source: Autojunk.nl