Opel Astra GTC (luxury, fuel, AWD, sell)

[sailordave]

Having trouble posting the link here using my iPhone. Read an article on the upcoming Opel Astra GTC. While no fan of the GTC's styling, I do like some of the suspension tech as well as some luxury level technology. The GTC engine choices are no 0-60 racers but I think both would be a good fit on either the Buick Verano or Chevy Cruze. A 1.6L turbo with about as much HP as the Verano's 2.4L or a 2.0L turbo diesel. The performance Astra has a 2.0L turbo with big HP numbers, I think this is the same engine in the Regal GS. Chevy could drop the 1.8L base engine, make the 1.4L turbo the base engine, and make the 1.6L turbo and 2.0L turbo diesel as the uplevel engine choices. The Buick Verano should make the 1.6L turbo the standard engine with choices of the 2.0L turbo diesel or a detuned 2.0L turbo like what's in the Regal.

[Tourian]

I don't see any of that happening unless the Regal GS is a huge overwhelming success, which I don't think it will be. The first Veranos are 2.4L only with the turbo model still on the table for later, but I doubt there will be a high performance version of that car. All they are doing is positioning the turbos as better fuel economy replacements for V6s. I don't think we'll see any diesels for a long time either.

[RandyWatson13]

The Verano is meant to sell on low price and trying to get buyers in the brand. They won't be concerned with performance. Sadly the Regal GS weighs too much and is FWD and now AWD and still will cost around 35-40k.

I agree with Tourian here.