Stunningly beautiful Opel GTC

The Sport at full bore... Good looks, good performance, good handling and practical as well. What more could you ask?

It terms of price, pleasure and performance this new Opel coupé could pose a very real threat to the VW Scirocco, Renault Megane Coupé, Volvo C30 and even the Mini Cooper, Citroen DS3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLC. Certainly, in terms of overall sex appeal, it is one of the most exciting cars to arrive in this country for some time and undoubtedly one of the most attractive and seductive cars ever to sport the Opel badge.

According to General Motors South Africa more than 15 000 orders were taken for the GTC in Europe long before it even went on sale there and the local reception is also expected to be enthusiastic.

The Astra GTC will initially be available locally in two guises: a 1.4 Enjoy and a 1.6 T Sport, almost identical in looks and exactly the same in length and width, wheel size, safety features, security, infotainment systems, warranties and service plans, chassis and suspension.

Shared good looks and features

Both models are armed with ABS, EBD, an electronic stability programme, hill start assist and six-speed manual transmission. Cosmetic differences are leather instead of cloth trim on the 1.6 version along with chrome finish around the side windows and slightly different alloys.

The only major difference between the two is under the bonnet where the similarity ends with both engines being turbo charged and Euro-5 emissions compliant.

Very sleek Sport, and it sticks like crazy through corners.

In terms of blasting power, the 1.4 produces 103 kW/200 Nm compared to the 132kW/230Nm of the 1.6 model but then the smaller engine is more economical and environmentally friendly with emissions down to 139g/km compared to the 168g/km of the 1.6. In terms of frugality the 1.4 claims 5.9 litres/100km in the combined cycle as against the 6.8 litres/100km for the larger model.

GMSA says the smaller model will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds and reach a top speed of about 201km/h whereas the 1.6 cuts the dash time down to 8.3 seconds and trots on to around the 220km/h mark before running out of steam.

At the media launch drive which took us from Bloemfontein to Clarence and back, I drove both versions and although I enjoyed both coupés the 1.4 would be my first choice, for even though, on paper, it should not be as peppy as the 1.6, it felt lighter and livelier on the road.

Sticks like glue

Both models display amazing cling through the corners and the ride is fairly firm without being bumpy. With the cabin also well insulated against engine, wind and road noises the GTC is both a performance pleaser and an easy highway cruiser. In fact, the ride is so creamy and undemanding that it is quite easy to creep into big fine territory, as two of our group found out to their horror when cameramen in uniform took unsolicited pictures of them on the motorway.

(Strangely enough, the same dedicated team of ticket-writing camera operators chose to completely ignore a silver Mercedes-Benz with a flashing blue light that sped past them at about 200km/h while we were on the scene!).

The overall finish is really good and the dials and gauges lay-out, fully adjustable steering column, well positioned pedals and the comfortable racing-style seats all fit together nicely.

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The GTC's brakes are sharp enough for the track and the power steering is quite direct without being twitchy or too sensitive. Working in tandem with the lowered sport chassis it all gels into a real sporty drive, as we quickly found out on the twisty, scenic sections of black top once we stepped off the highway.

The cabin, too, has improved dramatically from the standard Opel fare and although it still has a familiar Opel look and feel to it, it is considerably classier and better-looking than previous Opels. The overall finish is really good and the dials and gauges lay-out, fully adjustable steering column, well positioned pedals and the comfortable racing-style seats all fit together nicely to enhance the sporty and stylish ambience of the living quarters.

Sporty and quick - but practical too

However, the pretty interior is not only about looks and comfort: the GTC is actually also a rather practical four-seater with wide-opening doors, fold-down and slide-front seats for easy access to the rear and reasonably good visibility, in spite of its coupé-styled windows, and lots of storage spaces and mousey holes for tucking away valuables. The boot is also rather generous as well as being easily accessible.

To me, one of the really appealing features of this GTC is its transmission. The short-throw, stubby gear lever falls nicely to hand and swapping cogs is a creamy delight. Opel vehicles, generally, have pleasant gear-boxes and this sporty Astra is a really good example of this - slick and quick, like all transmissions should be on cars such as this.

The Enjoy's console. The new Astra GTC is destined to do well.

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On our lengthy drive the string of different coloured Astras drew plenty of stares and admiring glances and wherever we stopped strangers came up for a close-up look, questions and picture snapping....it's just that sort of car.

Although coupés, generally, do not stroll off dealer showroom floors in big numbers the new Astra GTC is destined to do well, not only because of its knock-out looks and provocative styling but also because of its attractive pricing and comfortable, confident ride.

I reckon this GTC is going to be a honey-pot for sporty drivers, trendy singles, young families and even spirited high-milers for who style and class generally outweigh fashion and flash.

The1.4 Enjoy sells for R287 000 and the 1.6 T Sport for R304 000. Included in the price are a five-year/20 000km warranty and roadside assistance, plus a five-year/90 000km service plan.

Footnote: To help you steer clear of unpleasant speeding fines the GTC does have cruise control with speed limiter function but be warned, more sporty Astra temptation is heading this way because the sizzling OPC Astra GTC is due to arrive in South Africa in a few months' time.

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