2009 Opel (Holden) Astra spy photos
March 4, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
With Ford getting ready for the new Focus and spyshots appearing of the new Volkswagen Golf VI, everyone has been asking what the heck is Opel doing to their Astra range?
Well we have the first pictures to show you Opel is hard at work. The Opel (Holden) Astra is expected to show up at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in March 2009. Our European photographers snapped the first spy-shots of the new car undergoing cold-weather testing in northern Finland this weekend.
Despite the car’s irritating disguise, the new profile, the front fascia and the massive rear bumper with the parted taillights are visible.
While we can’t say anything to the shape of the three-door model yet, it seems to be clear the five-door version will again get the current model’s sloping roof line plus the trapezoidal-shaped c-post.
Apart from the 5-door model pictured here, Opel has an estate (“Caravan”), a convertible (“Twin Top”) and the 3-door (“GTC”) in the pipeline, all following the 5-doors introduction one by one.
The European engine range will be similar to that used in today’s cars (75- to 240-bhp petrol units; 90- to 150-bhp diesels – Australian specifications are far from finalised).
Print it: 
Brilliant disguise!
Yeh right there Golfie. It really difficult to see whats going on. Can’t say I see the overall shape as being particularly dynamic. I would be a real pity to lose the current 3 door looks.
WOW the current gen just fleew by new one looks better with hints of mericva concept
the current astra was really only a rebodied version of the older version.. same chassis, same suspension, same brakes, some engines, same gearbox’s, basically exactly the same car just heavier. Holden needs this car to be good because i HATE the current astra, mainly because i owned one and it broke down every 15 minutes
sorry RICHO but your not a real opel fan just because you once drove one… i can honestly say you dont know anything about the astra seeing that you said it was just a rebodied one… research some more dude b4 you state somethin u dont know anything about
They Current Astra is on the the Astra G Platform. How ever alot of changes and redesign went into the platform.
hold your Judgement on the new Astra until you see it in the flesh. Good to see though that the 240BHP engine is staying . Means another Opel OPC / Vauxhall VXR and Possibly a HSV VXR Variant are in the wind .
Richo,
Mate you are so far from the truth it’s hilarious.
Lets take in example the SRI 2.2L between the AH and the TS / G.
Suspension is different, engine is entirely different, dampner settings are different, intake is different, gearbox is different, seats are different, hell even the new car smell is diferent.
Radio is different, speakers are different, door panels are different, dashboard is different, airbag locations are different.
But I’ll admit they share one thing in common. A little Holden badge (wait hang on I think thats larger so thats different too!).
Richo is actually right here. ‘Richo goes Bananas’s comment that just because it looks different doesn’t mean it’s a totally new car. When the current shape was released, it was well noted that the engines and gearboxes were exactly (exactly!) the same. It had a new heavier body (but a smaller boot) but the guts were the same.
I also have heard of people having quality issues with Astras. Many of the previous shape built around 2002 were very good but I heard that the standards then dropped considerably.
I do really like the look of the current ones (especially the grey ones with the big wheels), but when I drove ones I just couldn’t get used to the awful fixed indicator stalk. A big step backwards in my opinion.
looks like the cloaking device has malfunctioned already………..and being an astra, you can bet those back arches will be rusty after 6 years!
Do the back arches really rust? Astras have had a galvanised shell for years.
Still no mention of a sedan version for Australian market. Wake up Holden, I guess you are still suffering from a cold from all the other manufacturers breezing past you on the way to the bank, because they offer a sedan and hatch version to sell.
Nice try R.G.B. A few ppl might have even been fooled, except that even a little cursory investigating will find that you’re full of it.
Same wheelbase, same engines… the body is different (I cannot believe you actually listed the radio and speakers as a reason they’re totally, completely different cars… that’s either guts or stupidity to actually type that with a straight face), but the mechanical package is the same. And you know it. And anyone with Google can see it.
Yeah! GM-H should offer the sedan version of the astra again!
Come on GM-H!
um it looks like the 2008 subaru impreza hatchback…and um with the “caradvice.com.au” IN THE CENTER OF THE PHOTO! it makes it hard to see what the concept of the grill is going to look like. just research the 2008 subaru impreza hatch.
I used to have an Astra sedan,but when looking to replace it,no sedan version offerred in this market,so went upmarket,and bought a Volkswagen Jetta.
The new sedan is available in Europe and South America,Mexico,and China.
GM should bring it here,as the compact sedan market is huge worldwide,and they are loosing sales.
What quality issues are we talking about? I just bought the 2008 Saturn Astra in the States and it has been fine for the first 600 miles or so. What should i expect?
the new car has nearly the same shape but it also had the terribly bad electrical problems i think.I had astra 2007 many problems were facing me since i bought it ,many electrical problems starting from light,sensors,horns,navigations ending with chahging C I M.hearing of some voice with ac many many problems which begins at the third mile.
too bad that we cant see it better u cant realy figure out how it looks my dad owns 2 opel one astra h and one vectra the new model i mysel a astra sport an i am very proud of it no problems ocured since we have them good cars
Have a 07 sri 2.2 and have managed 60000km so far…. problems? None. Car drives as new, but i service every 7500, not every 15000.
Opel Astral is a crap!! Daewoo cars are much better then GM Opel car in terms of quality in that Viva has induced a lot fewer warranty claims than Astra. I cannot understand why people buy Astra over Viva. Viva has almost same engine as Astra…Viva has more advanced suspension (multi link rear suspension vs ancient torsion beam suspension) so Viva’s ride quality is much better. Viva has much bigger interior and boot space. Most importantly Viva is much cheaper…
Sillyhonda, are you being sarcastic?
geni/ Can you explain why Astra has induced a lot more warranty claims than Viva? Answer is very simple, if you have a brain…
People have misconception that European cars are much more reliable than Korean car. As I showed an example (Viva VS Astra) above, it is myth. Even their reliability is worse than Daewoo…
If you guys cannot believe my word, please check with Holden…Viva Captiva Epica have induced a lot fewer claims than Astra Commodore etc…Among the GM’s sister companies such as Holden, Opel Deawoo etc… Daewoo produces most reliable cars…
Actually, I hate GM Daewoo..But I hate GM Holden even more…