Buick To Get An(other) Astra

by Edward Niedermeyer

Updated: March 20th, 2023 Published: May 18th, 2011

Fresh on the heels of today’s release of Opel Zafira pictures, Buick has confirmed to Automotive News [sub] that rumors of a rebadged Opel Astra for the US market are indeed real. But wait, you say, isn’t the Buick Verano just an Astra sedan? Perhaps… but since there’s no Astra sedan to rebadge, that leaves only three choices for this future Buick Astra: the five-door hatch, the three-door coupe-hatch or the “Touring” wagon. C&D would like to see a 300 HP Buick Hot Hatch to come in the form of the Astra GTC OPC, although we’re skeptical that Buick will offer 300 HP in a car smaller than its “detuned image changer,” the Regal GS. If the Meriva represents the “Baby Enclave,” it’s possible there’s room for a C-Segment wagon, but the rumors insist that younger buyers are the target for this US-market Astra. So, chromed-out five door? Detuned “ Skyhawk” GTC coupe? Gentlemen, start your speculation…

#Astra #Buick #Enthusiasm #FutureVehicles #HotHatch

Edward Niedermeyer

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4 of 34 comments

Colin42 on May 19, 2011

I find it interesting how Opel cars are considered up scale enough to be GM mid luxury brand (Buick) but Ford Europe's car are considered good for Ford US! So Buick competes with Ford and Ford competes with Chevy so Buick must be in competition with Chevy!

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- Zackman on May 19, 2011
  
  Because Opel cars ARE better and more upscale than what Ford has in Europe.
  
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- Inside Looking Out on May 20, 2011
  
  @Zackman And because GM introduced Chevy in Europe and decided to move Opel upscale to compete with VW. So GM has two brands against one Ford. I guess Ford is between Chevy and Opel in Europe. In other world Opel plays the same role in Europe as Buick in US. And Opel AFAIK was considered old mans car in Europe too.
  
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VanillaDude on May 20, 2011

What GM should do is give every American with a driver's license a free Astra. That would help us to come up with the money we will be losing in GM.

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