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Astra 3dr aims to exploit absence of Focus rival
Date: 28 April 2011
Vauxhall's new Astra GTC will aim to exploit the lack of a three-door Ford Focus rival when it reaches UK showrooms this November while establishing itself in a recovering lower medium coupe sector. The UK will be the first European market to get the car.
Due to make its production debut at the September Frankfurt motor show, the GTC will have the dual role of competing against volume products like Renault's Megane coupe and more specialist opposition including VW's Scirocco and Peugeot's RCZ.
The sector will grow with the arrival later this year of Hyundai's Velostar plus Toyota's successor to the Celica and its jointly developed Subaru counterpart.
Vauxhall claims that despite its more overtly coupe profile, compared to the Sports Hatch predecessor, the GTC it is capable of carrying five adults. A high performance VXR derivative is planned.
Ford deleted the three-door Focus model with the new generation range's arrival. But it was never such a distinct standalone model and last year the Sports Hatch sold 11,693 units, 14.5% of Astra sales compared to the Focus on 5,446, with a 7% three-door element.
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