General Motors Europe has revealed its redesign of the Astra coupe and convertible – a folding metal roof coupe-cabriolet dubbed ‘TwinTop’.
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Using the latest in roof technology developed by supplier CTS, the folding hard top is, just-auto believes, the first to be composed of three main parts instead of the two used by rivals such as Peugeot’s 30CC and Renault’s Megane Coupe-Cabriolet.
GMW claims this results in far fewer compromises to the car’s rear-end looks and interior (and, we hope, luggage) space.
Strictly speaking, the new roof is actually the auto industry’s first five-piece type, according to a GM executive interviewed by Automotive News Europe.
“The roof itself has three pieces, with two additional pieces covering the rear seat surround and luggage compartment,” Frank Leopold, head of innovation and advanced packaging at GM Europe’s research and development centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, told the paper recently.
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By GlobalDataANE noted that, in 2000, GME’s Opel first showed a similar roof it had developed with CTS on the ‘G100’ design study.
GME said that, at the press of a button, the two overhead sections of the roof stack on top of the rear window to fold away neatly into a compact space under the rear tonneau. The result is a practical four-seater open top-come-coupe – ideal for northern Europe’s changeable weather.
The car, like its predecessors, is expected to be sold globally with Opel, Vauxhall, Holden and, perhaps, Chevrolet badges. The current Holden-badged version is claimed to be the top-selling convertible in its class in Australia.
The new Astra drop-top makes its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and goes on sale in early 2006. Most European markets will be offered a choice of four engines, including a 150PS 1.9-litre performance diesel.
Renault was first to offer a diesel engine in this class, a year or so ago, and rival Peugeot has just added a diesel option for the 307CC to coincide with the entire 307 range’s 2006 model year facelift/
Entry-level Astra TwinTops will have the 105bhp 1.6-litre Twinport petrol engine, while other petrol choices will have a new 1.8-litre 140PS unit. The top model gets the 200PS 2.0-litre Turbo from the Astra Sri hatchback line.
Trims and upholstery will be exclusive to the TwinTop model line.
GME said that, rather than being a ‘chop-top’ it has designed the new Astra variant from the ground up to be a convertible, and it consequently has an exceptionally rigid body shell.
“In addition to preserving the hatchback model’s exceptional safety record, this also ensures its acclaimed driving dynamics are also maintained,” GME said.
Graeme Roberts
