What is it?
It's the Astra estate. It's that simple. This car was always on the cards, and was fist unveiled months ago, back in June. Not much to see here really, motor show wise - it's an Astra with five doors and a swelled boot.
Why's it here?
Well, Vauxhall has to debut the Astra Sports Tourer somewhere, right, so why not in Paris? The boot is 500 litres big and stretches to three times that capacity with the rear seats folded. There are six engines from launch, a heady combination of petrol and diesel. Order books open in October for deliveries just in time for the Christmas big shop.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Floor filler - and quite a sizeable one at that. Let's face it, as versions of the Astra go, the GTC Concept is a whole lot more exciting.
Full Paris Motor Show report
Mark Nichol - 1 Oct 2010
