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Opel previews production Astra GTC ahead of Frankfurt debut

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall

2012 Opel Astra GTC

2012 Opel Astra GTC – Click above for high-res renderings

A staple product of General Motors’ overseas subsidiaries, the Opel Astra has been a long time in the making. The five-door hatchback was revealed back in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which was then followed by the GTC show car that previewed the three-door version in concept form (along with the production Sport Tourer wagon variant) a year later at the Paris Motor Show. Another year after that, Opel will unveil the production three-door GTC in Frankfurt this coming September. The final product is still undergoing development, but while GM’s German division irons out the kinks, they’ve released these preliminary images showing us what to expect from the production version.

Although still months away from its public debut, the order books for the Astra GTC will officially open on June 7, when full details will be revealed. The Astra range, you’ll recall, is also offered a Vauxhall in the UK, as the Buick Excelle XT in China, and as a Chevrolet in Latin America. But while Saturn had a version of the more angular previous-generation model, now that the brand is shut, we’ll likely have to do without. That’s a shame, because we recently saw a five-door model out on the road while overseas and were struck by its fluid design. So we’ll just have to do with admiring from afar. Follow the jump for the brief press release, and scope out the pair of images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Opel Astra GTC

[Source: Opel]

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Opel previews production Astra GTC ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Risi Competizione struts its new Ferrari 458 GTC

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 GTC

Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 GTC – Click above for high-res image gallery

While competing for top honors in Formula One, Ferrari has left the top tiers of Le Mans racing up to the competition. But down in the GT2 class, the Prancing Horse marque has had considerable success. And much of that success has been had at the hands of Risi Competizione. The Houston-based team has taken innumerable class victories in both the American Le Mans Series and in the 24 Hours itself, these last few years with the F430 GT2. But now that it’s got its hands on the new racing-spec 458 Italia, all bets are off.

As with the rest of the new crop of challengers – like the new Honda ARX-01e, for example – Risi will be fielding the new 458 GTC this weekend at Sebring. But before the Floridian endurance race kicks off, taking with it the start of the new season, Ferrari and Risi have had a bit of development work to do. Fortunately they brought a photographer along with them, and you can check out the results in the gallery below.

Gallery: Risi Competizione Ferrari 458 GTC

[Source: Risi Competizione via Jon Sibal | Images: Regis Lefebure/Risi]

Risi Competizione struts its new Ferrari 458 GTC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari lets the new 458 GTC stretch its legs in the snow

Filed under: Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 GTC undergoes winter testing at Fiorano – Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s no point, to paraphrase the old adage, in closing the door after the horses have already left the stable. The same could be said of Prancing Horses – the red variety that hail from Maranello, specifically. So after the first image of Ferrari’s latest sports racer leaked out a few days ago, the Italian automaker and racing team have now released a quartet of additional shots.

The successor to the F430 GT2, the new 458 GTC will take on all comers in sports and endurance racing series around the world – most of them with the name “Le Mans” in the title. The new challenger is currently undergoing track testing at the hands of former FIA GT class champion and two-time Le Mans class winner Jaime Melo over the course of the winter in advance of its scheduled debut at the Sebring 12 Hours race in the American Le Mans Series. So stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out the images in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 GTC shakedown at Fiorano

[Source: Ferrari]

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Ferrari lets the new 458 GTC stretch its legs in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Opel GTC Paris Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback

Opel GTC Concept

Opel GTC Paris Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

If there’s one thing we can count on from the Paris Motor Show, it’s a slew of sexy hatches. Opel was first out of the gate with the GTC Concept which the automaker is pitching as an obtainable sports car that can still haul five people if the need arose. Under that creased hood sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine good for an undisclosed amount of pep (we’re hearing 240+ horsepower), though as small as the GTC is, we can’t imagine it would take much to get the hatch to hustle.

We’re digging the GTC’s hunkered stance, especially in the rear, where a set of flared hips dominate the vehicle’s design. If you live in the old country and your mouth is watering at the thought of this slinky German, we’ve got bad news for you. As of right now, Opel has no plans to bring the GTC Concept to life, but we’d put money on a production version within the next year. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Opel GTC Concept

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Paris 2010: Opel GTC Paris Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Bentley unveils pair of limited edition Continental GTC models

Filed under: Bentley, Design/Style, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental GTC Speed 80-11 Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

Pebble Beach is fast becoming one of the best places for new car debuts. Besides seeing the McLaren MP4-12C, Fiorvanti SP1, Perana Z-One, Morgan EvaGT, Jaguar XK175, Jaguar XJ75 Platinum, Boss 302 Mustang, Veyron Super Sport, Lotus Exos T125, Lotus Evora GT4 Cup, and so on and so on, we just got to see the new Bentley Continental GTC and GTC Speed 80-11 Editions. These 80-11 models, designed exclusively for the North American market, will be limited to just 80 units each. The “11” in the title refers to 2011, the model year of these specials.

These are basically trim packages, adding things like 20-inch, 14-spoke polished wheels, and red calipers on the Speed, but they at least look tasteful. While the 80-11 Editions will be available in any Bentley color, they’ve introduced a new color – Midnight – that will be exclusive to these models.

If the wheels or special color don’t tip you off to the special nature of these vehicles, you might be able to spot them by their little Union Jack badges on the front fenders. Check out the full press release after the jump for more details and be sure to peruse our gallery as well.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Bentley Continental GTC Speed 80-11 Edition

2011 Bentley Continental GTC Speed 80-11 Edition

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Monterey 2010: Bentley unveils pair of limited edition Continental GTC models originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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