Astra Ruminations
Filed under: Convertibles, Euro, GM, Saturn
Click image for an Astra TwinTop Gallery
GM has released the Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Exclusiv Black edition (above) in the UK. It’s essentially a loaded-up TwinTop with a few optional goodies thrown in as standard equipment. The extras include the pictured 18″ alloys, leather, heated seats and cruise control, and the full package comes in at a lower cost than the Astra TwinTop Design trim upon which the Exclusiv Black is based.
For our overseas friends (in the UK, in this case), this is all well and good. For us, the TwinTop is just a tease of what the future could hold for us in Saturn stores. With the Astra hatchbacks set to arrive later this year following their big debut at the Chicago Auto Show, we can’t help but speculate on what other tricks the General has up its sleeve regarding the model. Of all the existing variants, including wagon, sedan and panorama roof editions, the TwinTop is high on the list of ones we want to see in Saturn duds. The Saturn Sky is sexy and great fun, but incredibly impractical at the same time — much more a 3rd car than a primary or secondary vehicle. If Saturn were to field the TwinTop in addition, however, we think it’d connect with buyers right away. A stylish, usable all-season 4-place coupe/convertible would fit the brand nicely and could easily be marketed as a legit everyday vehicle, assuming it was priced right. Part of us wonders whether GM would worry about it taking sales away from the Pontiac G6 convertible, but since the General doesn’t shy from overlap (see Lambda crossovers), we think the two could and should coexist.
We feel that a strong Astra Red Line should be the first expansion of that model’s range here in the States, but the Twin Top would make a great round two. What do you think?
[Source: GM]
Continue reading Astra Ruminations
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine
