If the ix35 is all about crossover style and space on a budget, then this new entry-level 1.6-litre petrol version should be a winner.
It’s certainly got the value part sewn up. For £16,195 (or £16,365 with engine stop-start, as fitted to our test car), you get a practical family car with an economical and impressively punchy engine. True, the engine is a bit boomy at medium revs, but it’s smooth.The stop-start system is slick, too.
The ride isn’t quite so polished, with a little too much bump around town and too much fidget on the motorway, but otherwise the ix35 is decent to drive. Light controls and a high-up driving position help make low-speed manoeuvres easy, even if over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t so good. auto car
Of course, this is a Hyundai, so you’d expect plenty of kit. You get it: air-con, heated front and rear seats, reversing sensors, Bluetooth, six airbags and stability control are all standard, plus a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. http://www.otocar.net
If only the plastics were as plush.
Still, at £1200 less than the cheapest diesel model, this petrol ix35 deserves to be considered.
pel will soon bring the total body count of the new Astra range to three with the presentation of the sporty Astra GTC, also known as the Vauxhall Astra in Britain, that will join the already available five-door hatchback and the recently revealed, Sports Tourer estate.
Even though we'll have to wait for the Paris Motor Show in October for the official unveiling of the GTC, we can give you a glimpse of the sporty looking three-door Astra as two prototype models were caught on film during testing in Germany.
As you can see in the video after the jump, the first camouflaged Astra GTC features a single tail pipe at each corner of the rear bumper and beefy tire/alloy combos, suggesting it's a turbocharged model, quite possibly, the rumored GSi that's said to be fitted with a more potent version of the 1.6-liter turbo delivering a little over 200HP.
Turbocharged or not, the Astra GTC looks far sportier and more dynamic than the current three-door model. And even though it is based on the five-door model, Opel's design team has given the GTC a lower, almost coupe-like roofline as well as sharper profile thanks to the pronounced crease above the rear wheelarches.
The three door model is also expected to get unique tail lights and possibly even a reworked fascia.
Judging by the spy shots and video, we wouldn't be surprised if Opel targeted the Volkswagen Scirocco with the new GTC - let's not forget that VW's "coupe" is in fact a three-door model also.
The basic engine lineup will be shared with the five-door Astra ranging from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot to a 180HP 1.6-liter turbo petrol and a 160HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel, while as we noted before, there's talk in Germany about a 200HP+ GSI version to close the power-gap with the OPC / VXR variant. The latter will most likely continue with the same or an upgraded version of the 240HP 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four found in the current OPC.
The new Astra GTC will make its way to European showrooms in early 2011. Now, how many of you think that GM ought to bring it as a new Buick over here?
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