These images caught by our spies reveal the Astra Coupe Cabriolet in all its glory. The car, which won't go on sale until 2006, will go head to head with Peugeot's 307 CC and Renault's Megane Coupe Cabriolet, and later on after the Astra's debut, Ford's own Focus Coupe Cabriolet.
The spy shots reveal, though, a crucial difference between the Renault and Peugeot metal-top convertibles - the folding roof section has three separate sections compared with the French duo's two. With smaller panels that are lighter individually, this should allow the Astra's roof to stow away quicker than the competition. The pictures also reveal that there should be reasonably generous room in the back for passengers, making the Astra Coupe Cabriolet a genuine four-seater.
The styling of the Astra Coupe Cabriolet, especially the flowing roofline, will make it a worthy rival for the competition. That said, the Astra also suffers from the 'big bottom' look that comes when engineers and designers compromise to get the roof to fit into the boot.
When it goes on sale in 2006, the Astra will need to compete on price with the Peugeot and Renault, which would indicate a price range between £17 and £21,000. The current Astra soft-top convertible offers 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre turbocharged engines. As the Astra Coupe Cabriolet is likely to be a good deal heavier, 4Car reckons the entry-level engine will be a 1.8-litre.
Artist's illustration
