Opel has "leaked" these official photos (as opposed to the computer-generated images we've already seen) of the 2012 Astra GTC more than two months ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt motor show in September - with the challenging statement that it will will "lay down the gauntlet to VW's Scirocco and Renault's Megane Coupé, with a heady mix of dynamic excellence, dramatic design features and competitive pricing" when it goes on sale across Europe later this year, including Britain, where it will of course be badged as a Vauxhall.
The production version of the 2010 Paris Motor Show concept GTC has very little in common with the rest of the Astra range; its wheelbase is 10mm longer at 2695mm, front track is 40mm wider at 1584mm, rear track is up 30mm to 1588mm and the only common components, according to Opel, are the door handles and roof aerial!
The HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) front suspension has been borrowed from the 240kW Insignia OPC to replace the "ordinary" Astra's McPherson suspension, while the rear runs on a Watt's linkage, with the fully-adaptive FlexRide chassis control system and its choice of three settings - Standard, Tour or Sport - as an option.
A choice of four engines will be offered at launch, with more - including a seriously quick OPC version - to join the range in 2012. Petrol engines start with a conventional 1.4-litre turbo, pushing out either 88 or 103kW, and a 1.6 turbo rated at 133kW with a six-speed manual that's good for 220km/h.
The only diesel in the starting line-up is a two-litre, common-rail turbo delivering 122kW and 380Nm, with a six-speed manual transmission and auto stop-start. Opel claims 0-100 in 8.9sec and 210km/h at a cost of 4.9 litres/100km and 129 g/km.