Soft sell or hard shell?

Opel's next generation Astra convertible has been sighted for the first time doing the rounds in Germany in heavily disguised prototype form.

The new convertible is based on the new generation Astra currently on sale in Europe and due to arrive in Australia with other Opel models as an adjunct to the Holden lineup in 2012.

Subjected to some heavy camouflage from the Opel development team, the new convertible will share its basic style with the current Astra coupe.

Question is – will the Astra convertible feature a folding hardtop or a soft roof?

Some sources appear convinced that the soft disguise cladding on the roof of the prototype makes a clear statement that the Astra will revert from the previous Twin Top convertible's folding steel roof back to a fabric top.

We think, and Carparazzi's spy photographer team thinks, that given the extensive disguise used to conceal bodily details, the fabric-roofed look could be a ploy calculated to deceive.

For example the curve of the forward part of the otherwise lumpy-looking roof appears to be at odds with the mid-way indentation and the sharp crease above the tiny, more vertical rear window. Hardly what you'd expect of a refined convertible, rag top or steel-top. A lot of work, for some reason, appears to have been put into making the roof look as awkward as possible. The Opel team even appears to have bolted-on Astra coupe doors, complete with full frames, to further muddy the waters.

The same goes for the rest of the Astra convertible's detailing. Randomly stuck-on panels aft of the doors – which themselves display a massive X-shaped indentation - indicate the Opel team has had a lot of fun making the convertible look like anything but an Astra.

More time will be needed searching out further developed and less disguised Astra convertibles to glean clearer information about the roof's format.

In the meantime, we'll stick with the belief Opel will continue with the steel hardtop it has used in the past.

The new Astra convertible is expected to go on sale during the European Spring in 2012.

Will it form part of Australia's Opel lineup? Too early to answer but, as the previous Holden Astra range included the Twin Top convertible, a strong case could undoubtedly be made for it.

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