The Holden hybrid we never had! The 2023 Opel Astra GSe is a sporty hatch that's making us jealous

When GM pulled the plug on Holden and Opel became part of Stellantis, we lost not only the Holden Commodore and its derivations, we lost the likelihood that overseas models yet to come would land on our shores.

Now, here we are missing out on the 2023 Opel Astra GSe, a plug-in hybrid hatchback with designs on being a sporty, range-topper for the nameplate we used to see flying out of dealerships in Australia.

Read More About Opel Astra

• 2022 'Holden' Astra and other Opel hatchbacks, SUVs, electric cars that might've helped Holden against Mazda 3, Kia Seltos, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Ioniq 5
• Not even Toyota, Holden or Kia could save them: Affordable fire-breathing V8 family cars, stylish small wagons, cool cabrios and other quirky niches lost forever as new-car variety nosedives in Australia
• Holden nameplates to return? Who's in line to nab GMH's Astra supplier and emerging electric car superstar, Opel, now that it's hot property in Europe, UK and (soon) NZ

Two versions of the Astra GSe, a hatchback and a wagon, debut with model-specific outputs from their shared hybrid drivetrains. A 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine is already found in a more standard Astra PHEV, though here the hybrid system and petrol engine combine to make 165kW and 360Nm.

Opel has given no performance data aside from saying the models (both hatch and wagon) will “will match the best in their respective classes for launch from a standstill, acceleration and maximum speed”.

As reported earlier this year, Peugeot’s 308 GT PHEV will have an output of 165kW and 360Nm, indicating that it’ll share a drivetrain and setup. It might be the closest we get to the Astra GSe here.

The GSe will however have unique chassis tuning compared to its stablemates, including a stiffer chassis and a 10mm lower suspension setup. Specific spring rates and oil-filled Koni dampers are part of the package, while ESP settings are also adjusted to allow more dynamic driving.

A set of 18-inch wheels inspired by Opel’s retro Manta GSe ‘ElektroMod’ concept are also included in the unique additions for the GSe, and the styling of the front of the car gets a little more of an aggressive design.

The GSe badge name itself comes from the ‘Grand Sport Einspritzung’ (or Grand Sport Injection in English) badge seen on the Opel Commodore GS/E, a model which began production in 1967.

Opel shifted the meaning of the badge slightly to fit the future, and in English it now stands for ‘Grand Sport electric’, signifying its presence on the bootlids of the Opel sub-brand’s electrified models.

Don’t watch this space for local availability details, there won’t be any. Sorry.