Following Volkswagen's Golf EcoPlus diesel-electric hybrid shown at last year's Michelin Bibendum competition, the Astra is

Although GM isn't new to the hybrid scene, the Astra Diesel Hybrid Concept is the next step forward in improving performance, fuel consumption and refinement. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

the latest vehicle to feature this specific drivetrain combination.

Hans H. Dermant, GM's European engineering vice-president and managing director at Opel said, "We decided to use a diesel-powered car as a starting point because in the mid-term, we don't see a demand for gasoline hybrids in Europe." Undoubtedly, the Astra Diesel Hybrid concept will be shown at various motor shows down the road, possibly including the Geneva Motor Show this March.

Although GM isn't new to the hybrid scene, having displayed several such concepts in previous years and with the Silverado Hybrid pickup in production, the Astra Diesel Hybrid Concept is the next step forward in improving performance, fuel consumption and refinement.

Like its arsenal of globally-developed platforms, the Two-Mode system can be scaled to fit nearly every vehicle GM

An efficient 125-horsepower 1.7-litre CTDI (common-rail turbodiesel) inline-four is the backbone of the Astra's hybrid drivetrain. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

makes, regardless if the vehicle in question is FWD, RWD or AWD. The electrical components can even adapt to gasoline or diesel-powered engines.

Although the car resembles the hot Astra GTC turbo concept displayed at this year's Paris motor show, this concept is powered by a less glamorous but more efficient engine. A 125-horsepower 1.7-litre CTDI (common-rail turbodiesel) inline-four is the backbone of the Astra's hybrid drivetrain. It provides plenty of grunt with 206 lb-ft of torque, and thanks to a particle filter, it emits fewer pollutants than even the cleanest gasoline-powered vehicles.