Vauxhall STX Concept Preview

Introduction

Blimey, this is quite something, isn’t it? The Vauxhall STX Concept is a design study that hints at the next evolution of Vauxhall’s design, and it’s also a love letter to estate cars. A flag in the ground to state that Vauxhall will be making electric estates in the future. It’s not all about SUVs! I am a huge fan of estates, so I’m absolutely here for it. 

What about the design? 

At just over 4.7-metres long, the Vauxhall STX Concept – which stands for Sports Tourer eXperimental - looks bigger than it actually is. When I first stepped into the studio and saw it nose-on, I saw the canted-forward grille and new, sharper Griffin logo. Then I took a step to the side and discovered that the back end of the car just keeps going for about a metre further than I expected it to. Until it doesn’t, as it ends in a blunt, cliff-face of heavily smoked glass and slim, deep-set lights. 

Mark Adams, design boss of Vauxhall and Opel, told Electrifying that this is all deliberate. “We’ve designed the STX Concept so you get a mix of precision, movement and dynamism. And we’ve finished this voluptuous shape almost chopping off the end. We really wanted it to look almost like we’ve machined it off.”  

That sense of the STX being a big car is also emphasised by the broad haunches of the rear arches, which also hide trick panels that pop out from beneath the rear lights to release extending, illuminated winglets for improved aerodynamics and brazen Marvel comic-style coolness. 

The vertical lines of light the score the centre points of the back and front of the STX are also a key part of the design. “We really want to build on that illuminated vertical crease,” explains Adams. “It’s a really unique thing that nobody else does and it sets Vauxhall apart.”

You may notice that the griffin logo has changed, too. This is the latest evolution of Vauxhall’s logo, which – in some form - has featured the griffin holding a flag since it first appeared on a Vauxhall in 1915. Now, for the era of illuminated logos, the griffin needed to be sharper and less complex so it’s lost the flag and closed its beak, and this is what you’re left with. I don’t mind it, yet I can’t help but feel that the griffin’s extended arm (leg?) is a bit odd, as it doesn’t go anywhere or hold anything.

I can see a bit of BMW i3 Neue Klasse in the shape and canted-forward angle of the Vauxhall STX Concept’s grille, but I can also see lots of other cars in other areas of the STX’s design. Aerodynamics is a key focus for the concept, and physics tells us that the teardrop shape is the slipperiest shape, so it’s no surprise that there are echoes of other efficiency champions in here, including the Mercedes EQXX and VW XL1, and possibly even the Honda Insight?! But I can also see a bit of 90s Honda CR-X in the bluff, black panel rear of the STX Concept, which is no bad thing. Let us know whether you agree (or not!) - or tell us what other cars you see in the STX Concept - by leaving a comment on the video.

Is this the next-generation Vauxhall Astra? 

No, sadly not. The STX Concept is a design concept that showcases a vision of future Vauxhall design, and isn’t specifically showing us what the new Astra will look like. But you can expect to see aspects of the STX on production cars, including on the next Astra. 

The distinctive lights on the grille will likely make it to production in some identifiable form, with the multiple vertical strakes mimicking Vauxhall’s existing ‘compass’ lighting signature. And that illuminated griffin logo is confirmed as the new logo that will be on production cars soon, so that’ll certainly feature. 

Adams also mentioned wanting “technical and distinctive C-pillars”, like those on the STX, for production Vauxhalls. So I reckon we’ll see something of those extended horizontal lines leading from the rear window at the back of the new Vauxhall Astra and various other future models.  

And the fact that the STX is an estate is also part of the message Vauxhall wants to send. It’s seen a lot of success with its Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer (badged Opel in European markets), especially in Germany and with a lot of business and fleet users. Not only that, but efficiency is more important than ever as the car industry transitions to EVs, and Vauxhall is keen to point out that lower-set cars are simply more aerodynamic and more efficient than higher-set SUVs. 

So I wouldn’t expect to see hidden aerodynamic wings, not quite such a dramatic, shooting brake style body shape on the next generation Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. But there will definitely be a next-gen Astra estate, and it’ll be wearing various of the styling cues from this STX concept. I certainly think that’s a very good thing.

What’s it like inside?  

Ah, well, it was only an exterior design concept that was revealed at Paris in 2026, but Adams did tell us that the “future of Vauxhall interiors is a massive step forward.” He is also a big fan of physical buttons in car interiors, so expect to see more dramatic design and improved infotainment, but without too much screen dependency in future Vauxhalls. 

I did manage to get a sneaky glimpse into the interior of the Vauxhall STX Concept, through its heavily tinted glass, and I can confirm that it’s got four very laid-back seats. More than that, I just don’t know! 

What about the range and battery? 

As it’s purely a design concept, the Vauxhall STX Concept has no battery. However, it is designed to show off Vauxhall’s ambitions to be more aerodynamic and efficient, so expect the next Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer to be more efficient than the current model – which has a WLTP range of 276 miles from a 54kWh battery. 

Does 300 miles of WLTP range sound like a sweet spot for a new-generation Vauxhall Astra? Seems about right to me, but leave us a comment if you reckon a new, electric Astra should be longer range. Or maybe you think it doesn’t need more range – just better efficiency and faster charging? Let us know!

Verdict 

I think the Vauxhall STX Concept is absolutely stunning. It’s dramatic, but the simple surfacing, dramatic body shape and clever use of lighting all gels really nicely and makes this look incredibly futuristic but also quite classic in its proportions. It’s a properly striking and rather beautiful concept. If Vauxhall can inject some of the STX Concept’s desirability and voluptuousness into its production cars, it’d certainly bring some much needed aspiration into its future products. If Vauxhall’s future looks like the STX Concept, then its future looks very good indeed.