The rise of SUVs has long threatened to kill off the estates and station wagons that we all love, but several European car manufacturers still see a future in them. This includes Opel, which has just unveiled its wild STX Concept in Paris, also known as the Sports Tourer eXperimental Concept. Long live the estate.

European estates have long been characterized by their evocative shapes and low rooflines. The STX Concept checks both boxes and, according to Opel, previews a more emotional, bold, pure, and more efficient design language that will influence future models.

Read: The Stellantis Hot Hatch You’ll Never Buy But Can Still Drive At Home

It’s been more than 70 years since Opel launched the Olympia Rekord Caravan, its first estate, and while the STX Concept looks nothing like it, it’s just as striking. The front end stands out thanks to the latest interpretation of the Opel Vizor with aggressive LEDs that gently fade towards the center. As the STX Concept has been designed around an electric powertrain, the Opel Vizor fills the space that would have historically housed the grille.

What Else Makes This Concept Special?

The hood is quite long given there’s no engine under it, allowing the concept to retain relatively traditional proportions. The wild, two-tone triangular wheel design is very untraditional by comparison, and when in motion, almost making it appear as though the concept is floating above the pavement.

For as sharp and bold as the front half of the car is, the rear is even more flamboyant. A key highlight is the bulging wheel arches and the thick C-pillars that flow seamlessly into the roof and the rear window. Unlike a typical estate, the roof and rear window of the STX Concept don’t gently taper off to a short tailgate. Instead, the window sits more upright, reminding us of the iconic Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan.

Opel has not published any photos of the concept’s interior but says it will build on the ‘Painting with Light’ idea it introduced with the Opel Experimental concept from 2023 and the Opel Corse GSE Vision Gran Turismo launched two years later. Few details have been provided about the concept’s powertrain, other than the fact it has all-wheel drive and delivers enough grunt to send the car through to over 124 mph (200 km/h), a figure that won’t exactly get car enthusiasts excited.

What will get enthusiasts excited is that Opel remains committed to estates through the electric era. According to Opel chief executive Florian Huettl, “the STX Concept gives a taste of how exciting and emotional the estate of tomorrow can be – with maximum functionality and efficiency. The study shows characteristic features that will be found in future Opel models and underlines Opel’s role as an estate pioneer in Europe.”

Stellantis has shared more teasers and information about the upcoming Opel Sports Tourer eXperimental (STX) Concept ahead of its premiere at the Paris Motor Show on October 12. The model communicates the brand’s vision for the future of wagons, most likely previewing the next generation of the Opel Astra.

The new teasers are more revealing than the first one, giving us a good idea of what to expect. Overall, the STX Concept is not your typical wagon, as it adopts a sporty stance with futuristic details.

More: This Stellantis Brand Thinks A Wagon Might Make More Sense Than A Hatchback

The front end features an evolution of the Opel Vizor grille, which is now body colored with an LED pattern and an illuminated Opel Blitz emblem. This is joined by the vertical LEDs forming the Opel Compass, and a sculpted bumper with horizontal cooling intakes.

Still, the coolest detail is the view of the profile, with the wide fenders on the rear axle making it look more like a performance model than a family-focused offering.

Opel

Opel said that aerodynamic efficiency played a crucial role in the development of the concept. One example is the design of the three-section alloy wheels, which is said to reduce consumption while offering improved “directional stability and driving pleasure at high speeds on the German Autobahn”.

More: Opel Astra GSE Line Brings OPC-Like Power, But Don’t Call It A Hot Hatch

In a similar context, an earlier press release confirmed that the concept features an “active aerodynamic system that continuously adapts to the driving situation, using moving elements at the rear to optimize airflow, reduce drag and improve stability.”

Sister brand Vauxhall – which also announced a redesigned Griffin logo – has shared an additional image of the STX Concept taken from above. This reveals a pair of vents that create a V shape on the hood and form front spoiler, similar in theory to the fully electric Dodge Charger Daytona. The windshield extends on the hood, with the “TECHHUE” lettering on its base hinting at a new technology.

Vauxhall

Stellantis didn’t reveal the powertrain type of the STX Concept, but judging from their product portfolio it will be either fully electric or hybrid.

More: Opel’s Cheapest New Car Is Now A Family SUV With Three Pedals And Steelies

Opel doesn’t openly admit it, but the sporty wagon is expected to evolve into the next generation of the Astra, which is rumored to abandon the traditional hatchback bodystyle. The compact model has been confirmed to be renewed before 2030 alongside the smaller Corsa. Both will ride on the multi-energy STLA One architecture with an EV-first strategy. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually adopt range-extender tech from Leapmotor.

A potential rival of the future estate from Opel is the next generation of the Skoda Octavia. This one was previewed by the Vision O concept and is expected to hit the road in 2028 with a wagon bodystyle and a electric/range-extender powertrains.

Stellantis has shared the first teaser of the Opel Sports Tourer eXperimental (STX) Concept ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show on October 12. The concept is believed to preview a future production wagon, that could replace the Opel Astra before the end of the decade.

According to the automaker, the Opel STX Concept represents “its vision for the future of estate cars”. Opel has been offering family-friendly wagons since the Olympia Rekord Caravan from 1953, while the Sports Tourer moniker is used for the estate variant of the current Astra.

More: Opel Astra GSE Line Brings OPC-Like Power, But Don’t Call It A Hot Hatch

Florian Huettl, Opel CEO, said: “As the name indicates, the Opel STX Concept will give our vision of the future of an aero-efficient estate – a body style that Opel played a pioneering role in establishing in Europe. It shows our next generation design language and feature elements that you will see in future production models.”

The announcement is accompanied by a single teaser that doesn’t reveal much about the design. What we can see is STX concept lettering on what appears to be a portion of the front bumper, featuring a carbon-style finish against a blue or silver bodywork. The company didn’t mention anything about the concept’s powertrain type, but chances are it will feature some sort of electrification.

Stellantis has confirmed that the next generation of the Astra will arrive before 2030. The model will ride on the new STLA One architecture, offering the option between fully electric and hybrid powertrains.

More: This Stellantis Brand Thinks A Wagon Might Make More Sense Than A Hatchback

Furthermore, the Opel CEO has revealed that an estate variant of the next Astra has been locked in, while hinting that the hatchback’s shape may evolve into a non-traditional bodystyle. Reading between the lines, the Astra could evolve into a sporty compact wagon and the upcoming concept might give us a good idea of what to expect.

The official debut of the Opel STX Concept is scheduled for October 12 at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris, although the automaker might share more teasers and additional information as we move closer to that date. The wagon will be joined by the GSE 27FE single seater for the upcoming Formula E championship, the fully electric Corsa GSE hot hatch, and the new Astra GSE Line trim.