Opel has revealed in all its glory, the all-new sixth generation Astra. A descendant of the legendary Kadett, the success story of the Astra, Opel’s bestseller, began 30 years ago. Dynamic as never before, with sheer, taut surfaces, and sporting the new brand face, the distinctive Opel Vizor, the Astra will be available in petrol, diesel and for the very first time, as a plug-in hybrid. Designed, developed and manufactured at Opel’s headquarters in Germany, the all-new Astra will arrive in Ireland in early 2022, with prices and equipment levels to be revealed closer to launch.
“Introducing the all-new Astra – a new Blitz is born! With sensational design and class-leading technology, it is electrified and highly efficient for the lowest possible emissions. The new Astra brings us into a new era. It is executed with the utmost precision, down to the smallest detail. We are confident that the next generation Astra has all it takes to become another bestseller and attract many new customers to the brand”, said Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller.
Boasting a muscular, confident stance, the new Opel Astra will launch as a sporty five-door with a low-slung look, yet it gains more interior space than its predecessor. With a length of 4,374mm and width of 1,860mm, it hits the sweet spot of the compact sector. Thanks to especially short front overhangs, the new Astra is only 4.0mm longer than the previous model, despite the considerably increased wheelbase of 2,675mm (+13mm). The new Astra’s practical boot with adjustable floor still offers the driver and four passengers 422 litres of luggage volume.
After the Mokka, Crossland and Grandland SUVs, the new Astra is Opel’s first hatchback to benefit from the brand’s bold and pure design philosophy. The Opel Vizor, the new face of the brand first seen on the Mokka, with the Opel Blitz emblem in the middle, stretches across the front, making the new Astra look even wider. Viewed from the side, the next-generation Astra looks especially dynamic thanks to the pronounced forward rake of the C-pillar. At the rear, the centrally mounted Blitz emblem also doubles as the latch for the tailgate, which is made of state-of-the-art composite material.
A leap in time has taken place in the interior of the new generation Astra, where the absolute highlight is the next generation of the Pure Panel first introduced in the Mokka. This expansive, digital cockpit features two 10-inch seamlessly integrated horizontal displays. Thanks to a shutter-like layer that prevents upward reflections in the windscreen, the design dispenses with a hood over the displays, to further enhance the high-tech functionality and ambience. Opel designers have taken great care to ensure that the driver receives all the necessary information but is not overloaded with data or functions. Key settings such as climate control can still be operated via physical controls in the form of finely crafted keys, achieving the optimum balance between digitisation and intuitive operation. There is no need for cables either since the new generation of infotainment systems can be connected as standard on all model variants to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, operated by voice control or by touch.
Opel’s ergonomic AGR seats enjoy an award-winning reputation and the new Astra continues this long-standing tradition. Certified by “Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V.” (“Campaign for Healthy Backs”) the position of the front seats is 12mm lower than in the previous model, further enhancing the feeling of a sporty drive. A wide range of optional adjustments are on offer, from electric tilt to electro-pneumatic lumbar support. In Nappa leather-trim, they offer ventilation, massage for the driver and heating at the rear as well as the front. Seats trimmed in stylish Alcantara are also available.
The new Astra is based on the third generation of the highly flexible EMP2 multi-energy architecture, with Opel DNA built in from the start of development. The steering and lateral stiffness of the chassis are designed for high control. Under braking, the new model delivers strong stopping power and remains highly stable in curves as well as in a straight line. The torsional rigidity of new Astra is 14% higher than its predecessor model. Like every Opel, the all-new Astra is “Autobahnproof”: high-speed capability was a primary development objective.
The new Astra’s architecture also incorporates the latest automated driver assistance systems. In addition to the multifunction camera in the windscreen, the technology comprises four body cameras (one at the front, one at the rear and one on each side), five radar sensors (one at the front and one at each corner), as well as ultrasonic sensors front and rear. This enables the system to adapt speed in curves, make speed recommendations and perform semi-automatic lane changes. Hands-off detection, rear cross-traffic alert, long-range blind-spot detection, active lane positioning, adaptive cruise control, Stop & Go are all features, dependent on trim and transmission.
Like its predecessor launched in 2015, the all-new Astra further brings innovations to the compact class. Turning night into day, the latest evolution of the adaptive Intelli-Lux LED® Pixel light comes straight from Opel’s flagship Insignia and, with 168 LED elements, leads the way in the compact and midsize market sectors.
The new Astra will be available from the start of sales with powerful plug-in hybrid electric drive as well as highly efficient petrol and diesel engines, electrifying Opel’s compact class model for the first time in the brand’s history. Power ranges from 110hp to 130hp with the petrol and diesel variants and up to 225hp output with the plug-in hybrid variants. A six-speed gearbox is standard on the petrol and diesel power units, with an eight-speed automatic transmission (electrified on the plug-in hybrids) optional on the more powerful engines.
Order books for the new Astra open this autumn with first deliveries due to customers early next year.
