Here are the first undisguised images of the Opel Astra which is earmarked for international launch later this year but is only expected to arrive in South Africa the first quarter of 2016
And we like what we see. More than just a new front and rear light cluster update, the 2016 Opel Astra is more compact than the outgoing version. Length has reduced by 49mm, height by 26mm and the wheelbase by 23mm. That bucks the trend of ‘going bigger’ but it helps the new car achieve a far more athletic profile. Elements of chrome result in the Opel Astra looking more expensive when compared to other German rivals. Not just about style alone, the revised Delta platform is believed to be around 120kg to 200kg lighter – that’s a superior weight loss than when Volkswagen moved the Golf onto their modular MQB platform.
Usual upmarket terms are again tossed around with a higher fit and finish and a cockpit that closely resembles the Opel Corsa. A large infotainment screen, new multifunction wheel and revised instrument cluster have been incorporated.
With a wide choice of engines the Opel Astra will kick off its assault with the brilliant 85kW 168Nm 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol followed by a slightly more powerful 1.4-litre turbo petrol. Other engines in the pipeline will be added. Armed with great engines, Opel say they’ve finally corrected their 6-speed manual gearboxes by reducing the system’s heft by 37kg. The result should be smoother operation and shorter travel – good news particularly for the OPC.
