Looking a little non-descript in comparison to its predecessor, the new Opel Astra has done away with rigid angles and hard lines in favour of a far more curvaceous, Euro-centric, silhouette, which is no bad thing and will likely earn it wider appeal. Opel’s designers have used wing and blade styling cues on the new Astra, the most obvious of which are on the side panels that sweep rearward and upward to connect with the side window line. The headlamps include prominent wing shaped daytime running lights that give the Astra’s face a low and sporty character and which prompt more than a passing glance by many road users. Between the tapering rear window, bold tail-lights and rear haunches, the rear styling offers the most interesting view point of the car, which now boasts a more cohesive and sophisticated overall design.

Echoing the flowing forms of the bodywork, the interior is also defined by sweeping lines. The interior designers have created a stylish interior together with a high quality feel. The blade theme of the exterior is evident in details like the shape of the door grab handles and the trim for the gearshift moulding and steering wheel. The wing design cue is also evident in the wraparound instrument panel in front of the driver and passenger.

Ambient lighting has been added to the cabin, which provides an element of theatre. Examples are the red glow that encircles the gear shifter, door panels and in the overhead centre console. A combination of jet black and aluminium trim add an upscale feel to the interior, as does the quality feel of the fittings and various switchgear.

Supported in contoured sports leather seats with white stitching, passengers benefit from ample room in the front, but rear passengers could do with slightly more legroom. The front seats have a wide range of adjustment, with the height being adjustable by 65 mm and reach by 280 mm. Electronic lumbar support is also a welcome feature on the front seats.

Practical storage areas are dotted around the cabin and include space for nine CD cases in the centre console, plus a small storage bin, cup holders and more. The boot features a three-way adjustable floor, enabling one to hide items in a false floor for instance, or, when it is fitted at the lowest position, store up to 370-litres of luggage.

‘Fire power’ comes in the form of the Astra’s technical features, some of which you’ll find common to its closest competitors, but others that you might not expect to find as standard equipment in a compact hatchback, until now that is…

Branded ‘Advanced Forward Lighting’ (AFL+), the bi-xenon headlight system changes its intensity and reach of the beam to suit prevailing driving and road conditions using nine different lighting functions to achieve this. ‘Dynamic Curve Light’ for example, provides illumination around bends by swivelling the headlamps up to 15°, to the right or left. ‘Country Road Light’ provides brighter and wider illumination of both sides of the road than a conventional low beam, while ‘Static Cornering Light’ illuminates an area to the right or left up to an angle of 90° and makes it easier to manoeuvre in poorly-lit areas, such as on dark access roads. The new Astra 1.6 T Sport also features an electronic parking brake, hill hold assist, heated seats, dual zone climate control and adaptive suspension, known as FlexRide.

The Astra’s FlexRide on-board computer monitors prevailing road conditions, vehicle movements and individual driving style, including acceleration, braking and cornering, to optimise chassis behaviour. All four dampers, the steering system and the throttle progression are electronically controlled and continuously adapt to the driving situation, depending on which mode the FlexRide system is in. In the ‘Standard’ mode, the dampers are adjusted to provide a balance between comfort and efficiency. The ‘Tour’ setting softens the dampers for a smoother ride, which proved great for taking the ‘edge’ off bumpier sections of road. The ‘Sport’ mode offers a sharper driving experience, with a stiffer ride, sharpened throttle response and a reduced level of power steering assistance. To underline the sporty effect, the instrument panel becomes illuminated by a red glow. The characteristics of the ‘Sport’ mode can be customised via the on-board computer, allowing the driver to de-select the Sport setting for the dampers, steering assistance or the throttle response.

Seated behind the wheel, the Astra responds well to driver inputs. Gear changes via the 6-speed manual box are effected via a satisfying short throw and demand little effort in combination with the light action clutch. The steering is well weighted and follows inputs accurately. Visibility of the outside world is good, although the rearview mirror is a little narrow and when the rear headrests are raised, the combination results in a slightly obscured view.

The most powerful petrol engine for the Astra in South Africa, until the OPC model arrives, is the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit fitted to the Astra 1.6T Sport. The engine delivers a maximum power of 132 kW @ 5 500 r/min. Maximum torque of 230 Nm is available between 2 200 r/min and 5 400 r/min, while an overboost function raises torque to 266 Nm for a maximum of 5 seconds, which can be useful for over taking slower traffic.

The Astra 1.6T Sport does an admirable job of delivering a sportier driving experience than it’s less powerful siblings. The engine requires a little coaxing to get off the line, but once above 2 500 r/min the pace begins to pick up before the Astra really enters its stride from 4 500 r/min onwards. Keep the tacho needle pointing skywards and the Astra forges ahead at a rapid rate. In almost direct proportion though, the gauge for the 56-litre fuel tank dips and despite Opel’s average consumption figure of 6.8 L/100km we never even got close.

However, with an engine that’s quite adept at achieving high speeds, the 1.6T Sport has the running shoes equal to the task. 18-inch 235/45 sized wheels and tyres provide good inherent grip, but it’s the combination of a MacPherson strut front suspension layout and patented rear combination of a compound crank rear axle with Watt’s link that make the Astra a competent handler. The car flows through changes of direction and carries deceptive amounts of corner speed, all with little effort on the driver’s part. Countering any over flamboyant driving are 300 mm diameter vented brake discs at the front and 292 mm solid disc brakes at the rear. The Astra is also equipped with an alphabet soup of active safety systems – ABS, EBD, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Cornering Torque Control (CTC), Electronic Drag Torque Control (EDC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist (HBFA) and finally Trailer Stability Assist (TSA).

The Astra 1.6T Sport offers a great combination performance and technology in the current hatchback segment. Consider its practicality and fun driving experience and the Astra is a great all round package.

What we like…

• Good handling, combined with the FlexRide system.
• Great visibility at night, thanks to the AFL+ lighting.
• Quality nature of the interior and solid build.

What we would like…

• To be able to customise the ‘Tour’ suspension mode – e.g. retain sports steering, but soften the damping.
• The hill-hold assist to work on shallower gradients.

Quick Facts
Base Price	R280 300
Warranty	5 year / 120 000 km
Engine Capacity	1 598 cm³
No. Of Cylinders	4-cylinders, In-line
Aspiration	Turbocharged
Power	132 kW @ 5 500 r/min
Torque	230 N.m @ 2 200 – 5 400 r/min
Transmission	6-Speed Manual
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds
Top Speed	210 km/h
Fuel Consumption	6.8 l/100km (claimed combined)
CO2 Emissions	160 g/km

Initially expected to be launched in early 2011, the new Opel Astra family hatchback has arrived in South Africa a few months earlier than anticipated – although still many months after its closest rival, the Volkswagen Golf 6. The latest generation Astra has been launched on the back of General Motors South Africa’s (GMSA) strong sales in August, which was 96% up on the same period in 2009 and enough to earn the brand a 15.8% overall market share – the highest in 10 years. With the introduction of the 2010 Opel Astra, GMSA expects the popular family hatch to bolster sales and continue the brand’s climb up the sales charts and our first impressions suggest there’s no reason to think otherwise.

For 2010 the Astra’s styling has taken a different turn. Gone are the rigid angles of the previous 3300 series Astra launched in 2006, replaced instead with softer lines running over a more curvaceous shape. While some may suggest the styling is a little bland, there are just enough styling cues to warrant debate, namely the ‘inverted blade’, running along the side of the car, as well as the wing-shapes in each of the headlight and rear light clusters.

Opel engineers have paid close attention to the interior design and have incorporated suggestions and preferences from over 400 potential customers. The result is a cabin with plenty of stage compartments, including coin slots, pen holder spots, a mini-glove box on the driver side, space for nine CD cases in the centre console, plus a small storage bin, cup holders and more. Apart from convenience the interior also boasts an air of quality and solidity and is well insulated from mechanical and road noise. Standard equipment across the model line up includes steering wheel mounted satellite controls for the audio system; rake and reach adjustment for the steering wheel; cruise control; power adjustment for heated side mirrors; height adjustable driver’s seat; power steering; air conditioning; car alarm and immobiliser with inclination and interior movement sensors; on-board computer with graphic information display and more. The exception to the cabin’s appeal is the handbrake lever that comes within millimeters of the gear lever surround, resulting in a pinched finger the first time we released it.

The interior of the entry-level Essentia specification models are equipped with black fabric covered seats, a dark pearlescent finish applied to the trim around the centre stack, door handles and air vents, as well as subtle ambient light in the headlining and around the gear shift moulding. Inside the Sport specification models, a jet black finish covers the centre stack, door handles and air vent surrounds. The sports seating is more deeply sculptured and upholstered in black leather with white stitching. The sports steering wheel features perforated leather trim and ambient interior lighting is extended to the front doors and translucent illumination for the instrument dial bezels.

The latest generation Astra has been designed with a strong emphasis on technology throughout. The chassis combines mechanical functions with electronic controls – a design philosophy dubbed ‘mechatronic’ by Opel – to retain the dynamic handling characteristics of its predecessor, but with improvements in steering response, stability and ride comfort. For the front suspension, Opel engineers have stuck with a tried and proven traditional McPherson strut layout. The rear suspension however, is comprised of a compound crank and Watt’s link. This new concept retains the advantages of size, weight, and overall efficiency of the compound crank rear axle layout and supplements this with support provided by the Watt’s link for lateral forces generated during cornering. The benefit is agile handling with stability and ride comfort as we experienced on the mountain passes between Nelspruit and Phalaborwa. The Astra handled fast sweeps and tight corners with aplomb, even when faced with mid-turn dips or bumps.

Another element responsible for the Astra’s good road manners is the optional FlexRide adaptive chassis system. With a choice of ‘Standard’, ‘Tour’, or ‘Sport’ modes, the driver can select between harder or softer suspension damping, while in Sport mode throttle response is quicker, power steering assistance is reduced and the instrument panel illumination changes from white to red. Even when left in the Standard mode, the FlexRide system constantly monitors prevailing road conditions, vehicle movements and individual driving style, including acceleration, braking and cornering, to optimise chassis behaviour.

Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+), part of an optional ‘Premium Lighting Pack’, offers nine lighting modes optimised for varying road conditions. AFL+ includes features such as dynamic curve lighting, pedestrian area light, country, town and highway lighting modes, as well as incorporating high beam assist and LED daytime running lights. The 2010 Astra has been awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP rating thanks to a list of safety devices that includes, front seatbelt dual pre-tensioners that provide tightening over the occupant’s shoulder and lap; front airbags; front passenger thorax/pelvis side airbags and side curtain airbags that cover the entire glass area between the A and C-pillars.

Four models of the Opel Astra are available with three different petrol engines. All engines have aluminium cylinder heads with dual overhead camshafts that operate four valves per cylinder. Cylinder blocks are in cast iron for strength and reduced noise and vibration.

The entry-level model is the Astra 1.6 Essentia, which is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine with 85 kW and 155 Nm at 4 000 r/min. The 1.6 Essentia has a 5-speed manual gearbox and offers fuel consumption is 6.3 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 147 g/km. Understandably, the Essentia required constant use of the gearbox to climb the steep hills in Limpopo province, but the slick shift action and throttle response meant it didn’t become a chore.

The first of the turbocharged engines is found in the Astra 1.4T Enjoy. The 1.4-litre engine produces 103 kW and 200 Nm of torque between 1 850 and 4 900 r/min. This engine replaces the 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine found in the previous generation Astra and, while it has a smaller capacity, manages to offer 14 percent more torque and 18 percent better fuel consumption at 5.9 l/100km. CO2 emissions are also very good at 138 g/km. Quite possibly the pick of the bunch, the turbo’d 1.4-litre engine offers a good blend of performance and economy, with the healthy torque figure helping to maintain cruising speed on our test route through Mpumalanga. The 1.4T Enjoy Plus offers a higher specification level that includes the AFL+ lighting system, lowered suspension and Opel’s FlexRide adaptive suspension system. Both 1.4T models have a 6-speed manual transmission.

The Astra 1.6T Sport employs a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 132 kW and 230 Nm of torque between 2 200 and 5 400 r/min. A brief overboost function delivers 266 Nm of torque for a maximum of 5 seconds, which can help with overtaking maneuvers for example. CO2 emissions are 159 g/km and fuel consumption is a claimed 6.8 l/100km, although when driven hard the gauge drops rather quickly. As with the 1.4 models, the 1.6T Sport has a 6-speed manual transmission. Being the current range-topper the 1.6T is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats in front, leather trim, rear park assist, hill start assist, an electronic parking brake and more.

The 2010 Opel Astra offers a combination of performance, quality and comfort that will further entrench its appeal with Opel fans, while spurring on rivalry between its biggest competitor, the Volkswagen Golf 6, to a level that’s closer than ever before.

Prices (incl. VAT)
Opel Astra 1.6 Essentia	R218 000
Opel Astra 1.4T Enjoy	R239 900
Opel Astra 1.4T Enjoy Plus	R263 400
Opel Astra 1.6T Sport	R280 300

Prices include a 5-year/120 000 kilometre warranty with roadside assistance and an anti-corrosion warranty. A 5-year/90 000 kilometre service plan is also standard and service intervals are every 15 000 kilometres.

We recently received an email from one of you, our readers, on behalf of all Opel fans in the country, asking that we cover more news of the all-new, and good looking, Opel Astra.

It’s not that we’ve been ignoring developments on the Opel front, it’s just that, well, here in sunny SA there haven’t been any. When we spoke with the new president and MD of General Motors South Africa (GMSA), Edgar Lourencon, towards the end of last year, he said that the costs of bringing the new Astra range to our market are simply too high at this point in time.

But being unable to compete due to high production costs is only part of the Opel story. Since the financial crisis began towards the end of 2008, Opel AG has been on a rocky road and was on the brink of being sold off by General Motors, the summary of which you can see here.

However, since GM has decided to retain the brand in its global product mix, changes are afoot within the German automaker. Opel’s new business plan reportedly foresees the manufacturer reaching break-even by 2011 and becoming profitable by 2012. Opel CEO, Nick Reilly, has outlined the company’s future plans in a video interview, which you can watch here.

 

But as the headline suggests, what’s happening with the brand in South Africa and what do the plans and changes in Europe mean for us locally? We contacted GMSA’s product communications manager, Des Fenner, to share your sentiments and ours, around the new Astra and the future of Opel SA in general. Here is what he had to say:

“We at GMSA also think that the New Astra is the ‘real deal’. It is a great product that has done extremely well since it was introduced in Europe. We also know, understand and appreciate the loyal Opel followers that we have in the SA market. We still continue to supply the older version of the Astra into the market as well as the new Opel Corsa.

Yes, we have been forced to cut down on our range available to the local market and this has been as a direct result of poor economics. We need to be able to bring this great Opel product to market, at competitive prices. Unfortunately, it does not make good business sense to bring a particular product into a specific segment of the market and having to sell it at a premium price, where no loyal consumer can afford to purchase it. High source cost and exchange rates have been our biggest enemy in this area.

The good news is that GMSA is working closely with the new Opel management team in Europe, to work through the obstacles, to try and bring more great Opel products to the SA market. This process is not as easy as it may sound, but we continue to try our utmost best to satisfy you and all of those other loyal GMSA and Opel fans out there!”

So unfortunately it seems to be a case of ‘hurry up and wait’. On the plus side, the Opel Corsa still looks fresh and we hear the OPC is a flier. We know our Astra is now a generation behind that of Europe, but like most cars, it will still look good until the new model arrives and only then will be perceived as old.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the new Astra’s delay resulted in a limited production run of a Superboss inspired Astra GTC OPC, exclusive to South Africa. After all, Europe has the Nürburgring Edition.

Send us your comments on the current Astra – is it showing its age or could it survive another year in the market place? Are you an Opel fanatic and if so, how long would you wait for new models to arrive before considering a switch to a new car with another manufacturer?

Opel may have only just released initial details on its sixth-generation Astra a few days ago, but GM Europe is trying to keep the momentum going by publishing a new set of desktop wallpapers. Opel is planning to introduce its new VW Golf 6 rivalling hatchback to the members of the press in mid-June, ahead of the scheduled world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Click below to view hi-res images of the new 2010 Opel Astra.

Adapted from CarScoop

Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) has chosen to reveal pictures of its new subcompact hatch in all its glory, ahead of its scheduled world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Clearly influenced by the new Insignia, the sixth generation Astra hatch is based on GM’s new Delta platform, that also underpins the Chevy Volt and Cruze models. The new Astra also comes with a new set of engines including 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol units.

Unlike VW’s rivaling Golf VI, with its design language that keeps evolving from previous generation models, the new Astra features a new design and judging by the photo’s, it will be a head turner. Its up to date and clean looks combine a sleek and sporty shape, with the latest Opel styling cues such as the characteristic scalloped side blades and the Insignia-inspired headlights.

Buyers of the new Astra will be able to select from a broad selection of petrol and diesel engines. Aside from an entry-level 1.4-naturally aspirated engine and the Insignia-derived 1.6-litre turbo with 134kW, the Astra’s petrol range will also include GM’s new 1.4-litre turbocharged unit. It will be offered with outputs ranging from 89kW to 104kW and torque values of 175Nm to 200Nm. General Motors says that the 1.4 turbo engine will deliver fuel savings of up to 8 percent compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines that it will replace.

The diesel range comprises of 1.3-litre, 1.7-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged units ranging from 70kW to 119kW, while Opel also plans to introduce an ecoFLEX version with low CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy sometime in 2010.

Depending on the market, the five-door Astra will go on sale in Europe this winter. It will be joined by the sporty three-door GTC Coupe and the more practical station-wagon in late 2010 – early 2011, followed by a four-door sedan model and a coupe-cabriolet with a retractable hardtop.

Adapted from CarScoop