Of course, the title is not entirely correct, because it wasn’t our first contact with the new Opel Astra. A few weeks ago we were able to experience a pre-production car that was still heavily camouflaged during testing. The interior was still hung up, but the digital visualizations of the finished product were already proudly shown.
So now the world premiere in Rüsselsheim. They proudly spruced up two old factory halls – there is enough free space in the venerable car factory – and removed all the predecessors from the 85-year history of the compact class from the museum basement. But the star is the angularly drawn new edition.
The Opel Astra shows a completely new self-confidence
And even if design is, of course, always to be assessed subjectively and you should be careful with it: the new Opel Astra is a great success. The stylistic boss Mark Adams speaks of “expressive and powerful design”. You can sign that. Because the Astra is really crisp. Longer, flatter and wider than its predecessor, it already offers the best geometrical prerequisites for a muscular stance on the road. Powerfully modeled fenders and a cleverly used peripheral edge of the front hood stage the now-typical brand visor to a completely new self-confidence.
Above all, it is the high-quality and loving accents that set the Opel Astra apart from its predecessors. While the GM offshoots always had a somewhat American pomposity in design, the new generation is almost Prussian – and that despite the French roots. The same goes for the interior. Whoever ticks the right crosses in the price list will be delighted with an infotainment system that is unique in the compact class. Because the new fully digital Pure Panel can be placed behind a seamless real glass pane if desired. Not only are two 10-inch displays integrated into it, but also the ventilation nozzle for the driver and an elaborate shutter mechanism that makes a sun protection hood or similar optical disruptive factors obsolete.
The interior as an alternative to the ailing competition
You are actually reminded a little of the new S-Class, or at least of the clear and cool design line from Tesla or Polestar. And that should definitely be taken as a compliment. Even when it comes to the haptics, Opel doesn’t show any nakedness, although the two exhibitors will certainly still have pre-production or at least pilot-series status at the world premiere. Especially in comparison to the large group from Wolfsburg, which has been haptically rather mixed recently, the Opel Astra now seems to be in the lead. As far as the operation is concerned, the legitimate criticism of the competition has been taken to heart. Because despite all the digitization and touch surfaces, there are still illuminated buttons below the center display for volume, air conditioning and direct functions.
The drive portfolio of the new Opel Astra is also literally exciting. In addition to a range of diesel and gasoline engines, there will be two plug-in hybrids and later even a purely electric Astra-e. On the petrol side, the Rüsselsheimer starts with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo, which is available with 81 kW / 110 PS and 96 kW / 130 PS (combined fuel consumption: 5.6-5.4 l / 100 km; CO2 -Emissions combined: 127-122 g / km²).
The only remaining diesel in the Astra also has 96 kW / 130 PS, but has a stiff 300 Newton meters of torque and, like the more powerful of the two petrol engines, can be ordered with an 8-speed automatic (combined fuel consumption: 4.5- 4.4 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 117-113 g / km²).
Two hybrids and a fully electric Opel Astra indicate the future direction
The two connector hybrids also run automatically and therefore always in the optimal operating range. Your 12.4 kWh battery can bunker enough energy for a purely electric range of 60 kilometers according to WLTP. Then a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine jumps to the side. In the top model, the combustion engine generates 132 kW / 180 PS and creates a system output of 165 kW / 225 PS (combined fuel consumption, weighted: 1.4-1.1 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 31-24 g / km²)
He sprints to 100 km / h in 7.7 seconds and to a regulated top of 235 km / h. The second PHEV does it a little less quickly. Its technology is identical, even the electric motor with its 81kW / 110PS is the same as in the big brother. However, it is limited by a map limitation at 132 kW / 180 system horsepower (combined fuel consumption, weighted: 1.4-1.1 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 31-24 g / km²). The combustion engine contributes 110 kW / 150 PS, the top speed is 225 km / h, the standard sprint is done in 7.9 seconds.
Opel Astra-e comes later
Much more exciting than the drives known from other Stellantis vehicles is the announcement of the Opel Astra-e. If it was not mentioned in the past few weeks, it is now being talked about confidently. And that despite the fact that the new eVMP platform did not want to be presented with a compact SUV until 2023. The factual congruence of the most important interfaces of the Astra-Basis EMP2, however, enables the body to be used on the substructure of the fully electric eVMP.
Their technical data is impressive: battery capacity from 60 kWh to 100 kWh, performance values of up to 340 hp with all-wheel and two-motor configuration and a range of up to 650 kilometers. This would mean that the Opel Astra-e would cover a larger area than the VW MEB can currently.
First conclusion
It seems as if the latest litter from Rüsselsheim with the start-up aid from Paris is really a very successful product. The first contact at least confirms the theoretical qualities. It remains to be seen how the Opel Astra, which costs at least 22,465 euros, will fare under real conditions. A driving report will follow. (Text and image: Fabian Mechtel)