Opel is launching another chapter of the Opel brand with the all-new Astra: the compact German is available in an electrified version for the first time.
The new Opel Astra plug-in hybrid was conceived and developed in Germany, and it will be manufactured there as well. The new Opel Astra is built on the third generation of the EMP2 multi-energy platform. The car, which was first shown as a 5-door hatchback, has a length of 4374 mm and a width of 1860 mm. Despite a 13 mm longer wheelbase of 2675 mm, the Opel Astra is only 4 mm longer than its predecessor due to a shorter front overhang. It seats five people, including the driver, and has a trunk capacity of 422 liters.
An Opel must be in good working order. It's referred to as "Autobahnproof" in Opel jargon. The engineers prioritized accurate steering and torsional rigidity, directional stability in curves and straight stretches, and solid braking qualities. This is accomplished, among other things, by installing a McPherson wheel suspension in the front and a torsion bar in the back, which guarantees horizontal stability. Furthermore, the chassis is 14% firmer than its predecessor.
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The Opel Mokka was the first, followed by Opel Crossland and, most recently, Opel Grandland. It's now up to Astra to adorn Opel's new sculptural and elegant design philosophy. As a result, the new Astra has Opel's horizontal Vizor front, the distinctive wing daytime running lights, and the solid vertical line of the radiator hood, all of which contribute to Opel's new look. The Blitz logo is in the center, where the vertical and horizontal components intersect.
"The new Opel Astra Plug-in Hybrid represents an exciting 'next step' in Opel's design," says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design, and continues: "With the stylish Vizor face, the strong muscles above the screens and sculptural surfaces, the Astra is both sporty and confident in its appearance. The interior also looks into the future. The driver-oriented Pure Panel cockpit with its long horizontal glass area will give our customers a completely new interior experience".
The next-generation Opel Astra Plug-in Hybrid also includes Opel's digital cockpit Pure Panel, which features two fascinating 10-inch screens. Astra's whole design and software are new, and they establish a well-balanced mix between digitalization and intuitive user interface, with all irritating visual stimuli deleted and sub-menus kept to a minimum. Pure Panel may be customized separately for profiles, displaying information pertinent to the particular shape on the screen. Contacts for air conditioners, for example, are retained physical, as they are in all Opel vehicles, but everything else is digital. Astra also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The new Opel Astra Plug-in Hybrid is outfitted with the most advanced automatic driving aid technologies. In addition to the multifunction cameras in the windshield, the car includes four additional cameras (one in front, one behind, and one on each of the car's two sides), five radar sensors (one in front and one on each of the car's corners), and ultrasonic sensors on the front and back.
In Intelli-Drive 2.0, cameras and sensors are combined with an e-horizon link to expand the radar and camera range. As a result, the system can adjust speed in curves, recommend speeds, and perform semi-automatic lane changes. Other driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control (which may start from a complete stop), head-up display, and Intelli-Vision, which assists with parking using radar and a camera.
Opel has a history of transferring technologies from higher-priced sectors to lower-priced automobile classes. With the Astra, Opel debuted adaptive matrix headlights to the C-segment in 2015. Opel is now introducing the segment's most advanced lighting technology with the new Astra. The class-leading Intelli-Lux LED Pixel Light with 168 LED units - 84 in each headlight - is offered on the Opel Astra. The light cone from the long light adjusts itself in milliseconds; the light cone is exactly cut in relation to approaching and oncoming traffic, avoiding blinding other drivers.
The new Opel Astra is available from the start as a plug-in hybrid and in petrol and diesel engines. The petrol and diesel models will have 110 and 130 horsepower (81 and 96 kW), respectively, while the plug-in hybrids will have 225 horsepower (165 kW). The petrol and diesel variants come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and an eight-speed automatic transmission; bigger engines may be ordered.
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The new Opel Astra plug-in hybrid will go on sale in the first quarter of 2022.
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