Of the German motor manufactures Opel undoubtedly represents the best value for money, attracting a buyer with his feet more firmly planted in the street as opposed to a boardroom or plush putting green.
As such the brand has a strong following in South Africa but with a local line-up which has dwindled over recent years to the point of fading into obscurity, a long-term commitment by General Motors has seen the introduction of exciting new models such as the Corsa, Adam and Mokka.
Now, it’s the Astra’s turn to hog the limelight and crikey, Opel Astra fans are in for a treat!
The Astra is the marques best-selling model and this model is all new, due for international release at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September this year. Based on an all-new lightweight vehicle architecture which will reduce weight by at least 120kg and in some cases a massive 200kg depending on the model specification, as well as gaining the latest generation engine technology and standard specification set to match or surpass the competition.
“Three values are decisive for the new Astra – efficiency, innovation and dynamic performance,” said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “Our engineers developed it from the proverbial white sheet of paper. The new Astra is up to 200 kilograms lighter than its predecessor – and its athletic design makes this outwardly visible. Its dimensions are smaller but both spaciousness and comfort have been increased considerably. Under the hood the Astra will only feature engines of the latest generation. Numerous technologies and assistance systems from higher segments increase the comfort and safety of the Astra passengers, with our personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar, ultra-modern phone integration and the ground-breaking new adaptive full-LED matrix light IntelliLux leading the way.”
Engine outputs range from 70 kW to 147 kW. The diesel and petrol engines with a displacement of up to 1.6 litres all have three things in common: they combine highest efficiency with excellent responsiveness and running smoothness.
The 1.6 CDTI with a wide range of outputs starting at 70 kW covers the diesel offering, whereas the 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo 77 kW is set as the base level petrol engine. The highlight in the Astra engine portfolio is the all-new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, a four-cylinder unit from the same family as the smaller but nonetheless powerful one-litre, three-cylinder engine. The all-aluminum engine will make its debut with 107 kW. It impresses with dynamic responsiveness and high performance while curbing fuel consumption.
On the multimedia front the next generation of the IntelliLink infotainment system will celebrate its debut in the Astra. As it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (when Apple and Google make these systems available in South Africa), it will facilitate bringing the world of smartphones into the car – a premiere in the compact class segment. Each system builds off of the features smartphone users rely on most. Android Auto is built around Google Maps, Google Now and the ability to talk to Google, as well as a growing audio and messaging app ecosystem that includes WhatsApp, Skype, Google Play Music, Spotify, and podcast players.
Similarly with Apple’s CarPlay system which allows drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Apple CarPlay supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and other compatible third party apps.
The new Opel Astra is under consideration for introduction in South Africa in 2016. Model range, specification, and pricing will be announced closer to launch.
