By Otsile Kadiege

The veil has been lifted off the all-new Opel Astra. For the new model, the German automaker promises a bold new design, highly efficient petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, numerous automated assistance systems as well as a minimalist digital cockpit.

Exterior design

The new Opel Astra features a bold, pure and low-slung look exterior with taut surfaces. Up front, the new Astra boast the brands new face, the Opel Vizor, which looks inspired by the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD. The sporty five-door hatchback features the latest evolution of the adaptive Intelli-Lux LED Pixel light with 168 LED elements which has been sourced from Opel’s flagship Insignia. It also features a front camera with the Intelli-Vision system.

Viewed from the side, the new-generation Astra looks especially dynamic thanks to the pronounced forward rake of the C-pillar. The rear-end sports a vertically aligned high-mounted brake lamp, slim energy-saving LED tail lights and Astra lettering sitting neatly underneath the Blitz emblem, and spread across the hatchbacks tailgate. Customers will have the option to order the new Astra with two-tone body paint.

Interior design and technology

One of the highlights inside the new Opel Astra is the expansive new Pure Panel digital cockpitwhich debuted first in the Mokka. It features an optionally fully glazed panel with two 10-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment, which features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, seamlessly integrated – together with the driver’s side air vent – in a horizontal format. The interior is also clean and minimalist thanks to reduced physical controls. It also features a large head-up display and Intelli-Vision, a camera and radar-based system for easier parking.

The new Astra features the brand’s award-winning ergonomic AGR seats. The position of the front seats is 12 mm lower than in the previous model and according to the automaker should further enhancing the feeling of a “sporty” drive.

Driver assistance systems

The new Opel Astra has advanced driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, long-range blind-spot detection, active lane positioning and semi-automatic lane change. In addition to the multifunction camera in the windscreen, the technology comprises four body cameras (one at the front, one at the rear and one on each side), five radar sensors (one at the front and one at each corner), as well as ultrasonic sensors front and rear.

Cameras and sensors are integrated with e-horizon connectivity in Intelli-Drive 2.0, which extends the range of the cameras and the radar. This enables the system to adapt the speed in curves, make speed recommendations and perform semi-automatic lane changes. 

Performance

Power ranges from 81 kW to 96 kW with the petrol and diesel variants and up to 165 kW system output with the plug-in hybrid variants. A six-speed gearbox is standard on the petrol and diesel power units, with an eight-speed automatic transmission (electrified on the plug-in hybrids) optional on the more powerful engines.