2010 Opel Astra news, pictures, and information

New Opel Astra: Sculpted and engineered for the compact class

The new Opel Astra brings into the compact class its own interpretation of the brand's award-winning design language of combining sculptural artistry wîth German precision first seen in the Insignia. Its strong coupé-like silhouette and stylish details add to a new handsome look. Elegant proportions give it a strong, cab-forward silhouette, wîth a steeply-raked windshield and falling rear roofline, adding visual excitement to the traditional hatchback format.

Also new to the Astra are double wing-shapes in each of the rear lights and a dynamic inverted blade on the flank that visually connects to the powerful movement of the rear window and C-pillar.

'The design cues introduced in the Insignia, like the wing and the blade, have been given a fresh interpretation in the Astra, because it's important that each Opel model has its own personality,' says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design, General Motors Europe.

The interior echoes the flowing forms of the bodywork: sweeping lines, curvaceous shapes and the quality of the execution are all part of Opel's design language. A signature design cue is the wraparound wing shape of the instrument panel that arcs into the top of the door moldings. The effect is a warm embrace of the occupants, providing a welcoming ambience.

New mechatronic chassis system: Watt's link in rear axle

The Opel Astra's chassis has been developed as a mechatronic system that fully integrates mechanical functions and electronic controls. The new Astra retains the fun-to-drive character of the previous model, wîth significant improvements in §teering response and ride comfort. While the chassis has the proven McPherson strut layout at the front, Opel engineers in Rüsselsheim are the first in the world to combine a compound crank rear axle wîth a Watts link.

The Astra benefits from an all new rear axle. Keeping the advantages of size, weight and overall efficiency of the compound crank rear axle layout design. Opel engineers added a cleverly positioned Watts link. This supports lateral forces on the suspension while cornering. It also makes the car dynamic and agile without compromising on stability and comfort.

FlexRide adaptive suspension offers the additional option of driver-selective ride control and personalization. Like the Insignia, it can be ordered wîth the clever Opel FlexRide electronic driving system, a rarity in this class, which offers the driver three settings – standard, Sport and Tour – while continuously adapting to changes in driving style and cornering speed.

Driving dynamics are improved by wider front and rear tracks, increased by 56 mm and 70 mm respectively. While the wheelbase is 71 mm longer, the proportionately greater increases in track give the car a wider footprint, which contributes to more stable handling and an inherently better road-holding capability.

A core body structure stiffer than that of its predecessor provides a firm base for optimizing the new Astra's handling and ride capabilities. In addition, this helps reduce noise and vibration inside the cabin.

Clean engine line-up reduces emissions by 12 percent

The new Astra will launch wîth a complete line-up of eight engines ranging from 70 kW/95 hp to 132 kW/180 hp, perfectly illustrating Opel's philosophy of providing drivers wîth affordable, real-life efficiency.

The Astra's line-up of powertrains wîth manual transmission provides impressive performance and overall cuts CO2 emissions by more than 12 percent compared wîth the current generation. The average fuel consumption of the diesel engines is 4.6 l/100 km and only 6.1 l/100 km for the gasoline line-up.

The four diesel engines, which are expected to represent almost half of the new Astra cars sold in Europe at launch, deliver 95 to 160 hp. They all consume under 5.0 l/100 km and do not emit more than 129 g/km CO2 when equipped wîth the manual transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com)

The gasoline range comprises naturally-aspirated and turbocharged 1.4 and 1.6-liter engines, giving a power bandwidth from 74 kW/100 hp to 132 kW/180 hp. The entry level version in the gasoline line-up emits only 129 g/km CO2.

Innovative technologies brought to the compact §egmènt

'Opel's mission to make high tech innovations accessible has proven to be successful in the Insignia. We've set ourselves an even more ambitious goal in bringing most of these features to the compact §egmènt wîth the new Astra,' says Hans Demant, Managing Director of Opel.

Other innovative technical features introduced to the compact class in the new Astra:

•A new generation of bi-xenon Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL+) that changes its intensity and reach to suit prevailing driving and road conditions using nine different lighting functions.
•The Opel Eye front camera system, which recognizes road signs and warns the driver when the car inadvertently departs from its lane.
•Ergonomic Sport Seats can extend 280 millimeters in length to accommodate long legs. They offer cushion extension, cushion tilt function, 4-way lumbar support and a body-supporting seat contour using high-density foam. It is the only seat in the compact class to receive the much coveted seal of approval from Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Action for Healthy Backs, known as AGR), an independent panel of ergonomics experts and doctors in Germany.
•FlexFloor, which enables easy stowage of a wide variety of cargo. The trunk floor is moveable and can be positioned at three levels by engaging ergonomically-designed fixtures near each corner of the trunk.
•FlexFix, Opel's innovative bike-carrier, is integrated behind the rear bumper and offered as an option on the new Astra hatchback. It makes transporting bikes easy and convenient because it slides out of the rear bumper like a drawer when a release lever near the lip of the trunk is pulled.