Photo: SB-Medien
The Opel and Vauxhall Astras models just received a minor facelift last year and have been continuously updated with different petrol and diesel engines. However, the compact family is showing its age and with competition from many European companies increasing, a replacement is necessary.
These latest spy photos were taken in Germany, where engineers have been road-testing this prototype for a number of months now. It looks similar to what's already on our roads, but underneath it all, there's a whole new platform called the D2XX. It's expected that by using ultra-high-strength-steel, weight should be reduced by somewhere between 50 and 100 kg. That, together with brand new engines should bring fuel economy down by double-digit percentage figures.
To give you an idea of just how important the D2XX is, let's run you though all the new cars that are currently being formed around its underpinnings. There's the brand new Chevrolet Cruze sedan, which was revealed in China last month, the next Chevy Volt and the Buick Verano sedan, which for GM's success.
As for the engines, well we can only presume that the current trend for downsizing will continue. A 1.0 SIDI Turbo with 115 hp has already been developed for the Adam city car and will be joined by a 1.4 SIDI Turbo with 150 hp that was revealed on that Chinese Cruze sedan we mentioned. The diesel range is pretty much sorted out already with reasonably impressive 1.6 economy mills and a 2-liter bi-turbo that's a bit of an overkill when it comes to power and torque.
Opel's plans for the next couple of years include an Ampera replacement and another EV that's smaller and cheaper. It thus looks unlikely that Opel will develop a hybrid version of the Astra, despite Volkswagen having one for its Golf.
Speaking of VW, Chevrolet is soon to put a 7-speed twin-clutch called DCG into service and it's reasonable to believe the Astra will get it as well, though most buyers will not opt for this expensive feature.
The launch date for thins new Astra is yet unclear. However, Opel sales director Peter Christian Kuspert has recently stated this generation can still be sold for another year. This means the next 5-door from Russelsheim cold be out somewhere in the second half of 2015.
To give you an idea of just how important the D2XX is, let's run you though all the new cars that are currently being formed around its underpinnings. There's the brand new Chevrolet Cruze sedan, which was revealed in China last month, the next Chevy Volt and the Buick Verano sedan, which for GM's success.
As for the engines, well we can only presume that the current trend for downsizing will continue. A 1.0 SIDI Turbo with 115 hp has already been developed for the Adam city car and will be joined by a 1.4 SIDI Turbo with 150 hp that was revealed on that Chinese Cruze sedan we mentioned. The diesel range is pretty much sorted out already with reasonably impressive 1.6 economy mills and a 2-liter bi-turbo that's a bit of an overkill when it comes to power and torque.
Opel's plans for the next couple of years include an Ampera replacement and another EV that's smaller and cheaper. It thus looks unlikely that Opel will develop a hybrid version of the Astra, despite Volkswagen having one for its Golf.
Speaking of VW, Chevrolet is soon to put a 7-speed twin-clutch called DCG into service and it's reasonable to believe the Astra will get it as well, though most buyers will not opt for this expensive feature.
The launch date for thins new Astra is yet unclear. However, Opel sales director Peter Christian Kuspert has recently stated this generation can still be sold for another year. This means the next 5-door from Russelsheim cold be out somewhere in the second half of 2015.
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