New Opel Astra Goes on Sale

The new Opel Astra went on sale in European stores on Saturday and the company says it has already received around 45,000 orders since September, when it first revealed the car. The car is expected to contribute to Opel's and Vauxhall's recovery in the European market, as the companies are currently holding talks with EU officials to establish a viability plan and return to profit even under GM ownership.

The new range will include both gasoline and diesel units, with the entry-level equipped with a 1.4-liter naturally-aspirated configuration. A 1.6-liter Turbo powerplant developing 180 horsepower is also available. Fuel consumption is one of the main attributes of the refreshed Astra series, with the 1.4-liter unit capable of achieving a saving of up to 8 percent compared to the naturally-aspirated 1.6 unit offered on the current-generation Astra.

Diesels are also included in the range, with the 1.3-, 1.7- and 2.0-liter turbocharged powerplants developing a maximum output of 95 to 160 horsepower. Additionally, Opel might also launch an ecoFLEX configuration a few months after the official launch of the model.

Safety is one of the main attributes of the Astra, as the car recently earned a five-star rating following the latest EuroNCAP crash tests.

According to the official results provided by Euro NCAP, one of Astra’s strong points is its active head restraints, which got the highest score ever. Another good thing about this system is that it is completely reversible, requiring no dealer reset after a rear-end collision.