Photo: CarPix
No more building cars to a price, no more using outdated technology – Opel is doing everything it can to make the next generation Astra compact hatch family a success. Development has been going on for over a year, as engineers are working with a new platform from GM called the D2XX in order to keep costs down and share better technology between vehicles. We’ve already seen this prototype a few times, but these latest spyshots are our best ones yet and allow us to peak under the camo and see some of the cars secrets.
With the doors opened for the first time in front of the camera, we can see that the Astra K has slightly more rubber insulation than its predecessor in order to keep sound out and give the car a premium feel. We know that Opel’s latest SIDI turbo engines have also been developed for this purpose.
Unfortunately, we can’t show you the interior yet, but we suspect it looks a lot like the Opel Adam.
By shaving weight from various components and using better materials, the new Astra should become lighter by about 50-100 kg, depending on the model. The European auto market, which this car primarily targets, is moving more and more towards 3-cylinder turbo engines. Ford has the 1-liter EcoBoost in the Focus, while Peugeot offers the 1.2-liter just launched on the 308. Opel has already developed its own “liter engine” with output of either 90 or 115 hp.
Many Astra drivers still demand a powerful car, so 1.4 and 1.6 liter turbos will be available with outputs going all the way up to 200 hp. As fuel injection and heat management technology improve, petrol engines are quickly becoming almost as efficient as diesels. However, Opel has an all-new 1.6 CDTI already developed, one which needs only 3.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Gearbox choices should include a 6-speed manual or an optional twin-clutch which has just been introduced by sister company Chevrolet on their Cruze.
At the moment, a hybrid Astra looks extremely unlikely. The brand will have an all-new Ampera and plans another green car that’s smaller and much cheaper.
The new Astra should come out in 2015. Before that, the German company needs to sing the Astra J’s swan song and make good on its promise to make a production version of the Astra OPC Concept. Opel sales director Peter Christian Kuspert has also recently stated this generation can still be sold for another year, thanks to the facelift introduced in June 2012.
Production is likely to be switched to Ellesmere Port in England. Opel has announced it will also assemble one Buick model in the near future, so the Astra sedan and Buick Verano could move even closer to each other.
With the doors opened for the first time in front of the camera, we can see that the Astra K has slightly more rubber insulation than its predecessor in order to keep sound out and give the car a premium feel. We know that Opel’s latest SIDI turbo engines have also been developed for this purpose.
Unfortunately, we can’t show you the interior yet, but we suspect it looks a lot like the Opel Adam.
By shaving weight from various components and using better materials, the new Astra should become lighter by about 50-100 kg, depending on the model. The European auto market, which this car primarily targets, is moving more and more towards 3-cylinder turbo engines. Ford has the 1-liter EcoBoost in the Focus, while Peugeot offers the 1.2-liter just launched on the 308. Opel has already developed its own “liter engine” with output of either 90 or 115 hp.
Many Astra drivers still demand a powerful car, so 1.4 and 1.6 liter turbos will be available with outputs going all the way up to 200 hp. As fuel injection and heat management technology improve, petrol engines are quickly becoming almost as efficient as diesels. However, Opel has an all-new 1.6 CDTI already developed, one which needs only 3.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Gearbox choices should include a 6-speed manual or an optional twin-clutch which has just been introduced by sister company Chevrolet on their Cruze.
At the moment, a hybrid Astra looks extremely unlikely. The brand will have an all-new Ampera and plans another green car that’s smaller and much cheaper.
The new Astra should come out in 2015. Before that, the German company needs to sing the Astra J’s swan song and make good on its promise to make a production version of the Astra OPC Concept. Opel sales director Peter Christian Kuspert has also recently stated this generation can still be sold for another year, thanks to the facelift introduced in June 2012.
Production is likely to be switched to Ellesmere Port in England. Opel has announced it will also assemble one Buick model in the near future, so the Astra sedan and Buick Verano could move even closer to each other.
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