At this time, there are only two Opels that have been developed under command of General Motors. I'm talking about the Insignia...
and this Astra. Things are about to change, because there's going to be a new Astra. That wasn't a secret, because Opel has been showing...
pieces of information and teasers for quite some time now. However, we've got quite the teaser for you today.
I'm next to the all-new Astra and I'm allowed to drive it today. That does come with a strict programme. I'm only allowed to drive it...
for a short time and I have to stay in formation. Also, the car isn't entirely finished. Opel themselves say it's about 80% done.
Also, we don't know all of the details yet. Having said that, this will be a very shallow first impression without too much details.
Luckily, there's a lot of things to talk about. The exterior for example, despite all of the camouflage.
And I'm talking about the general shape here, because we can't really see the details.
The general shape however is pretty interesting. Especially if we compare it with the outgoing Astra.
It's kind of a similar story as with the Peugeot 308, on which this car is based. But I'll get to that later.
But it applies even more to the Astra. The new Astra is now lower, wider and longer. Also, the wheelbase is longer, with a shorter overhang.
That all means it looks much more dynamic than its predecessor. As you can see, it was kind of an MPV-like shape.
It had a small offset between the bonnet and windscreen, and the windscreen was very far forwards for the driver.
That's all different now. It's much more of a hatchback and thus it's lower and longer.
And the same goes for the Peugeot 308.
What we can see, when it comes to details, is the Opel Visor. The well-known front with headlights and a black panel inbetween.
In this case, it looks to be a grille. I haven't seen it without camouflage yet, so I know just as little as you guys.
But as you can see, there are some openings here. And if we move to the back, we can expect a Mokka-like rear-end.
There's nothing I can show you in here, but I think it's very interesting to sit in an interior that's been entirely camouflaged.
You can see nothing in here. Only when we start driving we can show the instrument cluster.
That way, you can see your essentials. Other than that, it's all secret. But we still have something to talk about.
It all starts with information that Opel has already showed us. Logically, this car will be fitted with the PurePanel from the Mokka.
Two screens that have been glued together and mounted on the dashboard, which is slightly aimed at the driver as well.
All logical things if you ask me. However, there's something that stands out to me. This steering wheel.
It's a completely new steering wheel that has never been fitted in an Opel, and it's the first time an Opel has a PSA-wheel.
It's not a Peugeot-wheel though. There are some similarities in the buttons and the way they're divided, but it's Opel's own design.
And it's a relatively remarkable steering wheel. It's three-spoke, with the bottom one being incredibly narrow.
And this middle part is very square, so it looks pretty original. Don't mind the used materials, because it's a typical plastic...
which you usually see in prototypes. You won't have this in the finished product.
The new steering wheel also brings new technology for behind the steering wheel with it. These prongs for example, which we know from Peugeot...
and Citroën. That's a new feature as well, because the Mokka didn't have that either. That still had General Motors-features, despite...
having nothing to do with General Motors. But that's the past now, so these parts can only be found in Peugeot's, Citroën's and DS's.
What's interesting as well is the seating position, which is clearly lower than in its predecessor. And I've got a very good reference point,
because I drove the old Astra to this place. You're encapsulated a little more. Also, the windshield is closer to you, so you've got...
the feeling the car is formed around you. And that's a good thing, because Opel wanted it to be that way.
I can't show you the back, because it's all very secret. I think it's because they don't want to show the upholstery.
Don't expect it to be incredibly spacious though. I've just sat there and it doesn't seem to be that different from its predecessor.
Mostly, you're a tad lower, so you have to pull your legs up. If you ask me, the previous one was more comfortable.
But like I said, no big differences. Big differences are found in the boot though, because you'll have 422 litres of luggage space. And that's...
a lot more than you had in the old Astra.
Underneath the skin, there are a lot of similarities with the Peugeot 308. If you look at the specs, it's literally identical.
The wheelbase is the same and this will have all of the drivetrains the 308 has as well.
That means you'll be able to get this Astra with a 1.2-litre PureTech 3-cylinder engine, producing 110 or 130 horsepower, with a...
1.5-litre diesel engine, which won't be interesting for the Netherlands. Additionally, you can have two plug-in hybrid versions, which are...
incredibly interesting for the Netherlands. It's available with two power outputs, one with 180 horsepower and one with 225 horsepower.
Right now, I'm driving the 180 horsepower-version, so we're not driving the most powerful version we could find.
We also drove the 130 horsepower-version, so let me elaborate on that first. It was a manual version, and it's the drivetrain we already...
know from a lot of cars from Peugeot and Citroën. It feels like a proper 3-cylinder, so it has that rumbling noise.
But for the Netherlands, it's more than enough. So it's a good starting point. Do note however, I'm talking about the 130...
horsepower-version, which isn't the also available 110 horsepower-version.
This plug-in hybrid is much more interesting, because we've never driven the version with 180 horsepower before. We do know the 225...
horsepower-version from PSA-SUV's and the 508. I believe we haven't driven this version before. If you'd ask me, I'd rather spend...
my money on extra options instead of extra power. The 180 horsepower is more than enough in the Netherlands to begin with.
The difference is in the amount of power that the engine produces. It's the same 1.6-litre PureTech 4-cylinder, which is connected...
to the same electric motor. But because the petrol engine produces a tad less power, the total system output is lower.
But like I said, the 180 horsepower is more than enough. Also, more importantly, it all works together very smoothly.
I've been trying to force it to make the engine kick in during my little drive now, and it does with a small stutter.
It's not even worth a mention. Also, it remains a very quiet car. It feels very civilized and balanced, and that for a car that isn't finished yet.
So the question is, how much Opel is actually in here? Well, they say they've had input since the beginning of this project.
Of course it's based on the EMP2-platform, which we already know from PSA, but Opel has had a lot of influence on this car.
More than with other cars they co-developed with PSA. For starters, it feels very different than the Peugeot 308.
That all starts with the seating position, because the seating always gives you a certain kind of feeling. Opel themselves say...
that the driver is the center piece of the interior. Very nice marketing talk, but it does work that way.
When you get in a car and you get the feeling it immediately encapsulates you, which this does, it feels very good.
You immediately want to take this for a long drive. That's something this car does a lot better than its predecessor.
The seating in the previous Astra was good as well, but in here I really get the impression I'm an integral part of the interior.
That's a very clear improvement. When it comes to the drive, it's not as distinctive. The Astra is supposed to be an all-rounder,
which should be eligible for a very broad audience. And this car is. Compared to its predecessor, I do miss a little bit of feeling...
in the steering, but Opel says that's something they'll have to look into. They've even invited us to give feedback, so if...
this Astra becomes one of the best steering cars ever, you'll know who to thank.
Anyway, it's still a car for a very broad audience. And it's not choosing for the dynamic end of the spectrum, like the Ford Focus.
Instead, it's trying to be a great travelling companion for everybody.
When it comes to the chassis, I'm not so sure though. I think it's a bit bumpy. Of course, the roads aren't all that good here,
but you can clearly feel imperfections in the road. Maybe that's something they'll look into as well. I sure hope so, because there's a lot of ground...
to be won when it comes to spring comfort. I do have to say, it feels nimbler than the previous Astra.
That mostly goes for the petrol version, because this plug-in is heavier. But when you compare the new 130 horsepower drivetrain with the old...
petrol Astra, which wasn't available as plug-in, you can clearly feel it's lighter and more agile.
However, this car has a tad less feeling in the steering wheel.
Unfortunately, this is all we're able to talk about today. In time, we'll drive it for a much more comprehensive test.
That should happen in a few months time. Before that, we'll see it without camouflage, because it will be revealed in July.