By Drew Johnson
Tuesday, Sep 15th, 2009 @ 8:41 am

Though Opel’s fate is truly up in the air despite promised investment from Magna International, that’s not stopping the German automaker from introducing its new mainstream Astra. Though exterior images were revealed last month, the automaker has just now taken the wraps off of the Astra’s decidedly upscale interior. Set for a Frankfurt Motor Show debut, the new Astra gains an interior more in line with its GM siblings.

Opel’s new wing and blade design theme carries over in the Astra’s interior. The Vauxhall Astra – as it is called in the United Kingdom – gets the same interior, albeit with the steering wheel swapped to right-hand-drive.

Special sports seats are standard on higher-spec models and the interior receives premium grade materials not seen in compact GM products before.

The 2010 Astra rides on GM’s new Delta II platform — the same that will underpin the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. The new Astra is slightly larger than the outgoing car, checking in with a 71mm longer wheel base.

The 2010 Astra receives heavy influences from the new Insignia – which could show up in the U.S. under the Buick or Cadillac banner – both in styling and technology packages. The most innovative technology to find its way aboard the Astra is the Insignia’s Front Camera System. FCS not only acts as a lane departure warning system, but can actually recognize roadside signage, such as speed limit signs.

The 2010 Astra also gets some other neat tech tidbits, including Advanced Forward Lighting bi-xenon headlights and Opel’s FlexRide system allowing the driver to pick between three driving settings — standard, Sport and Tour.

All in all, however, the new car looks sleeker and yet more elegant than the current car. Opel’s new design language can be seen on the front and rear of the 2010 Astra, especially in the car’s lighting treatments.

“The design themes 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. “This is why you see double wings 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.â€

Underhood, the new Astra will do with a range of diesel and gasoline powerplants. The diesel units will range in displacement from 1.3L to 2.0L, with power ratings between 95 horsepower and 160 horsepower. Four gas engines will also be available in the Astra, ranging from 100 horsepower 1.4L to a 180 horsepower 1.6L. Of note, GM’s all new turbo 1.4L — developing 140 horsepower — will replace the Astra’s current 1.8L.

With General Motors’ agreement to sell most of Opel to Magna International and all of Saturn to Penske, it remains to be seen if this next-generation Astra will ever make it to the United States. Early rumors suggested the Astra could be sold under GM’s Buick banner, but that plan has been cast into doubt.

Whatever the case, the 2010 Opel Astra will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

23 Comments
  

LeftLane

Login

  • LeftLane

    Copyright © 2005 - 2012 Left lane News.
    All rights reserved.