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.”
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.
09/15, 8:53 AM
posted by:
AutoCritical
I know this is mainly aimed at the interior but is it me, or does the rear not look as flat as the press release images. I thought the designers originally kicked it! making the back look flat. I did a sketch about what I mean, and what I thought could fix it! http://bit.ly/uaQNm
09/15, 8:56 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
The red one looks really cheap to me for some reason.
09/15, 9:25 AM
posted by:
ChuckTown86
The small car GM needs and will probably blindly dismissed for the Cruze thing. BTW, if Penseke owns Saturn and Manga owns Opel (I am assuming that Manga and GM are not partners only that Manga is a buyer and GM is a selle–correct me if I am wrong) and Penseke is looking for models to fill the Saturn lineupl…need I say more.
09/15, 9:25 AM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Where is the financial crisis? Did the German hide it somewhere?
09/15, 9:27 AM
posted by:
cor1977
damn GM for not bringing something like this over – instead we get the Colbalt/Cruze. i’d gladly purchase one of these TODAY!!!
09/15, 9:56 AM
posted by:
orangecones
I have mixed feelings. Sure the exterior is fresher, but the current one looks good too. The interior is a step up in quality (and general design) but its still missing the point. The all black mess of buttons and switches on the center stack is distracting. I am sure you get used to it eventually…..but man it looks like a mess.
09/15, 10:01 AM
posted by:
ahnuconun
True to form, the new Astra makes the Golf look old.
09/15, 10:06 AM
posted by:
duder dude
uh, gm did bring something like this over. it was called the astra
09/15, 10:38 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Sweet looking small ride. offer it in the US with all-wheel drive and put Subaru to bed
09/15, 10:38 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
We are getiing this as a Buick, but with a trunk. It’s done, over, completely finalized. Also, this reports seems old, since LLN knows the Insignia is coming over as the Regal, another car that is done, over and completely finalized with GM.
09/15, 11:02 AM
posted by:
cor1977
the prev/current Astra was terrible, at best – it’s the reason i leased my ‘07 GTI 4dr.
09/15, 12:41 PM
posted by:
JSi
great looking car! i wish we had this one in the states! make a v6 sports version of this one and the GTI would have to watch out! i’m not saying it would be in deep trouble, but this would be a great option…
09/15, 12:53 PM
posted by:
tastyorange
“the prev/current Astra was terrible, at best”
Wasn’t it very popular in Europe and got great reviews?
09/15, 1:32 PM
posted by:
cire_1wb
This would make a great small Buick. GM should give Buick the 5-door as well as the sedan. Opel has succeeded with the design of their new Astra 5-door where Mazda miserably failed with the 2010 Mazda3.
09/15, 5:01 PM
posted by:
carstuff
GM is a 35% owner of Opel if the sale goes thru.
GM will continue to have its midsize and compact vehicles based on the Opel architectures (Cruze/LaCrosse) and also the sub compact (Astra).
GM will continue to make money on Opel/Vauhxall sales (if they ever make profits), but they will get only 35% of the profit.
There will be an astra based Buick sub compact built here in the US.
09/15, 6:31 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
carstuff, you’re a little off on the designations – The LaCrosse is on a midsize platform Epsilon II shared with the Insignia and next gen Regal/Malibu BUT the Cruze is on the Delta platform shared with the Astra, and it’s not a sub compact-but a regular compact C-segment cars (like a Golf or Focus), not A or B class subcompact (Like the Polo or Fiesta)
09/15, 6:45 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Why do GM’s interiors STILL have to be all black? They need to totally get away from doing that- everything being black, with a couple of metallic or wood pieces. Even if it’s a good design, they need to stay away from everything being damn BLACK!!!
I don’t understand why everyone wants to see these smaller cars being sold as a Buick. If anything, they should just be sold under Chevrolet. Why not?
09/15, 7:56 PM
posted by:
A.J.
For everyone’s benefit: The 2010 Opel Astra will in fact be coming over to our shores, in sedan form, as a Buick. However, it is unknown whether or not we will get the hatchback also.
For those of you who think it will end up like the Saturn, you will be happily disappointed – the Buick label will easily justify the premium price.
09/15, 10:03 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
How the hell can a Buick label justify anything? I don’t care if this has a trunk or a tail, no one thinking of Buick is going to give any version of this a second thought. Buick is a dead brand walking in North America and if they want to be at all relevant on this side of the planet that’s exactly who they should be catering to. Give the aging population what they want, and that is a car that’s easy to drive and easy on their aging if not entirely factory original parts.
09/16, 3:45 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
I’d definitely buy this with a Buick grille on it
09/17, 5:03 PM
posted by:
A4
I’d buy it with a Buick grille, rip off all the badges, call Opel, and switch them back.
09/17, 8:21 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
Why is everyone bagging on the Cruze? Its a superb little car.
-iluvamcars
10/13, 10:01 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for Volkswagen
Dear Goverments Money (GM) and Opel,
Seriously? That what you come up with? I could use more spunk and style like the Mazda3 or Volkswagen Golf GTI. This car is pice of average crap that was just drawn up and built using spare parts. I mean if you want to make money (other than the goverment’s) appeal to the younger generation but could still be an option for older/ mid-aged people. AVERAGE!
NMOFVW