Buoyed by its parent company’s decision to retain the Opel marquee, General Motors South Africa has confirmed that it will introduce the new Opel Astra to the local market in the first quarter of 2011.
“The certainty around the future of Opel is great news for South Africa and allows us to build on the fine history of the Opel brand and the Corsa and Astra ranges,” says GMSA Vice President of Planning, Ian Nicholls.
The Astra, long a staple of the local Opel line-up alongside its Kadett sibling, will continue the brand’s legacy here with a “sporty, coupé-like profile”, the full functionality of a five-door hatchback, increased interior room thanks to a longer wheelbase, and excellent design.
“The new Astra has consistently made the top three list of Europe’s best-selling compacts- a segment which accounts for 27 per cent of the total car market. Astra sales make up a third of all Opel/Vauxhall purchases, for an average volume of 500 000 units per year,” says Nicholls.
The engine line-up for the new Astra in other markets include 1,4 and 1,6 normally-aspirated and 1,4 and 1,6 turbocharged petrol power plants, as well as 1, 3, 1,7 and 2,0 common rail diesel engines, though a local line-up has not yet been announced. GM claims the average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the Euro 5 compliant engines have been cut by nearly 12 per cent and offer exceptional driving characteristics without sacrificing CO2 emissions, performance or fuel economy.
When the new Opel Astra goes on sale locally in 2011, it will join the rest of the Opel products – the Corsa, the Vivaro, and the Combo.