It seems Opel can’t stop teasing its next-generation Astra. Following the initial close-up pictures that were released earlier this month the German carmaker has dropped a new set of images showing a disguised prototype undergoing final testing.
And although the prototype is certainly well disguised, we won’t have to wait long to see what lies beneath as Opel is promising to reveal the 11th generation Astra in the coming weeks. Opel describes the new design as “pure and bold” and from the close-up headlight shot we can see that it wears Opel’s ‘Visor’ face that made its debut with the new Mokka.
Opel says the forthcoming Astra will set the benchmark in its class, and it’s taking a giant leap forward as far as tech is concerned. The cabin features two widescreen displays in a ‘folded’ format that sees the central infotainment segment angled towards the driver. According to Opel, this Pure Panel digital cockpit design delivers “detoxed” information in a horizontal and a driver-oriented format.
This will also be the first Opel Astra to be based around a Peugeot architecture, and beneath the skin it will be a relatively close relative of the new Peugeot 308. Opel hasn’t detailed the engine line-up as yet, but the company has stated that a plug-in hybrid drivetrain will form part of the mix for the first time.
The Opel Astra prototypes are currently being subjected to ‘validation drives’ in the vicinity of Opel’s hometown of Russelsheim, with Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller also having taken a spin in one. These validation drives, which take place throughout the development process, evaluate the systems and subsystems, validating their overall integration in the vehicle. Extreme testing has also been part of the mix, with engineers having honed the chassis and interior heating system in Lapland during winter, where temperatures dropped to as low as -30 degrees celsius.
