This is our first official peek at the all-new Opel Astra ahead of its reveal later this year and we are certainly intrigued by what we’ve seen so far, both on the outside and in the cabin.
Buyers can also expect a radical transformation beneath the skin, with the Opel Astra finally moving over to a Peugeot platform, in this case the EMP2 architecture that underpins the all-new Peugeot 308 that was revealed earlier this year.
Opel hasn’t dropped any of the major technical details yet, but we do know that it will be the first ‘electrified’ Astra, likely mirroring the new 308 in offering a choice between petrol and plug-in hybrid drivetrain options. As with the Corsa, an all-electric version could form part of the mix too.
The new Opel Astra will be available in Europe either as a five-door hatchback or ‘Sports Tourer’ estate and it will be the second all-new model after the Mokka to incorporate Opel’s ‘Vizor’ front end design.
But it’s not just the exterior which is getting a radical rethink. 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. As in modern Peugeots, the physical buttons and controls have been kept to a minimum, with many of these replaced by piano-like keys situated below the infotainment screen.
“The future Astra will open an exciting new chapter in the 30-year history of our compact class model”, said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.
“We are confident that the next generation Opel Astra will make a powerful impression and attract many new customers to the brand.”
