At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Opel will unveil its new Astra hatch. Set to take on the current Golf 7, Ford Focus as well as cars such as Peugeot’s308, the new Astra is between 120 and 200 kg lighter than the outgoing model.
This has been achieved by the implementation of high-strength steels and several other weight-saving tricks.
Although the new car is actually smaller on the outside, according to Opel interior room has been increased. It is 5 cm shorter, 2,6 cm lower, while the wheelbase has been reduced by 2 cm, but legroom has been increased by 35 mm.
Powering the new hatch will be a 1,6-litre CDTI turbodiesel delivering 70 kW, a 1,0-litre, three-cylinder Ecotec with 77 kW and also a 1,4-litre Ecotec pushing out 107 kW.
As we have experienced in the new Opel Adam and Corsa, the latest incarnation of the Astra will also feature Opel’s IntelliLink infotainment system.
There is a small chance the Astra could arrive in South Africa just before Christmas, otherwise it will be launched in the first quarter of 2016.
