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Archive for the ‘Opel Astra’ Category

PSA has been attempting to reduce the number of platforms across its brands and increase more ‘sharing’ within the family. As such, Opel and Vauxhall will be using the EMP2 platform for the Astra L. The same platform underpins other products including the new Grandland X SUV. This also opens a wide array of options for Opel/Vauxhall, as the EMP2 platform will allow the Astra L to go for electrification.

It’s true that the station wagon segment has experienced a decline in the wake of the booming popularity of crossovers. There aren’t that many wagons on the streets these days. But there are some brands that have resisted in participating in this exodus. One of them is Opel, which will be launching the new Astra Sports Tourer at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Based on the fifth-generation 2016 Opel Astra hatchback that, oddly enough, will also make its debut at Frankfurt 2015, the Astra Sports Tourer is the latest evolution of the Astra’s station wagon variant that sprung to life back in 1991, coinciding with the creation of the Astra hatchback. That kind of longevity may be surprising for a station wagon these days, but the Astra Sports Tourer is different, largely because Opel heavily relies on its enduring popularity and its reputation as one of the best wagons in the market today. Make no mistake, the Astra Sports Tourer is a hot ticket for Opel, accounting for about 30 percent of Astra sales throughout Europe. That figure includes all other variants, including the hatchback.

If everything goes according to Opel’s plan, the new Astra Sports Tourer will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors and remain one of the go-to models in the wagon segment. Based on what’s been revealed about it, the German automaker has every reason to be confident.

Continue reading for my review of the Opel Astra Sports Tourer.

Having launched the new 2016 Opel Astra hatchback at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Opel announced plans to develop a new Astra-based race car for the TCR series, too. The motorsport-spec car was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, confirming the brand’s entry in next year’s competition.

If you’re not familiar with the TCR series, it’s a new touring car championship that debuted in 2015. Promoted as a cost-effective spin-off of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the TCR series is sanctioned by the FIA and based on a three-pillar concept that includes national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series. All three tiers function under the same technical regulations.

Though it has already developed an Astra for the new series, Opel wants the improved aerodynamics and chassis of the redesigned model to form the basis of a more potent racer to compete against the successful TCR-spec Seat Leons and Volkswagen Golfs.

“Touring car racing has always been an important part of Opel. The philosophy of the new TCR series corresponds to our idea of customer racing. We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs,” said Opel Group CMO Tina Müller.

Updated 10/15/2015: Opel dropped the official details and images on its new Atra TCR racer. The model will be available starting February 2016 at a price of €95,000 (about $105,000 as of 10/15/2015).

Continue reading for the full story.

Opel is set to expand its customer touring car racing activities with the launch of a new Astra-based race car at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 2016 Opel Astra TCR (Touring Car Racing) can be used in a variety of national and international events that operate under the rules of global TCR International Series.

Currently under development, Opel Astra TCR will boast a two-liter turbo-charged engine, as per Touring series regulations, with an output of 330 hp and maximum torque of 410 Nm. TCR events have exactly the same technical regulations which means this car can be used worldwide with any technical modifications.

Further technical details on the new Opel Astra TCR will be released closer to IAA where the car makes it global debut. Testing of the new customer sports touring car is set to start in October.

“Touring car racing has always been an important part of Opel. The philosophy of the new TCR series corresponds to our idea of customer racing. We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs,” said Opel Group CMO Tina Müller.

The post IAA Preview: Opel Astra TCR appeared first on Motorward.

Opel has just dropped details on the next-generation Astra, and it’s significantly lighter, boasts a range of new engine options, and is packed to the gills with upscale technologies. It marks the fifth iteration of a vehicle that was first seen in 1991, and is the latest evolution of the make’s Kadett compact, which was first introduced way back in 1936. Since then, 24 million Kadett and Astra models have been sold, which is a figure that underlines the incredible popularity this vehicle enjoys worldwide.

To help it continue this career of success, Opel has blessed the Astra with all kinds of new features. Not only is it based on a new architecture underneath and refreshed styling in the sheet metal, but both driver and passengers will get to enjoy a slew of gadgets normally found in vehicles above this segment, like adaptive LED lighting, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay infotainment, parking assist, massaging seats, and much more.

While those of us who reside in North America won’t get our hands on it, most of the rest of the world will. What has Opel done to keep the Astra fresh?

Continue reading to find out.

Opel Astra originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 3 June 2015 07:00 EST.

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