The new 170PS 1.6-liter SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) Turbo gasoline engine from Opel has made its debut on the Astra five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and Sports Tourer models.
Replacing the previous 1.6 Turbo as the top gasoline engine in the Astra family, the new-generation unit develops 170 PS (168 horsepower) and 280 Nm (206.5 lb-ft) of torque, 50 Nm (37 lb-ft) more than its predecessor. Peak torque is available from just 1,650 rpm, as opposed to 2,200 rpm in the previous engine.
Average fuel consumption is rated at 5.9 liters/100 km (39.9 US mpg) for the five-door and sedan, 14 percent less than with the outgoing 1.6 Turbo. CO2 emissions are 139 g/km. The new engine is mated to a next-generation six-speed manual gearbox which offers “high shifting comfort and substantially lower friction,” according to Opel. There’s also a new, low-friction six-speed automatic transmission offered as optional with the 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine. The auto gearbox features an Active Select function to provide manual shifting for a sportier driving experience.
The 0 to 100 km/h sprint is covered in 8.7 seconds by the five-door Astra 1.6 SIDI Turbo, with top speed pegged at 220 km/h (137 mph). In the sedan, top speed is 222 km/h (138 mph). The Astra Sports Tourer 1.6 SIDI Turbo accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and tops out at 220 km/h (137 mph). The average fuel economy of the wagon is 6.1 l/100 km (38.5 US mpg), while CO2 emissions are rated at 144 g/km.
The five-door Astra 1.6 SIDI Turbo is priced from €23,385 ($30,230) in Germany, with the Astra Sports Tourer starting from €24,485 ($31,580). The Astra four-door sedan with the 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine will be available this fall.
The new 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine is the first of 13 new engines Opel plans to introduce through 2016.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
