It’s standard practice for automakers to slowly remove camouflage off prototypes as they approach their reveal date, which in the case of the new Opel Astra, is believed to be at the Frankfurt auto show in September.
Gone are the fake front and rear panels on this tester we spied in Germany, giving us a better sense of what the new Astra will look like.
Overall, and like so many other German firms these days, it appears that Opel has followed an evolutionary approach with the design. That’s not to say there won’t be any differences, as the compact model has a more bulbous rear end, a stronger profile with a pinched beltline, and a more dynamic face. The three-door model that will follow should look even sharper.
GM’s European arm is said to have placed a lot of emphasis in the interior to improve both perceived and actual quality giving the Astra a more upmarket feel and look.
The Astra will ride on a heavily revised version of GM’s Delta platform with the compact model to undergo a diet, possibly losing as much as 150kg (330 pounds) over the current car, according to some sources, something that will greatly benefit fuel economy numbers, performance and handling.
Under the hood, GM Europe’s brand-new family of engines ranging in displacement from 1.0- to 1.5-liters with up to 165hp will be at the forefront, while Opel will also develop a high-performance unit for the OPC (VXR for Vauxhall) model with around 300-horsepower.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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