Opel marked a new important step in its history with the introduction of the 2016 Astra K. Up to 200 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, the 2016 Opel Astra K will have its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and will goon sale later this year.
According to the manufacturer, the next-generation Astra is based on an all-new lightweight vehicle architecture and the design makes it more athletic than ever before. Opel says that the bodyshell weight was reduced by 20 percent from 357 to 280 kg, while chassis related measures resulted in another 50 kg of weight reduction.
When it comes to powertrains, the German company promises outputs that range from 95 hp (70 kW) to 200 hp (147 kW). The 1.0-liter Ecotec Direct Injection Turbo (105 hp/77 kW) is the base level gasoline engine, while the 1.6-liter CDTI producing 95 hp (70 kW) is the entry-level engine for diesel fans.
Moreover, we find an all-new 1.4-liter Ecotec Direct Injection Turbo four-cylinder engine that delivers 145 hp (107 kW) and 250 Nm of torque available between 1,800 and 4,000 rpm.
Compared to the previous model, the 2016 Astra is smaller and measures 4.37 meters in length (5 cm shorter) and has a height of 1.46 meters (2.6 cm smaller). Thanks to the reduced dimensions, the Astra now features a drag coefficient below 0.30. Smaller on the outside, but bigger on the inside.
This is how Opel describes the evolution of its vehicle, which now offers more interior space, despite the fact that the wheelbase was reduced by 2 cm.
Rear passengers enjoy an additional 35 cm legroom, while the driver and front passenger see a high-quality cockpit with reduced amount of control switches and buttons along with a large color touchscreen in the center stack.
The next-gen Astra is the first model from Opel that will get the new personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar. Passengers will be safer because if an airbag will be deployed in the new vehicle, an advisor will contact the vehicle in order to determine whether help is required.
If nobody responds, emergency responders will be sent to the location of the vehicle. The new generation IntelliLink infotainment system also celebrates its debut in the new Astra and it will be compatible with Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay.
Driving at night will be easier thanks to the new full-LED matrix headlights that use 16 LED segments which adapt the length and distribution of the light beam of every traffic situation. [source: Opel]