Designed for sportiness, engineered with innovation and equipped with a full clean power train line-up, the all-new Opel Astra debuts as a five-door hatchback to re-energize Singapore’s compact car

Grounded in the compact class tradition Opel initiated in 1936 with the first Kadett, the Astra has consistently made the top three list of Europe’s best-selling compacts – a segment which accounts for 27 percent of the total car market. Astra sales make up a third of all Opel/Vauxhall purchases, for an average volume of nearly 500,000 units per year.

The new Opel Astra brings into the compact class its own interpretation of the brand’s award winning design language of combining sculptural artistry with German precision first seen in the Insignia. Its strong coupé-like silhouette and stylish details add to a new handsome look. Elegant proportions give it a strong, cab-forward silhouette, with a steeply-raked windshield and falling rear roof line, adding visual excitement to the traditional hatchback format. Also new to the Astra are double wing-shapes in each of the rear lights and a dynamic inverted blade on the flank that visually connects to the powerful movement of the rear window and C-pillar. The interior echoes the flowing forms of the bodywork: sweeping lines, curvaceous shapes and the quality of the execution are all part of Opel’s design language. A signature design cue is the wrap around wing shape of the instrument panel that arcs into the top of the door moldings. The effect is a warm embrace of the occupants, providing a welcoming ambience.

The new Astra retains the fun-to-drive character of the previous model, with significant improvements in steering response and ride comfort. While the chassis has the proven McPherson strut layout at the front, Opel engineers in Rüsselsheim are the first in the world to combine a compound crank rear axle with a Watts link. The Astra benefits from an all new rear axle. Keeping the advantages of size, weight and overall efficiency of the compound crank rear axle layout design. Opel engineers added a cleverly positioned Watts link. This supports lateral forces on the suspension while cornering. It also makes the car dynamic and agile without compromising on stability and comfort. Driving dynamics are improved by wider front and rear tracks, increased by 56 mm and 70 mm respectively. While the wheelbase is 71 mm longer, the proportionately greater increases in track give the car a wider footprint, which contributes to more stable handling and an inherently better road holding capability. A core body structure stiffer than that of its predecessor provides a firm base for optimizing the new Astra’s handling and ride capabilities. In addition, this helps reduce noise and vibration inside the cabin.

The new Astra 1.6-litre engine, gives a power output of 115 hp and max torque of 155 Nm with a six-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox is adaptive to enable proactive shift patterns. The “Neutral” gear disengagement at idle reduces vibration and contributes to improved fuel consumption. The ActiveSelect provides greater driving interaction with a sequential manual shift feature. Handling wise, the Astra's Electronic Stability Program (ESP)applies brakes or adjust throttle as necessary to bring the car back under the driver’s control when it detects the car leaving the driver’s chosen path while the 4-channel ABS with Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist (HBFA) offers fade-free anti-lock braking under nearly all conditions, with HBFA automatically raising braking pressure to compensate for possible brake fade in repeated heavy braking situations.