Here’s the first proper look at the new Vauxhall Astra - a car which is proudly being touted as a ‘design statement’ for the British brand.
The new Astra was teased last month, so we already know a fair bit about it.
We know it’s available as plug-in hybrid for the first time ever, a powertrain that marries a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 108bhp electric motor to produce up to 225 PS.
There’s also petrol and diesel engines up for grabs, with power ranging from between 110 PS and 130 PS.
And we also knew it was going to look a whole lot different to the car it replaces, with Vauxhall giving it the sharp ‘Vizor’ front end first seen on the all new Mokka.
Now, however, we get to see the latest Astra in all its glory - and it’s certainly a looker.
Vauxhall talks about the Astra being ‘detoxed’ and decluttered, giving it clean new lines. It’s also longer, wider, and more low-slung than before, giving it a real sense of purpose, as well as better practicality in terms of interior space.
The boot, for example, has grown from 370 litres to 422 litres, which is a good deal larger than the luggage space found in either the Ford Focus or the Volkswagen Golf.
Mark Adams, Vice President Design, Vauxhall, said: “The All-New Astra represents the exciting next step of our new design execution. With its bold Vizor front face, strong muscular wheel arch blisters and sheer surfacing, the All-New Astra has a very sporty and confident personality. The interior also takes a bold step into the future. The strong driver-orientated cockpit with seamless glass look of the new Pure Panel will bring a whole new emotional experience to our customers.”
Step inside the new Astra and you’ll find a ‘Pure Panel’ - ie, a set of twin 10-inch digital displays - which act as both the infotainment system and the cockpit, doing away with the old analogue displays.
Vauxhall is also confident the all-new Astra will handle better than its predecessor, thanks in part to torsional rigidity that’s 14 per cent higher than in the old car.
What’s more, there’s also a ton of new tech on offer - including semi-automatic lane change wizardry. Also up for grabs is adaptive cruise control, which increases or decreases speed to follow the vehicle ahead and can brake to a standstill if necessary, a head-up display, long-range blind-spot detection, 360 degree parking cameras, extended traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert and active lane positioning, which keeps the car in the middle of the driving lane.
All in all then, it’s a thoroughly modern makeover for a vehicle that’s now more than 40 years old.
Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “The All-New Astra arrives with sensational design and class-leading levels of technology. With the choice of an electrified powertrain, the All-New Astra has been developed with utmost precision, down to the smallest detail. We are confident the next generation Astra has all it takes to become another best seller and continue to attract new customers to the brand.”
Vauxhall will open the order books for the new Astra this autumn. The first customers will take delivery of their cars early next year. Full pricing and spec levels will be revealed later this year.
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