Vauxhall have released images of the seventh-generation Astra, which will be given its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
The British-built Astra has become one of the UK’s most popular cars during the past three-and-a-half decades, selling almost three million examples over six generations, with 50,000 sold in the past year alone.
The latest Astra will use the latest weight-saving technology to shed up to 200kg compared to the current model, with the body shell alone expected to be 20 per cent lighter. High-strength, low-weight steel construction leads to savings from the chassis, as well as weight reductions to the axles.
Vauxhall say the highlight of the new Astra’s range of engines will be the all-new 1.4-litre ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, which itself is 10kg lighter than the current 1.4-litre turbo thanks to the introduction of an aluminium engine block in place of the traditional cast iron. Other options include a base-level 103bhp 1.0-litre ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, and a range of 1.6-litre CDTi ‘Whisper Diesel’ engines.
British designer Mark Adam led the team which styled the new Vauxhall Astra, taking inspiration from the Monza Concept unveiled two years ago. While the totally modern styling - with a divided C-pillar creating the impression of a floating roof – brings a complete new look to the Astra, the Griffin badge and chrome grille bar bring a sense of familiarity. Smaller exterior dimensions – it is almost 5cm shorter and 2.6cm lower than the current model – improve aerodynamic performance, but without compromising interior space. Indeed, legroom for rear passengers grows by 35mm.
The contemporary design ethos continues on the inside, where a large colour touchscreen helps minimise the number of control switches and buttons. The new Astra will also be the first to include Vauxhall’s new OnStar personal connectivity and service assistant. The system will automatically alert an OnStar advisor upon deployment of the airbags, who will contact the emergency services with the exact location details if they fail to raise a response from the vehicle occupants. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and OnStar also turns the car into a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot for connection with up to seven devices including smartphones and tablets. The new Astra’s IntelliLink infotainment system is also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay allowing access to services such as WhatsApp, Skype, Google Maps, Google Play, and Spotify.
The new Astra will also debut Vauxhall’s glare-free IntelliLux LED Matrix Light, a matrix of 16 LED segments which automatically adapt the length and distribution of light beams to meet the demands of every traffic situation. Working in tandem with the front camera system, it prevents dazzling other road users by switching off the individual LED segments, and switches on high-beam lighting automatically after exiting the urban environment. Developed in conjunction with boffins at the Technical University of Darmstadt, the system is designed to provide drivers with additional reaction time when driving at night, and also boasts greater longevity than existing halogen or xenon lamps.
Other features of the new Astra include Traffic Sign Assistant, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking, cruise control with speed limiter, Advanced Park Assist, rear view camera, Side Blind Spot Alert, and 18-way adjustable driver’s seat.
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