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Aug 28, 2003 – The third generation Opel Astra will be introduced to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show, showing the next step in the evolution of the modern Opel design language first seen on the Speedster sports car and the Vectra, Meriva and Signum.
The strong and expressive design is a reflection of renewed brand self-confidence. “We want to play a leading role in European automobile styling again,” says Opel’s Executive Director of Design, Martin Smith, “like we did so successfully in the 1970s with fascinating designs like the GT or the Commodore coupe. With our new design language we’re going to bring the most dynamic and expressive vehicles to the market in every segment,” he added. The company took a step toward that goal at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show with the GTC Genève design study, which clearly showed the direction in which design at Opel is headed.
“Most of the styling and the overall effect is governed by the vehicle architecture, by the relationship between length, width and height. That’s why we place special emphasis on good proportions and why we are deliberately pursuing a different course to our competitors, to make a distinctive statement with our new Astra,” says Friedhelm Engler, Chief Designer of the Astra, and head of the Compact Car Studio at the Opel Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
A distinctive Astra characteristic is its sloping roof, which drops by almost five centimeters at the rear to enhance the aerodynamic shape. Despite its dynamic exterior styling, the new Astra has grown in size, and now offers 30 mm more shoulder room at the front, 55 mm more headroom in the rear and 17 mm more legroom at the rear. The Astra five-door key dimensions: length 4249 mm, width 1753 mm, height 1460 mm, wheelbase 2614 mm, tread front/rear 1488 mm.
The wide and strong shoulder line running from front to rear signals the strength and stability of the body, with its pronounced wedge-shape. The side view is also influenced by the bold wheel arches: these “draw attention to the large wheels and tires, up to 18 inches in diameter, that are a factory-fit option for the new Astra,” says Friedhelm Engler.
Taut surfaces dominate the interior of the Astra, in harmony with the exterior. A striking styling element is the characteristic crease on the instrument panel top pad and center console, carried over consistently from the engine hood into the interior. Other distinctive elements include the three-dimensional instruments and an up to 6.5 inch monitor for the information display.
“We have only used materials and surfaces of particularly high visual and textural quality”, explains Beat Finkbeiner, Interior Designer. “In terms of form and finish we used the class above the Astra as our reference-point.” Technically oriented materials and painted surfaces give the central area of the cockpit the appearance of a hi-fi system.
The infotainment system user-interface has been newly developed and features a balanced mix of buttons with direct access and logical menu structures. New steering wheel remote controls with four buttons and turn-press wheels similar to those on a computer mouse enable the safe and comfortable selection of the various functions, without having to take hands off the wheel. Martin Smith: “The Astra’s interior clearly demonstrates the importance we attach to quality, appearance and ease of operation when designing the interior of our cars.”
Engineering highlights include a dynamic Adaptive Forward Lighting system, a new electronic architecture, a newly developed generation of infotainment units in double DIN format, Twin Audio for separate listening in the rear, and new Twinport gasoline and common rail turbocharged diesel engines. The front-wheel drive Astra will be available with five gasoline and three turbo-diesel engines, with displacements from 1.4 to 2.0 liters.
A five-door is the first Astra model version to be launched, and it will be followed later by a station wagon with a longer wheelbase and a dramatically sporty three-door hatchback.
Related stories:
Opel Astra first pictures
Opel GTC Geneve
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