What we could have had: the new Astra

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

The Opel Manta is coming back as an all-electric performance coupe.

Opel has revealed the eighth-generation Astra and, as cool as it looks, it won’t be coming here.

The new hatchback has ditched the old General Motors underpinnings, moving to the EMP2 architecture shared with the mechanically similar Peugeot 308 (due here soon). That means the Astra will be available with PHEV power as well as the standard petrol and diesel options.

The plug-in hybrid variants use a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine making either 110kW or 132kW, paired with an 82kW electric motor mounted inside the transmission for a total output of 132kW or 165kW, respectively. A 12.4kWh battery allows for up to 50km of EV range.

The new Astra has been revealed, and it would have looked brilliant with a Holden badge on its nose...

Meanwhile, the combustion-only options comprise a 1.2-litre turbocharged triple making 80kW or 95kW, or a turbocharged diesel also making 95kW. Each can be had with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. If that stuff sounds familiar, that’s because it’s basically the latest Peugeot 308 under the skin.

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Under the swoopy skin is effectively a Peugoet 308, including the plug-in hybrid versions.

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As clean as that looks, it’s very Golf-like.

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This is also the last time Opel will build the Astra with a combustion engine, as it has announced it will go pure-electric by 2028.

As for the design, Opel has gone for an interesting blend of Volkswagen and Skoda. The hatch gets the new ‘Vizor’ front end, comprising angular DRLs encapsulating two main beams housing 84 LEDs per cluster, connected by a thick black strip.

The lower grille is bookended by triangular foglight housings, while the wheels are a five-spoke design that looks rather similar to those found on the Skoda Octavia.

There is an angular crease in the profile that gives the Astra a bit of uniqueness and a contrasting roof shows off the sharp C-pillar (which reminds a bit of the Hyundai Ioniq 5)while the rear lights are similar in shape to the eighth-generation Golf but narrower and longer.

It’s the interior that shows the German influence, however. The layout of the digital screens, haptic touch controls, storage cubbies and stubby gear lever look like they were lifted wholesale from the Golf. Though, it should be said the Golf doesn’t have a physical volume knob and it looks like the touchy bits below the screen control different functions to the Golf’s volume/air conditioning.

European and UK customers will be able to order the new Astra in the next few months, with deliveries starting in early 2022. A wagon variant will also be available.

Of course, in another universe, we would also be in line for the to receive the Astra, but in that universe General Motors wouldn’t have had a selling and closing spree, ending all hope of us seeing it here as a Holden. However, now that Opel is in the Peugeot/Citroën family, there is a vague possibility it could still end up here.

In other Opel news, the Manta badge is coming back as an all-electric sports coupe. There aren’t any details on that front, aside from the fact it will use Stellantis underpinnings, probably offering between 480km and 640km of range.