New Opel Astra to go all-electric in 2023
Opel, by happy coincidence, had two global debuts on the same day — that of the new Astra five-door hatchback, and the first public appearance of the German company’s new chief executive, Uwe Hochgeschurtz.
“I’m looking forward to playing an important role at a very special brand,” said Hochgeschutz.
“I’m confident that the new Astra will attract and convince new customers to the brand. Opel has already become sustainably profitable, and we’re now going global. We have just announced our entry of the Chinese market with a fully electric portfolio.”
It will be another seven years before Opel goes fully electric in Europe, in 2028, but the new Astra will be in the vanguard of that move.
When Opel first showed off the car a few months ago, it would only confirm that the Astra would be available with petrol, diesel, and two plugin-hybrid models. However, on stage in Opel’s HQ at Russelsheim, just outside Frankfurt, Hochgeschutz confirmed that in 2023, there will be an all-electric Astra.
“This will be the first time that we will offer both a plugin-hybrid and a battery electric version in the same model. The customer has a full choice,” he said.
No technical details of the electric Astra (presumably to be badged Astra-e in line with the Corsa-e and Mokka-e, but it’s just possible that Opel has plans to re-introduce the classic GSE badge) were given, but it’s more than likely that it will use the same 50kWh battery and 136hp electric motor as its sister models, giving it a probable 350km one-charge range.
The new Astra, in Germany, will be priced from the same €22,465 for the base model, in spite of increasing standard equipment, technology, and safety levels. The Astra currently starts from €24,945 in Ireland, so it will be interesting to see if Opel Ireland can match German parsimony when it comes to pricing.
That upgraded options list will include more electronic driver aids, ergonomic front seats, swathed in Alcantara man-made suede, and Pixel LED headlights which can automatically block and dim individual sections of the high beam to avoid dazzling other road users.
Inside, the new Astra uses the same Pure Panel all-digital instrument and infotainment layout as the updated Grandland. The driver gets a digital instrument panel of up to 12 inches across, while in the centre of the dash there’s a ten-inch touchscreen on all but the most basic models.
Opel’s Head of Design Mark Adams made the point at the presentation that in spite of the dual-screen layout, many key controls are still operated by simpler, more reliable physical buttons.
While the Astra might be a conventional five-door family hatchback in its overall appearance, underneath Opel is confident that underneath, it’s as high-tech as any premium German product. “We did not make any compromises in the technology,” said the Astra’s Chief Engineer, Mariella Vogler.
“We have put exactly out vision of futuristic, high-end technology, things you wouldn’t expect in the compact segment, into the car.”
Order books for the new Astra will open in October, with first full production to begin before the end of the year. The first versions should start to arrive on Irish shores by early 2022.