Test Marathon: New Generation Opel Astra Enters Finishing Straight

• Arctic Circle: Testing dynamics and warm-up behaviour at -30° C in Swedish Lapland
• Dudenhofen Test Centre: Chassis development for safety and comfort in Germany
• EMC lab in Rüsselsheim: Resistance to electro-magnetic waves

All-New Opel Astra: Dudenhofen Test Centre

Development of the all-new Opel Astra is fully on target, the premiere of the 11th generation of the brand’s best-selling compact model is now just weeks away. Initially created – like all modern automobiles – with the assistance of computer-aided design, since last winter the new model has been undergoing final testing, fine tuning and validation in real life conditions. Now Opel Astra is entering the finishing straight of a true test marathon.

Opel engineers took prototypes and development vehicles far north to test the new model on the icy roads and in the deep frozen air of Swedish Lapland. Closer to home, they have been pounding around the test tracks at the Dudenhofen Test Centre and most recently, carrying out validation drives on public roads in the Rhine-Main region, accompanied by senior management. At the same time, the all-new Astra was taking its final tests in the Rüsselsheim EMC laboratory (Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) before receiving type approval for commercialisation.

“Demanding test programme of the all-new Opel Astra is going exceptionally well”, says Astra Chief Engineer, Mariella Vogler. “Development team – which, by the way, comprises more female engineers than ever before – has created an uncompromisingly cool new generation of Opel Astra that will thrill our customers.”

With the all-new Astra, Opel is demonstrating German precision in every detail and taking direct aim at the sweet spot of the compact market sector. Pure and bold design, top technologies and exciting powertrain line-up – including plug-in hybrid electric drive – will make it a benchmark in its class.

Winter testing: High comfort and safety under all conditions

Winter 2020/2021 in Sweden. As usual at this time of year, Lapland is a frequent travel destination for Opel engineers. On this occasion, they brought the next generation Astra with them. At temperatures as low as -30° C, chassis experts turned lap after lap on the slippery surfaces of the specially prepared tracks, continuously optimising the electronically controlled systems for stability, traction and anti-lock braking. Objective: the new Astra must always handle safely and consistently, regardless of the surface – be it ice, snow, slush or wet or dry asphalt. Or in other words, it has to behave like an Opel – under all conditions.

All-New Opel Astra: Winter testing

“During development we made sure that the new generation Astra will once again offer drivers and passengers a lot of driving fun and comfort”, says Opel’s head of vehicle dynamics, Andreas Holl. “On the one hand, our sophisticated and dynamic design ensures that occupants will always feel safe, even at high speeds on the motorway. On the other, it offers plenty of comfort – even on poor road surfaces – for a relaxed driving experience.”

All-New Opel Astra: Winter testing

During their stay in Lapland this year, Opel’s chassis specialists were joined by their colleagues from “HVAC” (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). One of HVAC’s goals is to make sure that the passenger compartment warms up quickly. So they monitored the new Astra’s engine heat rejection, coolant flow, heater core performance and blower airflow, as well as the heated steering wheel and the heating of the front and rear seats.

But warm-up testing is not only done so that customers feel warm and comfy on cold winter mornings. Warm-up performance is also precisely defined by regulation and even more stringent in-house safety standards, which state that the frozen windshield and side windows of an Opel must be clear of ice and fog in the shortest time to ensure safe driver visibility.

All-New Opel Astra: interior

Furthermore, as the next generation Astra as plug-in hybrid will play an important role in continuing the electrification of Opel’s product portfolio, the engineers also kept a close watch on the warm-up times of the lithium-ion battery, to make sure that the performance of the cells meets the standards for electric driving experience even in cold weather.

Dudenhofen Test Centre: Torture, on and off the test tracks

Performance of a different kind is evaluated at the Dudenhofen Test Centre in Germany. Engineers from the competence centre for “ADAS” (Automated Driver Assistance Systems) in Rüsselsheim used the proving ground’s high speed oval and long straight to calibrate the new Astra’s advanced technologies – from Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Braking, to Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Assist.

Pre-production cars used for these tests also had to meet high standards on Dudenhofen’s long straight. Here, like every Opel, the next generation Astra had to demonstrate it is “Autobahn-proofness”, meaning that it must remain controllable at speeds well above 140 km/h and stable under hard braking. While driving at high speeds on the oval, Opel engineers also took opportunity to evaluate components such as the bonnet and windscreen wipers. Nothing is allowed to flutter, vibrate or cause irritating noises.

All-New Opel Astra: Validation drives

After working up a sweat in the high-speed driving tests, the new Opel Astra cooled down in the drive-through water trough, at various depths of a minimum 25 centimetres. Despite pushing a big wave of water in front of itself, the test car is not allowed to “inhale” or “swallow” any water – the powertrain, the electrical system and every part under the bonnet must stay protected from water.

There was no respite for the all-new Opel Astra even after it left the test tracks. Despite the tortures meted out on the high-speed oval, the handling circuit or in the water trough, the Opel engineers also took the test vehicles into the Dudenhofen climatic chamber. This environmental test facility is for evaluating the operability of vehicles, subsystems and components in extreme conditions. For the next generation Opel Astra, the climatic chamber was set up to test the car’s sealing against dust and sand.

In addition to the climatic chamber, Opel put test cars into a climatic wind tunnel to validate the new Astra’s performance under a variety of operating conditions. For example, the climatic wind tunnel simulated driving in traffic jams, uphill and down, in order to test the cooling of the brakes. The engineers were even able to find out if swirling snow in front of the vehicle could block the air intakes.

On the boss’s agenda: Validation drives around Opel’s hometown

All-New Opel Astra: Validation drives

Climatic conditions conducive to dust, sand or snow were not expected during the current phase of testing. Validation drives take place with prototypes and engineering cars at several stages throughout the development of a new model. They are for verifying systems and subsystems and validating their overall integration in the vehicle. As development approaches the final stages, the cross-functional team of engineers and technicians is joined by members of senior management, including the boss himself – Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller.

All-New Opel Astra: Validation drives

Most recent validation drives of the still-camouflaged new Opel Astra took place in June on public roads in the Rhine-Main region around Opel’s hometown – and the car’s “homeplant” – of Rüsselsheim. Engineers and managers were occasionally joined by journalists from the press.

All-New Opel Astra: Validation drives

Electro-magnetic immunity: Prerequisite for type approval

While development prototypes and pre-production vehicles are driving in the far north, in Dudenhofen and on public road in and outside Germany, others also undergo intensive testing on test rigs and in laboratories in Rüsselsheim. Electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC), for example, is tested throughout development. Furthermore, no car can be sold in Europe without passing EMC tests during the type approval process. EMC testing ensures that a car’s electronic systems do not suffer from interference.

Opel team tested the new Astra’s immunity to electro-magnetic emissions in the purpose-built EMC lab in Rüsselsheim. While the test car is exposed to emissions radiated across a wide range of frequencies, special absorbers on the walls “soak up” the transmitted emissions so that they do not reflect back into the chamber. Engineers thus obtain clean, reliable data. New model only gets the “green light” – and finally receives type approval – when all its systems have demonstrated their immunity to electro-magnetic emissions.

Rüsselsheim plant starts into the electric future

Plant in Rüsselsheim is ready for the age of electromobility: Team at the Opel headquarters is pushing ahead with the extensive work on the implementation of the electrified EMP2 platform.

“Now the future of mobility is moving into our plant in Rüsselsheim. This is an important step in securing the future of the location, ”said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Plant manager Michael Lewald added: “Our team has done an excellent job over the past few months to enable the further developed EMP2 platform to be set up in this short period of time. We are very much looking forward to the electric future. "

Plant manager Michael Lewald 

Extensive work was carried out in all areas of the plant; A significant million contribution was invested in the Rüsselsheim plant.

In the paint shop, for example, the two-tone paintwork was set up and the so-called 3-wet process was introduced, a particularly emission-saving painting process. In the body shop, the systems for the new models have been set up in building K180. There were also extensive changes in the finishing and final assembly, in which, among other things, a new wedding and a new chassis line were built.

In addition, driverless transport systems are now also in use at the Rüsselsheim plant to ensure that the material delivery process runs smoothly. And all future models produced in Rüsselsheim will be tested on a completely new test track. Far-reaching innovations also include the IT systems and logistics processes.

Driverless transport systems 

EMP2 (Efficient Modular) platform is a flexible and efficient multi-energy platform that is used for vehicles in the C and D segment. Thanks to their high modularity, paired with variable chassis parameters, many model variants and thus a great deal of freedom in brand differentiation are possible.

Vehicles with conventional combustion engines and electrified vehicles can be produced on the same line thanks to the EMP2 platform, which brings an important degree of flexibility in the current ramp-up phase of electromobility: Production can respond to customer requests at any time.

New EMP2 platform enables the company to introduce a second production shift in Rüsselsheim. This is to start in autumn and is an important step in leading the plant into the future.Second shift will create around 300 additional jobs in final and final assembly this year, which will be filled internally with employees from areas of the company that are not sufficiently busy.

New Vauxhall Corsa Remains UK's Best-Selling New Car

• New Vauxhall Corsa remains the UK’s best-selling new car in 2021
• SMMT figures show 20,024 models registered so far this year
• All-electric Corsa-e the best-selling all-electric supermini
• Vivaro-e the best-selling all-electric Light Commercial Vehicle (e-LCV)
• May was the first full month where showrooms across the UK were open to the public

New Vauxhall Corsa

New Vauxhall Corsa is the UK’s best-selling new car so far this year, according to the latest new car sales and registration figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).  

New Vauxhall Corsa has been the UK’s best-selling car so far this year, with 20,024 registered in the first five months of 2021. Vauxhall’s electric models, including the all-electric Corsa-e and Vivaro-e were also the highest selling models in their segments, as the brand continues its electric vehicle expansion with the goal of offering an electrified variant across its model line-up by 2024. 

All-electric Vauxhall Corsa-e has been the best-selling new electric car in the small Battery Electric Vehicle sector this year, with 2,204 registered, while the Vivaro-e remains the highest-selling electric Light Commercial Vehicle in the UK, with 874 registrations in 2021.

Vauxhall is now one of the few manufacturers able to offer fleets and buyers an electric van across its entire LCV line-up, following the announcement of its All-New Movano-e large van earlier in May.

Vauxhall also increased its passenger car market share by 0.4 of a percentage point, having sold 43,314 cars so far in 2021.

Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “As a British brand, it’s fantastic to see the Corsa remain the UK’s best-selling new car. With electric car and electric van sales continuing to grow at a rapid pace, we’re also very proud to see the new Corsa-e and the new Vivaro-e top the sales charts in their respective sectors and bringing affordable all-electric options to customers.”

May was the first full month where showrooms across the UK were allowed to reopen to the public following the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions by the Government.

Customers can also purchase new models using the Vauxhall Online Store, which brings the new car shopping experience to the comfort of buyers’ homes. They can arrange a live video viewing of a vehicle via the Vauxhall Virtual Showroom and proceed to the Online Store to configure their new model, personalise finance payments and place an order – all from the comfort and safety of home.

All-new fifth generation Corsa is available with a fully-electric powertrain or a choice of efficient petrol or diesel engines.Zzero-emissions-in-use Vauxhall Corsa-e was voted The Sun Car of the Year, thanks to its 209-mile WLTP range, affordable price and fun driving dynamics.  The Vivaro-e is the 2021 International Van of the Year. 

New Opel Grandland with Bold Design, Digital Cockpit and High-Tech Features

• Fully digital cockpit: Intuitive Opel Pure Panel with widescreen displays
• Modern brand face: Now with characteristic Opel Vizor, as on Opel Mokka
• Compact SUV: Plug-in hybrid variants also with all-wheel drive
• Class-leading light technology: Adaptive IntelliLux LED Pixel Light with 168 LEDs
• Early detection: Night Vision makes pedestrians and wild animals visible in darkness
• Extra safety: Highway Integration Assist maintains distance and position in lane
• Good health: Ergonomic front seats with AGR certification

New Opel Grandland

Opel has today revealed the new Grandland – elegantly sporty with intuitive controls and innovative technologies. With the fully digital Pure Panel, the new model offers the driver a completely different cockpit experience. Opel SUV flagship also features additional technologies and assistance systems that until now customers only find in higher class vehicles. Especially the adaptive IntelliLux LED Pixel Light with a total of 168 LED elements. Technology from Opel’s flagship limousine, the Insignia, is making its debut in the German brand’s top SUV and sets new standards in the Grandland’s market sector. Same goes for Night Vision, which is celebrating its premiere at Opel. System detects pedestrians and animals in darkness at a distance of up to 100 metres and warns the driver. Semi-adaptive Highway Integration Assist keeps Opel Grandland in the middle of its lane and maintains the distance to the vehicle in front. Designed and produced in Germany, new Opel Grandland also features Opel Vizor, brand’s new face.

Opel is also keeping to its electrification strategy with the new Grandland. Customers of the powerful, high efficiency plug-in hybrid variants can choose between front or electric all-wheel drive.

New Opel Grandland PHEV: Customers can choose between front or electric all-wheel drive

“Opel Grandland will excite new customers with its benchmark technologies and high-tech interior,” says Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller, “and, of course, it is also available with powerful hybrid drive. With the new Opel Grandland we maintain our course: clear and bold in design, highly efficient and, of course, electric. New Opel Grandland matches our flagship Opel Insignia for technology.”

New Opel Grandland: Flagship SUV also features additional technologies and assistance systems

Exciting technologies: Opel Vizor with IntelliLux LED Pixel Light

Sporty dynamics have characterised Opel's top SUV since its premiere in 2017. Now the Grandland features the unmistakable Opel Vizor brand face. Bold and clear, the Vizor sharpens the looks of the front and seamlessly integrates the grille, the Opel Blitz emblem and technologies such as the class-leading IntelliLux LED Pixel light into a single visual element.

 New Opel Grandland: IntelliLux LED Pixel Light

Opel’s SUV flagship is now equipped with adaptive IntelliLux LED Pixel Light. 168 LED elements – 84 per headlamp, as on the Opel Insignia – result in a seamless adaptation of the light beam according to the driving situation and surroundings, without glare for other traffic. The LED elements of each slim headlamp line up in a three-row matrix system where the functions flow seamlessly into the next level:

• For the short range, a long row of pixels continuously adapts the light focus to every curve.
• At the bright-dark border, a row of finely defined, dynamically adapting pixels ensures optimum range.
• Actual Matrix function in the middle and upper rows precisely cuts out oncoming traffic in milliseconds. Other areas remain fully illuminated with main beam.

LED daylight running lamp integrated in each headlamp gives the characteristic Opel signature. This innovative light generation makes the new Grandland the clear leader of its market segment.

New Opel Grandland: Opel Vizor

Another technology in the new Grandland that further increases the safety of all road users, especially when driving at night on dark country roads, is Night Vision. The system’s infrared camera detects people and animals up to 100 metres ahead of the Grandland in the direction of travel, based on their temperature difference from the surroundings. Night Vision warns the driver and shows the position of pedestrians, for example, in the 12-inch digital Driver Info Centre.

Clear, intuitive, futuristic: New Opel Pure Panel cockpit

User-concept is futuristic and detoxed to the essentials. Two wide screens in a single unit form the Opel Pure Panel. This fully digital, driver-oriented cockpit is intuitive to operate and makes a multitude of buttons superfluous. It comprises the latest digital technologies and delivers the most important information. Two displays welcome the occupants and create a pleasant ambience. Up to 10-inch central touchscreen faces the driver, who can therefore concentrate on driving without needing to take his or her eyes off the road.

New Opel Grandland: Fully digital, driver-oriented cockpit 

Highway Integration Assist: Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function

Also new in combination with automatic transmission is Highway Integration Assist. Using a camera and radar sensors, the system combines various assistants for making driving even more relaxed. Adaptive Cruise Control maintains the distance to the vehicle in front according to the set speed and, in combination with the active lane positioning, keeps Opel Grandland in the middle of the lane. Opel’s speed increases or decreases to follow the vehicle ahead – without exceeding the set speed – and can brake to a standstill if necessary. Thanks to Stop & Go, Opel Grandland with Highway Integration Assist automatically resumes driving from a standstill.

New Opel Grandland

New Opel Grandland additionally features numerous other assistance systems. 360-degree panorama camera makes manoeuvring easier for the driver via a front and a rear camera. Area in front of and behind the car as well as a bird's eye view is displayed on the infotainment screen. Automatic parking assistant identifies longitudinal and transverse parking spaces and steers Opel Grandland in and out automatically. Blind spot warning system prevents potential collisions when turning or changing lanes. In case of danger, a vehicle symbol lights up in the respective exterior mirror. Standard equipment of every Opel Grandland variant includes front collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, drowsiness detection and cruise control.

Top levels of comfort: Ergonomic seats and high-end infotainment

New Opel Grandland meets the highest standards not only with assistance systems but also when it comes to comfort. Ergonomic active seats for drivers and front passengers certified by the “Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.” (campaign for healthy backs) support good posture behind the steering wheel. Award-winning seats are unique in the Grandland’s class and offer a wide range of adjustments, from electric seat tilt to electro-pneumatic lumbar support. In the leather trim they offer heating and even ventilation. Comfort is further increased by “Keyless Open & Start” and the sensor-controlled tailgate that can be opened and closed by a movement of the foot under the rear bumper.

Connectivity and entertainment are provided by infotainment systems that are also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In combination with the services from OpelConnect, the top-of-the-line Multimedia Navi Pro makes travelling especially relaxing with real-time traffic information, online map updates and predictive navigation. Wireless charging in the centre console provides neat and tidy “refuelling” without cables for compatible smartphones.

Self-confident appearance: With plug-in hybrids and clear Opel Compass design

Opel Grandland Hybrid4

Class-leading technologies and high comfort are complemented by the new Grandland’s strong performance and pure, bold design. Continuing Opel’s electrification strategy, the plug-in hybrid versions deliver not only sports car-like acceleration but also emissions-free driving, thanks to their electric motors or motor and regenerative braking. Thanks to the flexibility of the multi-energy platform, Opel Grandland customers can choose their preferred propulsion system – from efficient diesel and petrol engines to electrified plug-in hybrids.

Opel Grandland Hybrid4: Propulsion system

Design displays typically clear lines. Opel Vizor stretches across the front, while the compass philosophy is also reflected at the rear. Grandland name and the Blitz brand logo stand in the middle of the tailgate.

Further accents are set by the bumpers and side panels, now painted in body colour, as well as the underbody skid-plates in high-gloss black and silver. New Opel Grandland is also available in the characteristic two-tone paint for the roof.

Opel will announce the prices and open the order books for the newly developed SUV flagship in a few weeks’ time. Deliveries of the new Grandland – “Made in Germany” at the Eisenach plant – will begin in the autumn.

Electrifying: Opel Gives First Glimpse of Future Astra

• Bold and pure: Next generation Astra newly interprets Opel design philosophy
• Driving force: Continuation of Opel product offensive and electrification strategy
• Made in Germany: Designed, engineered and produced in Rüsselsheim

Opel today released dramatic images that offer the first glimpse of the future Astra – the first generation of the German brand’s compact car to be electrified. Photographs reveal the extreme precision and high attention to detail of the eagerly awaited all-new model, which newly interprets the brand’s pure and bold design philosophy and shows the way forward for its up-coming passenger cars.

“Future Astra will open an exciting new chapter in the 30-year history of our compact class model”, says Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller. “We are confident that the next generation Opel Astra will make a powerful impression and attract many new customers to the brand.”

Opel Vizor will seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technologies

Central exterior design element is a further development of the Opel Vizor first seen on the new Mokka. Face of the brand stretches across the front, seamlessly integrating technologies such as the ultra-slim IntelliLux LED headlamps that will once again bring cutting-edge innovation to the compact market segment. At the rear, the all-new Astra nameplate is centrally placed on the sheer, taut surface of the tailgate.

Next generation Pure Panel with fully glazed displays

Same German precision applies throughout the interior. Next generation Pure Panel digital cockpit with fully glazed surfaces echoes the seamless integration of the Opel Vizor with two widescreen displays delivering detoxed information in a horizontal driver-oriented format. Physical controls are reduced to the minimum in the form of finely crafted keys. High quality of the interior customer experience is further emphasized by the shape, textures and materials used in the newly designed steering wheel and the exceptionally ergonomic front seats – a typical strength of the Opel brand.

Electrified next generation Astra continues Opel’s ongoing product offensive

Designed and engineered in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the next generation Astra will be available as a dynamic five-door hatchback and versatile Sports Tourer estate, continuing Opel’s ongoing product offensive and adding considerable impetus to the electrification of the brand’s entire product portfolio. Production will begin this year at the plant in Rüsselsheim.

More than 1,700 Opel Corsa-e for Italian Post Office

Poste Italiane orders 1,744 Opel Corsa-e battery electric cars for its emissions-free fleet

Opel Corsa-e

Opel has received an order for 1,744 new all-electric Opel Corsa-e cars from Poste Italiane, the Italian post office. Deliveries of the Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) will begin before the end of this year. The goal is a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Opel Corsa-e was selected in a public tender that was bid by leading automobile manufacturers.

With a range of up to 337 km in the WLTP 1 cycle, Opel Corsa-e is suitable for every-day use. 50 kWh battery can be fast-charged to up to 80 per cent state-of-charge in 30 minutes. Opel BEV is ready for all charging options – via wall box, high-speed charging or cable for household sockets – and an eight-year/160,000km warranty covers the battery.

Opel Corsa-e – the “Golden Steering Wheel 2020” title-holder – offers technologies and assistance systems more often found in higher market segments. Top features include the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Matrix light that Opel offers for the first time in the small car segment.

If Opel Corsa-e leaves the driving lane unintentionally, active lane assist applies gentle corrective steering. With Active Drive Assist engaged, the car is kept in the centre of the driving lane.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains a certain following distance to the vehicle ahead, using radar and camera sensors. System offers additional stop and go functionality, braking the car to a standstill and following the vehicle ahead in traffic jams. Side blind zone assist and a variety of parking assistants are also available.

[1] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.