New Opel Astra Electric: Compact Class Bestseller goes Fully Electric

• Debut: Latest generation Astra also available as battery-electric vehicle for the first time
• Pioneer: Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric first battery-electric estate from a German manufacturer
• Top performance: 270 Nm, range up to 416 km (WLTP 1), top speed of 170 km/h
• Broad selection: Battery-electric version extends drivetrain range
• Electrifying performance: Great roadholding, pure locally emission-free driving fun

Opel is opening the next ground-breaking chapter with the new Astra: today the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker revealed the first images of the new Opel Astra Electric. Brand with the “Blitz” is thus presenting the first all-electric serial production Astra in the decades-long success story of the compact class bestseller and newly crowned “Golden Steering Wheel 2022” [2] winner. But that's not all: at the same time as the battery-electric five-door, the tradition-rich brand is also presenting the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric, the first all-electric estate from a German manufacturer.

“Opel Astra Electric and the Astra Sports Tourer Electric are real pioneers: With the new battery-electric variant of the five-door and the estate, customers will benefit from everyday suitability combined with comfort, and above all with a lot of locally emission-free driving pleasure. This is what we mean when referring to sensible 'Greenovation' of mobility,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. “At the same time, we are continuing to roll out our electrification offensive. New Opel Astra Electric is an important milestone on our way to becoming a fully electric brand in Europe.”

In the future, Opel Astra customers will thus be able to choose from more drivetrain alternatives than for any other model with the “Blitz”. In addition to highly efficient combustion engines, Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer are already available as electrified plug-in hybrid variants including the new top-of-the-line model, the Astra GSe. And the range of drivetrains will soon be complemented by the battery-electric Astra Electric, which will be available to order from spring 2023.

Driving fun with responsibility: Emotional, everyday suitability, locally emission-free

New Opel Astra Electric and Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric will electrify customers. Like all Astra variants, they not only impress with their bold and clear design, but also with their responsible performance. New Opel Astra Electric conveys pure locally emission-free driving fun. Electric motor delivers 115 kW/156 hp and a powerful 270 Newton meters of maximum torque – both available from the first touch of the accelerator pedal ensuring brisk starts and convincing acceleration. And while many other electric cars are limited to 150 km/h or 160 km/h, new Astra Electric has a top speed of 170 km/h. Depending on driving preferences, Astra Electric drivers can choose between the three modes Eco, Normal and Sport.

Energy is stored in a 54 kWh lithium-ion battery. 102 battery cells are housed in 17 modules and ensure that the new Astra Electric can cover up to 416 kilometres locally emission-free in accordance with WLTP 1. The engineers attached great importance to efficient packaging and were able to ensure an exemplary range with a compact battery size. New Opel Astra Electric requires just 12.7 kWh of electricity per 100 kilometres (14.9 kWh according to WLTP 3), making it not only the perfect, efficient vehicle for everyday use, but also an ideal companion that saves time on longer journeys – as a five-door model or as a Sports Tourer estate. Even when the battery-electric Astra needs to be recharged, this only means a short “pit stop” at a charging point. The Astra Electric can be charged to 80 percent of the battery capacity in around 30 minutes at a 100 kW direct current fast charging station. In addition, the all-electric Astra is equipped as standard with a three-phase 11 kW onboard charger for the wall box at home.

Batteries are practically housed in the underbody – so no space for passengers and luggage is lost in the interior. Even with the rear seats up, Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric offers 516 litres of luggage space in the boot – with the seats folded down, the capacity increases to up to 1,553 litres. Another advantage: Low position of the battery also gives the Astra Electric and the Astra Sports Tourer Electric a safe and solid position on the road, as is typical for Opel.

Inside and out: Experience electric mobility intensively with the Opel Astra Electric

Interior also provides a particularly intense driving experience: Ergonomic Active Sport seats, optionally available in Alcantara, offer Astra Electric drivers and passengers the highest level of seating comfort à la Opel. Seats, which have been certified by Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (AGR; Campaign for Healthier Backs), offer excellent lateral stability and a wide range of manual and electric adjustment options. In this way, the driver feels even more firmly integrated into the vehicle and experiences a unique feeling at the steering wheel.

Fully digital Pure Panel with two large 10-inch widescreen displays also takes the driver into a modern cockpit world. Latest generation of intuitive human-machine interface displays all important functions such as battery charge status or range, while important settings such as climate control can still be easily adjusted at the touch of a button. And with the large E-HUD head-up display and natural voice recognition, drivers’ eyes can stay focused on the road and the traffic situation. Numerous assistance systems, from front collision warning with automatic emergency braking to active lane keep assist, drowsiness detection and rear cross traffic alert to semi-automated lane change, are bundled in the new Intelli-Drive 2.0, among others, and further enhance safety – as does the class-leading, adaptive IntelliLux LED Pixel Light with a total of 168 LED elements.

New Opel Astra Electric conveys a direct, dynamic driving feel at first glance. Bold and pure in its design, the all-electric Astra comes with the Opel Vizor brand face including an extra sporty front bumper design in every trim level. Another eye-catcher are standard 18-inch alloy wheels in diamond-cut or completely black finish. 

Here, too, the new Opel Astra Electric makes it unmistakably clear: the Opel compact class is opening a new chapter – emotional, electrifying and, for the first time, fully electric.

[1] Preliminary 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. Model not available yet.

[2] AUTIO BILD edition 45/2022 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2022, category for “Best car under €50,000”.

[3] Preliminary values determined using the more realistic WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) test method which replaces the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test procedure. A vehicle's consumption, CO2 emissions and range not only depend on the efficient use of energy by the vehicle but are also influenced by driving style and other non-technical factors. The information on consumption and emissions does not refer to an individual vehicle and is intended solely for purposes of comparison between the various vehicle types. Vehicle not available yet.

All-New Opel Astra Crowned Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023

Opel celebrated a major win at this year's Irish Car and Van of the Year awards in association with Continental Tyres, held at the Westin Hotel, in Dublin on Friday 11th November. The much-acclaimed, all-new Opel Astra was crowned Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023, seeing off stiff competition in a hotly contested category and adding yet another trophy to its ever-growing list of international accolades. The latest win follows hot on the heels of a Golden Steering Wheel award and the German Compact Car of the Year 2023 title, bestowed at the German Car Awards.

All-New Opel Astra: Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023

Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI) hosted the event, which was attended by Ireland's leading car brands, importers and distributors. Motoring journalists from print, online and broadcasting assessed each new car model launched in Ireland this year and voting took place to choose the ultimate segment winners.

James Brooks, Managing Director at Leeson Motors, Opel Importer in Ireland, said: "Team Opel Ireland is delighted with this prestigious award. Winner of a growing list of international awards, it now adds Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023 to its trophy cabinet. Available in petrol, diesel and plug-in electric hybrid, an all-electric version will follow in 2023. Sporting Opel's striking new Vizor front face on the outside and handsome Pure Panel cockpit on the inside, it is as eye-catching as it is a true performer."

Pictured from left to right are: Tom Dennigan, Continental Tyres; James Brooks, Managing Director at Opel Ireland; Joe Rayfus, Chairman of the MMAI; Caroline Kidd, motoring journalist and juror for Irish Car of the Year

Tom Dennigan from awards sponsor, Continental Tyres, said: "After the Covid disruption that impacted on the Irish Car of Year awards over the past couple of years, we are delighted to be back with these awards for 2023. The MMAI jurors provide a great service to Irish motorists in providing a really helpful insight into the broad range of increasingly sophisticated car models that are launched here each year."

Armed with the latest award, Opel now looks ahead to a busy 2023 which will see the launch of the new Astra and Grandland GSe range, the all-electric Opel Astra and the Astra Sports Tourer.

Serial Success: All-New Opel Astra Wins “Golden Steering Wheel 2022”

• Best car up to €50,0001: All-New Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer lead the field
• “Speaks for itself”: Opel wins “Golden Steering Wheel” for third time in succession
• Anniversary victory: This year’s award is 20th “Golden Steering Wheel” for Opel

Opel CEO Florian Huettl

All-new Opel Astra has won the “Golden Steering Wheel 2022”. Also electrified for the first time as a plug-in hybrid, the Astra as five-door and Sports Tourer convinced the readers of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG as well as the expert jury. Latest generation of the compact class bestseller from the German carmaker beat off strong competition to win one of the most prestigious prizes in the automotive industry as “Best Car up to €50,000” 1.

At the same time, Opel is celebrating an extraordinary series of success with the new Astra. With the “Golden Steering Wheel 2022”, the manufacturer has also won the “triple” for the first time: for the third time in a row, the award has gone to Opel. In 2020, the Opel Corsa-e [2] won the coveted award, and last year the Opel Mokka-e [3]. In addition, the current award is already the 20th “Golden Steering Wheel” for Opel.

“We have really hit the bull's eye with the new Opel Astra,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl at the award ceremony of the “Golden Steering Wheel 2022” at the Axel Springer Haus in Berlin. “Our latest compact class generation is not only convincing, but also exciting, especially as a plug-in hybrid. We are delighted that the readers of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG, the expert jury and the editorial team see it the same way.”

“All-new Opel Astra has shaken up the compact class because it has many of the qualities that you need to be successful in this segment. A large display, reasonable trunk volume and the choice of different drives – all of this on a single platform. And if that doesn't convince you, you just have to try the ergonomic seats,” said Tom Drechsler, Editor-in-Chief & Managing Director AUTOMOTIVE of the BILD Group.

Attention to detail: Opel Astra unites bold and pure design with top technologies

True to the motto “New Astra speaks for itself”, newest generation Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer are not only more dynamic than ever, but with the new brand face, the Opel Vizor, and the all-digital, intuitive Pure Panel cockpit, they also set standards in the compact class. Top technologies in the new Astra include the latest evolution of the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Pixel Light headlamps with a total of 168 LED elements. Excellent comfort is provided by the AGR-certified ergonomic seats. With a system power output of 133 kW/180 hp and high torque of 360 Nm, the electrified Astra plug-in hybrid is also great fun to drive (WLTP 4 fuel consumption: 1.1-1.0 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 24-23 g/km, combined). Five-door accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in only 7.6 seconds. The Astra is thus locally emissions-free for the first time.

Opel and “Golden Steering Wheel”: 20 winners from Rüsselsheim

All-New Opel Astra is the latest in a proud line of “Golden Steering Wheel” winners from Opel. The award, which has been presented since 1976 by the Axel Springer publishing house BILD am SONNTAG (as of 2009 in cooperation with AUTO BILD) was won for the 20th time by the German carmaker. It all started in 1978, two years after the award was founded, with the Opel Senator A.

On the way to the “Golden Steering Wheel” victory, the readers of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG are always first in line. They vote on the new cars and thus choose their three favourites in each category for the final. At the DEKRA Lausitzring racetrack in Germany, a prominent jury of journalists, racing drivers and car experts then examine the individual finalists according to criteria based on the AUTO BILD test scheme.

[1] AUTO BILD edition 45/2022 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2022, category for “Best car up to €50,000”.

[2] AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG edition 45/2020, category for “Small cars”.

[3] AUTO BILD edition 45/2021 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2021, category for “Best car under €25,000” incl. environmental bonus.

[4] Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned comply with the WLTP homologation (regulation EU 2017/948). From 1 September 2018, new vehicles are type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which is a new, more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. WLTP fully replaces the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which was the test procedure used previously. Due to more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured under the WLTP are in many cases higher compared to those measured under the NEDC. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on specific equipment, options and format of tires.

[5] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). 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.

75 millionth Opel: New Opel Grandland GSe “Made in Eisenach”

• Traditionally innovative: “Jubilee” Opel Grandland GSe combines top technologies and driving pleasure
• Birthday parties: 160 years of Opel, 40 years of Corsa and 30 years of Eisenach plant
• Legendary millionaires: Opel Kapitän, Rekord, Senator and Omega

2022 is the year of festivities at Opel – Rüsselsheim-based brand is already celebrating its 160th anniversary along with the 30th birthday of the Eisenach plant in Thuringia. And one of the automaker’s bestsellers turns 40: the successful Opel Corsa, which has sold millions of units. Now Opel can add another landmark achievement: Brand with the Blitz has reached the production milestone of 75 million units. Vehicles that have always made innovations affordable for a broad range of buyers and thus made people mobile. Highly efficient models that combine emotion and everyday practicality. As a representative of 75 million Opel cars, an electrified, locally emission-free “jubilee” Grandland GSe rolled off the assembly line today – an Opel "made in Eisenach".

"75 million Opel vehicles – a real milestone in the history of Opel’s car production. This impressive figure shows Opel’s important role in democratising technologies and mobility solutions over the decades and for the future. We are redefining mobility – with the clear goal of becoming a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028, with cars that offer driving pleasure with responsibility. Our new sporty and electrified GSe models are another step in this direction," said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

Opel recently announced that it would revive GSe as a new sub-brand for dynamic, electrified models, with GSe now standing for Grand Sport electric. New Opel Grandland GSe follows hot on the heels of Opel Astra GSe and Astra Sports Tourer GSe. It is a high-performance plug-in hybrid with electric all-wheel drive – a true pioneer in the SUV compact class.

Opel Grandland GSe combines a 1.6 turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors – one at each axle – for a strong system power output of up to 221 kW/300 hp (provisional WLTP fuel consumption, weighted, combined 1: 1.3 l/100 km; 31-29 g/km CO2). Plug-in hybrid powertrain makes the Grandland GSe a powerful sporty car with electric all-wheel-drive for optimum traction and class-leading launch from a standstill. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h is completed in just 6.1 seconds and the maximum speed is reached at 235 km/h (135 km/h electrically driven).

Like its Opel Astra GSe siblings, rerequisites for Opel Grandland GSe’s especially dynamic and fun-to-drive character lie in its unique suspension and steering calibration featuring firmer springs and dampers with KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology. This enables different damping characteristics for agile handling and superior comfort. New Opel Grandland GSe thus shows how it brings groundbreaking technologies to the compact class and at the same time combines driving pleasure with responsibility.

Production milestones: From the first million to the 75-millionth Opel

Up to the 75-millionth vehicle, Opel has launched many bestsellers and legends over more than 120 years of automobile production. With models such as the 4/8 hp “Doktorwagen” from 1909 or the 4/12 hp "Laubfrosch", Opel turned a prestige vehicle for the well-off into cars for a much broader public at an early stage.

In 1940, the one-millionth Opel is produced, a Kapitän with a self-supporting body and independent front suspension, a design which – thanks to its low weight – ensures improved driving performance and low fuel consumption at that time. The two-millionth automobile with the lightning bolt follows in 1956 – also a Kapitän. The special feature: Opel is the first German manufacturer at the time to achieve such high production figures. Accordingly, the company turns the "jubilee" vehicle into a unique car: As an extraordinary “flagship” of the brand, the cream-white Opel is given a coating of 24-carat gold on all chrome parts.

Millions follow faster and faster in the following years. Increase in production speed is not only an expression of rapidly advancing motorisation – democratisation of mobility – but also the result of production becoming more modern and efficient. Just 15 years later, in 1971, ten-millionth Opel rolls off the production line at the Rüsselsheim plant: a Rekord C Caravan. A jubilee that is also celebrated in a big way. One Opel each from the daily production of the "ten-millionth" is given to the minister presidents of those federal states in which Opel had plants at the time: Hesse (Rüsselsheim), North Rhine-Westphalia (Bochum) and Rhineland-Palatinate (Kaiserslautern).

In 1983, a silver-grey Senator CD is the 20-millionth Opel to leave the production plant in Rüsselsheim. And in the same decade the 25-millionth Opel model – an Omega A Caravan – is produced at the Opel headquarter plant. The Omega A is the brand's top model from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, and the small Opel Corsa and the Kadett successor Astra also become highly successful million-sellers in the compact class. After German reunification, around 4.13 million Astra F roll off the production line between 1991 and 1997. This makes it the best-selling Opel model to this day. The honour of the 50-millionth Opel car is once again bestowed on the Omega. It leaves the plant in December 1999 as a silver sedan of the then comprehensively updated B-generation.

And now the next big milestone follows with the 75-millionth Opel: With new Opel Grandland GSe, the brand exemplifies how especially sporty driving pleasure can be responsibly combined with emotional design and comprehensive everyday practicality. A car and drive concept with which the brand continues to advance the future of mobility. It is already clear today that a model which is also locally emission-free and then fully electric will leave the factory halls on the occasion of Opel's next production anniversary.

[1] Provisional fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned comply with the WLTP homologation (regulation EU 2017/948). From 1 September 2018, new vehicles are type-approved using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which is a new, more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. WLTP fully replaces the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), which was the test procedure used previously. Due to more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured under the WLTP are in many cases higher compared to those measured under the NEDC. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on specific equipment, options and format of tires.

All-New Opel Astra is “German Compact Car of the Year 2023”

• Best compact car in Germany: Newest Opel compact class impresses expert jury
• Clear winner: Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer with significant lead over competition

All-new Opel Astra has been named “German Compact Car of the Year 2023” 1. Independent expert jury of the “German Car Awards” chose the new generation Astra and Astra Sports Tourer as the best compact-class car in Germany, well ahead of the competitors in this segment. Innovative safety technologies, which Opel makes affordable for a broad range of buyers in the compact class with the new Astra, convinced the panel of 27 automotive experts and journalists just as much as the wide range of powertrains, including the electrified plug-in hybrid with which Astra drivers can travel locally emissions-free and especially responsible for the first time. Jury also praised the eye-catching, progressive design along with the driving pleasure and the value for money offered by the Astra. The prestigious award was officially presented yesterday evening at a ceremony in Bad Dürkheim, Germany.

“Award for ‘German Car of the Year’ in the compact class for the Astra and the Astra Sports Tourer shows once again that the latest generation is not only a real challenger but also has what it takes to be a winner in every respect,” said Andreas Marx, the head of Opel in Germany.

“Opel Astra distinguishes itself in its segment as a true all-rounder, which convinced our jury in every aspect. Incidentally, this also applies to emotional criteria such as design and driving pleasure, where it clearly distanced itself from the competing models," said Jens Meiners from the GCOTY jury.

Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer: Eye-catching driving pleasure

During extensive test drives, judges took a close look at new Opel Astra. Driving behaviour, usability, comfort and many other aspects were considered. Disciplines in which latest generation of the compact class bestseller shines. With a system power output of 133 kW/180 hp and strong torque of 360 Newton metres, electrified Opel Astra plug-in hybrid offers pure driving pleasure (WLTP fuel consumption2: 1.1-1.0 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 24-23 g/km; both combined). Five-door accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds. All-new Opel Astra is thus locally emission-free for the first time.

Intuitive operation of infotainment and assistance systems is made possible by new HMI interface (Human-Machine Interface), learly designed, all-digital Pure Panel cockpit with extra-wide touchscreen and only essential switches, such as for air conditioning. State-of-the-art technologies such as the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Pixel Light headlamps with a total of 168 LED elements make driving more pleasant and safer, especially in the darker months of the year. AGR-certified (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) ergonomic seats for driver and front passenger, for example in Alcantara, ensure top travel comfort.

“German Car of the Year” award is being presented for the fifth time this year. Independent jury of experts, currently consisting of 27 jurors, selects the respective class winners in five categories – compact, premium, luxury, new energy and performance. Selection of the competition participants is based on objective price and market availability criteria. Election was held for the first time in 2019.

[1] German Compact Car of the Year” (compact class category, up to €30,000).

[2] Values determined using more realistic WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) test method which replaces the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test procedure. Vehicle not yet available. A vehicle's consumption, CO2 emissions and range not only depend on the efficient use of energy by the vehicle but are also influenced by driving style and other non-technical factors. Information on consumption and emissions does not refer to an individual vehicle and is intended solely for purposes of comparison between the various vehicle types.