!NEW! Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI Hatchback: The Spicy One

• Powerful: 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI with 118 kW/160 hp
• Major plus-point: Maximum 350 Nm torque from only 1,500 rpm
• Agile and efficient combination: Lightweight architecture and latest diesel technology

New Opel Astra is one of the lightest cars in its segment and with the new 1.6-liter twin-turbo engine, few cars can match the Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI for power, performance, refinement and fuel economy

If you are the kind of person who likes hot chili sauce on his toast and you are in the market for a sensible yet spicy five-door hatchback, the Opel Astra with the all-new 1.6-liter BiTurbo diesel engine is the car for you (NEDC combined cycle fuel consumption: 4.1-4.0 l/100 km; 109-106g/km CO2). The Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds; accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 7.5 seconds; and keeps loping on to a maximum speed of 220 km/h. This blend of high performance and modest fuel consumption makes the twin-turbo Astra one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact class.

Despite the high performance, the modest fuel consumption of the twin-turbo engine makes the new Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact class.

In addition to outstanding fuel efficiency, flexibility (or pulling power) is the major plus-point of the top-of-the-line 118 kW/160 hp engine. The maximum 350 Newton meters of torque are available at only 1,500 rpm. In combination with low mass – the new Astra is up to 200 kg lighter than the previous model – and good throttle response, the BiTurbo gains speed quickly from low rpm. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the four-cylinder engine with sequential, two-stage turbocharging revs smoothly and progressively up to the maximum power output at 4,000 rpm. The engine is also very refined, making the Astra’s passenger compartment a particularly quiet, comfortable and roomy space in which to travel.

“When we launched the Astra last year, its combination of space, equipment, comfort and connectivity shook up the competition in the compact class”, says Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel CEO. “The new Astra is one of the lightest cars in its segment and with the new 1.6 liter twin-turbo engine, few cars can match the BiTurbo’s unique blend of power, performance, refinement and fuel economy.”

In addition to outstanding fuel efficiency, flexibility is the highlight of the new 118 kW/160 hp Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI engine. The maximum 350 Newton meters of torque are available at only 1,500 rpm

An all-new lightweight architecture provides the basis for both the five-door Astra hatchback and the Sports Tourer.

Smartphone integration and the groundbreaking personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar enable ultra-modern connectivity. The Astra also continues Opel’s tradition of bringing features previously only available in higher market segments into the compact class, such as IntelliLux LED Matrix lights.

These qualities have already won the Astra many prizes. In addition to the 2016 European Car Of The Year title, the new Astra has picked up international awards such as SAFETYBEST 2015 and the 2015 Golden Steering Wheel. It also received the maximum five stars for its performance in the Euro NCAP crash test. Opel Astra BiTurbo hatchback is a winner of important comparison tests in the automotive media too. In Germany, Auto Zeitung (edition 10/2016) headlined, “Opel Astra beats the premium league” after the new Astra’s victory over the Mercedes A 220d and BMW 118d ; and Europe’s biggest car magazine, AutoBild (edition 17/2016) announced that the Opel Astra “even leaves BMW behind.”

Prices for the new five-door Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI begin at € 27,310.

!NEW! All-New Buick LaCrosse goes on sale in China next month

New sedan will take performance, fuel efficiency and comfort to new level

All-New Buick LaCrosse

SAIC-GM’s new-generation Buick LaCrosse sedan, which goes on sale in China next month, will come with new high-efficiency powertrains and an upgraded chassis. It will take performance, fuel efficiency and comfort to a new level in the premium passenger car segment.

Highly Efficient Powertrains

The new Buick LaCrosse is being offered in China with a choice of powertrains. The top-of-the-line LaCrosse 28T is powered by GM’s high-performance 2.0T SIDI engine, which was named a Ward's 10 Best Engine. The engine incorporates advanced technology such as a twin-scroll turbocharger, intelligent inline direct injection, a tooth camshaft drive chain, a variable displacement oil pump and an integral balance shaft mounted low in the oil sump to maximize efficiency.

New Buick LaCrosse 28T is powered by GM’s high-performance 2.0T SIDI engine.

Paired with an upgraded intelligent six-speed DSS transmission and incorporating start/stop technology, it generates a maximum output of 192 kW and peak torque of 350 Nm. The powertrain combination enables the new Buick LaCrosse to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds while achieving combined fuel consumption of 7.6 liters/100 km.

The new Buick LaCrosse 20T is equipped with GM's new-generation and efficient 1.5T SIDI engine, which features an advanced structural design and cutting-edge technologies. They include mid-mounted direct injection, a variable displacement oil pump, an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold, a patented ultra-quiet inverted-tooth camshaft drive chain and an all-aluminum split cylinder block.

New Buick LaCrosse 20T is equipped with GM's new-generation 1.5T SIDI engine.

The engine is matched with a seven-speed intelligent dual-clutch gear transmission and includes fuel-saving start/stop technology. The powertrain combination produces a maximum output of 125 kW, peak torque of 252 Nm and combined fuel economy of 6.2 liters/100 km. The new Buick LaCrosse 20T is eligible for the Chinese government’s 50 percent purchase tax cut for vehicles with small-displacement engines.

Enhanced Chassis System

The new Buick LaCrosse has an upgraded chassis system. It comes with GM’s second-generation Continuous Damping Control (CDC). A sensor monitors road conditions 100 times per second to maximize comfort and handling. Younger drivers will appreciate the specially tuned Sport mode, which ensures better handling – especially in cornering.

New Buick LaCrosse’s upgraded chassis.

The optimized MacPherson front suspension in the new Buick LaCrosse has a class-leading decoupled three-link upper suspension structure that independently passes on the load of the springs, bumper blocks and dampers to the body for faster response. A redesigned eight-point full-length sub-frame connects the body using four vibration isolation joints and four enhanced connecting points. 

A multi-link independent rear suspension isolates vibrations while offering sufficient lateral rigidity and stability. An upgraded Electric Power Steering (EPS) system provides precise and highly efficient steering control by boosting the motor power by 39 percent and enhancing transmission efficiency to over 85 percent.  

New Buick LaCrosse’s upgraded chassis.

The LaCrosse has been a key member of Buick’s lineup in China since the nameplate’s local introduction in 2006. Last year, more than 83,000 LaCrosse sedans were sold nationwide.

!NEW! Opel Astra Sports Tourer - Best Compact Ever in 100,000 Kilometer Endurance Test Conducted by Trade Journal auto motor und sport

• 104,800 test kilometers without the slightest technical problem
• Best car ever tested in highly competitive compact class
• Driving comfort and long-distance performance impress the editors

Opel Astra Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTI

The respected trade journal auto motor und sport will publish the results of its endurance test with the Opel Astra Sports Tourer CDTI in tomorrow’s issue (12/2013). In the test article the author writes, “In terms of reliability, it completed the 100,000 km distance with flying colors and confidently stormed its way to the top of the defects index hit list for its class, easily claiming the number one position. Touché!“

The compact station wagon went into service for the Stuttgart editors on April 21, 2011 and covered exactly 104,800 test kilometers. During this time, the 2.0-liter diesel Astra only went into the garage for scheduled maintenance visits. In the summary, auto motor und sport thus certified the Sports Tourer’s especially high level of quality: “After almost two years and 100,000 demanding kilometers, the Astra Sports Tourer had no defects and only slight signs of wear. Opel deserves a lot of praise for that.”

The editorial office has a highest ranking list of all endurance tests. In the compact class, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer is now at the top, ahead of the VW Golf, the Mercedes A class and the Toyota Prius. Opel was the only car that did not need to make a non-scheduled garage visit during the long-term test. In contrast, the second-place car had to be repaired three times. With a defects index 2, the Astra Sports Tourer also achieves the second-best value ever of all cars tested by auto motor und sport. So fittingly the endurance test was headlined “Opel, the most reliable”.

Opel brand values precision, efficiency, reliability

With this headline, auto motor und sport alludes to the slogan “Opel the reliable” used for the first time in 1936. The German automaker advertised its products like this until the early 1980s. Now this key phrase is again the focus of the QUALITY!2022 strategy, in which Opel has set itself the goal of becoming better with each new product in order to be an industry leader in quality by 2022. Not only the Opel Astra Sports Tourer endurance test result impressively confirms that Opel is on the right track. The number of warranty claims for new passenger cars has also fallen by 50 percent since 2000.

Vice President GM Europe for Quality Thomas Simon is very pleased with the Opel Astra’s spotless endurance test result. “Our quality offensive is in full swing – and it’s obviously a real success. Now we want to go a step further. Typical Opel values are precision, efficiency and reliability. These obligate us to develop and build all new vehicle generations, bodies and powertrains in the best-possible quality.”

First-class driving comfort ensures best long-distance performance
Quality is not only apparent in technical reliability, but also in everyday suitability. auto motor und sport describes this in the Astra endurance test as follows: “You get into the car and immediately feel perfectly at home in it.” The reasons listed for this include the excellent seats, great suspension comfort, large luggage compartment capacity and the powerful yet economical diesel engine with 350 Nm torque. So all told, the editors see a “convincing touring car” in the Sports Tourer that also gets plus points for good traction and effective heating in the winter. The author summarizes, “The Astra shows its best side on long journeys.”