Thursday, 8 October 2015

!NEW! All-New Opel Astra Impresses with Best-in-Class Total Cost of Ownership

  • Consumption champions: 1.6 CDTI only needs 3.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers
  • Low maintenance: Service intervals of 30,000 kilometers the longest in the segment
  • Residual value champion: Up to 10.9 percent higher than for predecessor
  • Price breaker: Up to € 5,000 cheaper than comparable premium class vehicle

All-New Opel Astra impresses with the lowest running costs in its class
The new Opel Astra is setting standards in efficiency, design, connectivity, with technologies from higher segments – and for the total cost of ownership. In order to make full use of this brand-typical strength, the Opel engineers always kept the following priorities in mind during the development process: low fuel consumption, reduced running, maintenance and repair costs along with high value retention due to high product quality. This is how the new Astra has managed to outshine its competitors in the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) stakes.


The residual value of the All-New Opel Astra is up to 10.9 percent higher than for the outgoing model.

A further argument in favor of the new Astra is: Astra buyers can save around €5,000 compared to buyers of compact class cars made by the premium manufacturers. A fully equipped Opel newcomer, including IntelliLux LED® matrix light, the latest generation IntelliLink infotainment systems, the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar with a powerful Wi-Fi Hotspot for up to seven devices, ergonomic seats with massage function and all of the driver assistance systems, comes in around €1,500 below the basic and quite plain version of some competitors – that is saving the Astra way.

“The new Opel Astra was created from the proverbial white sheet of paper. That shines through in every details. Quality, design and economic efficiency are at a very high level, ultra-modern engines and quality workmanship also speak for our bestseller. With these attributes the Astra is setting standards in its class and should be even more popular with customers and especially fleet managers,” said Jürgen Keller, Executive Director Sales, Marketing & Aftersales Germany.

Cost management à la Astra: Clever and practical

No compact class car is more cost conscious and economical than the new Astra. The combination of modern, lightweight construction – the new Opel Astra is up to 200 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model – outstanding aerodynamics (Cd of 0.285) and Euro 6 engines of the latest all-aluminum generation helps the new Astra deliver impressive best values.

Most streamlined Astra ever: Exemplary drag coefficient of 0.285.
On average, The 1.6 CDTI with 81 kW/110 hp in the five-door variant only consumes 3.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (90 grams of CO2 per kilometer).

All-New Opel Astra equipped with the 1.6 CDTI (81 kW/110 hp) the  delivers average fuel consumption of only 3.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers.

And its brother, the 1.0 ECOTEC turbocharged gasoline engine with 77 kW/105 hp, even manages to deliver one of the best values in the segment when combined with Easytronic 3.0 – it then only emits 96 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

 All-New Opel Astra equipped with the turbocharged 1.0 ECOTEC (77 kW/105 hp) gasoline engine and Easytronic the  only emits 96 grams of CO2 per kilometer – one of the best values in the entire segment.
The Astra also scores on running costs. Service interval of 30,000 kilometers are the longest in this vehicle segment and accommodate company car and frequent drivers. Advantageous insurance premiums – the new Astra falls into the same affordable category as the outgoing model – are also easy on the budget. Opel is also cutting expenditures in one of the most costly sectors for private and fleet car owners all under the motto “one size smaller”. 15-inch wheels with 195/65 R15 tires and 16-inch wheels with 205/55 R16 tires are the new standard. Compared to the predecessor this can lead to savings of up to €47 per tire when replacements are required.

The Astra engineers also considered maintenance and repairs at a very early stage. Therefore, Opel already have a stock of recycled components including important spare parts such as cylinder heads, transmissions, alternators, brake calipers, fuel injection pumps and diesel particle filters. All of these parts meet the Opel new goods standards in terms of quality, technology and design while simultaneously reducing the workshop bill by 30 to 40 percent.

A festival for professionals: Outstanding residual value

Even though the Astra was already an extremely popular fleet car, the new generation or compact car looks to increase its appeal even further. The designated bestseller reaches and outstanding level of quality thanks to ultra-modern production methods and high-grade material – and this has an impact on the TCO-relevant residual value. The predicted residual value of the newcomer is on average five percent high than for the outgoing model. For the 1.6 CDTI Business with 81 kW/110 hp this add up to 10.9 percent after three years and 90,000 kilometers, resulting in savings of €3,188 for the owner.

The new Opel Astra with the 92 kW/125 hp 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo shows similarly good credentials. Given a 5-year holding period and mileage of 100,000 kilometers, the predicted residual value is 7.1 percent higher than for a comparably model of the outgoing generation. Total savings amount to €2,984. Opel Astra 1.4 ECOTEC Business is also exemplary when it comes to fuel consumption. The direct injection gasoline engine delivers consumption of 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers, which is equivalent to 114 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

All-New Opel Astra equipped with the new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo (92 kW/125 hp) emits only 114 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Thursday, 1 October 2015

!NEW! Sneak Preview of the New Opel Astra TCR

  • Opel to present the new touring car in Belgium on October 15
  • Development of racing car with roughly 330 hp going according to plan
  • TCR seen as ideal field for outstanding touring car customer racing

Powered by Opel: New Astra TCR comes with a two-liter turbocharged engine with roughly 330 hp.
Development of the new Opel Astra TCR for the young but already hugely successful Touring Car Racing Series (TCR) is going according to plan. The customer racing touring car based on the new Opel Astra will be presented to the public for the first time at the official TCR presentation scheduled to be held on the Circuit Jules Tacheny in the Belgian town of Mettet on October 15, 2015.

For customer racing: New Opel Astra TCR racecar.
The Astra TCR, developed by Opel Motorsport in conjunction with long-standing technology partner Kissling, comes with a two-liter turbocharged engine with roughly 330 hp and a string of technical highlights. The racing car will continue the long tradition of customer racing at Opel with its symbiosis of close-to-production but high performance and spectacular technology.

The TCR Series, launched for the 2015 season, offers the perfect playing field for professional customer teams. Thanks to the three-pillar concept, a TCR vehicle can race in national and continental championships along with the global TCR International Series – all of which have exactly the same homologation. Germany will have its own TCR racing series with the ADAC TCR Germany. Furthermore, a TCR class will be introduced for the ADAC 24h race on the legendary Nürburgring, thus further increasing the possibilities for the Opel Astra TCR.

!NEW! Opel ADAM S Wins Autonis Design Award

  • Best Design Newcomer 2015: Convincing win for Opel ADAM S in mini car category
  • Public opinion: 17,000 auto motor und sport readers cast their vote
  • Honored: Vice President Design Europe Mark Adams accepts award 

Opel ADAM S
Small Opel, big splash: The ADAM S pocket rocket was one of the big winners at the “autonis – Best Design Newcomer 2015” readers’ choice awards. A huge majority of the 17,000 participants voted for the Opel ADAM S as the best-looking car in its class.


Opel KARL – the practical sibling of the stylish Opel ADAM – finished a respectable fourth in the mini car category.

Opel KARL 
Furthermore, the new Opel Astra claimed the bronze medal behind the BMW 1 Series and the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake in the highly competitive compact class category.

New Opel Astra 
“17,000 readers cannot be wrong! The convincing win of the Opel ADAM S is a fantastic confirmation of our design philosophy: Sculptural Artistry meets German Precision. In addition, the Opel ADAM shines with sheer endless individualization possibilities, giving every customer the opportunity to create an Opel ADAM according to his/her personal taste. And seeing our new Astra immediately break into the phalanx of German premium brands is also a huge success. As already said: the new Astra upsets the luxury class,” said jubilant Mark Adams, Vice President Design Europe, at the award ceremony in Stuttgart.

Best Design Newcomer 2015: Vice President Design Europe Mark Adams (center) accepts the “autonis” for the Opel ADAM S from the hands of auto motor und sport editor-in-chief Jens Katemann and deputy editor-in-chief Birgit Priemer.
The autonis readers’ choice award held by automotive magazine auto motor und sport follows its own set of rules: Each participant can votes, two for positive and two for negative assessments. The final result is based on following calculation: If, for example, 20 per cent vote for model A as the winner and five per cent see it as a flop, model A receives overall score of 15. This result then determines the final position of model A. The Opel ADAM S received an outstanding overall score of 50.1; the closest competitor only achieved a score of 29.8. The editors of auto motor und sport thus commented in their latest edition: “Opel ADAM S – incredibly versatile in configuring an unmistakable look.”