Astra translated from Greek means “star”. The inhabitants of Hellas believed that from the dust -falling dust star, that amazing flower with the radiant petals diverging in all directions, called “Asteros” – Astra – Astra. In the modern world, Astra is also a popular golf class model from the German concern Opel. At the end of last year, a new star was lit in the automobile sky – Astra of the new, fourth generation, and more recently, the production of the machine was deployed in Russia at the GM Automobile Plant in Shushara. True, the hatchback of still foreign assembly got to the test, while the sedan in this generation has not yet been expected.
As you know, they are met by our clothes, in the case of cars, by design. And if the previous Astra sample of 2004 surprised at one time by the modern technical desilation, completely ceasing to be boring, then the new image, invented by the chief designer of the concern Mark Adams, even seems to be a breakthrough for the brand. Those who have never seen Insignia are unlikely to recognize the Opel brand car in the new Astra!
Astra really became different: the smooth body contours, close to a single -volume layout, squat doll -like silhouette, a combination of sharp faces and clear lines, spectacular substettlement on the sidewall… Stylish! But why is the front edge of the hood is located so high, absurdly crossing the front? The quirk of a stylist? No.
It turns out that such a design is safer for pedestrians, and repair for small accidents will cost cheaper. And how do you like headlights with fashionable daylight elements on LEDs? The last designers gave an interesting “boomerango” shape, repeating it in double size in the figure of overall lights in the rear lights. By the way, in order not to overload the headlights themselves, the designers moved the turn signals down, combining them with foglights. By the way, a complex optics with mobile elements of AFL system, which can “look” for a turn, is available to order. Hingle wipers are hidden into the aerodynamic shadow of the hood of the hood, so as not to create additional air resistance and aerodynamic noise.
As is adopted today, the new “Astra” grew 17 cm in length, 6 in height and 2 in width. The track has increased, both the front and the back. In relation to the previous generation, the wheeled base of the new Astra grew by 71 mm – to 2685. All these centimeters should have a beneficial effect on the salon. By the way, a new “Astra” was built on the World “Tail” Delta II, which formed the basis of the Chevrolet Cruze and promising hybrids Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt.
Increasing status
The interior of the hatchback continues the concept begun outside. Curled lines, polished surfaces and the overall layout of the cabin create a unique comfort that you will not meet either in the stiff and frankly boring “golf” or in the elaborate Mazda3. The details are given great attention here. Modern multifunctional steering wheel, devices in a chrome edging with a radial arrangement of numbers are illuminated by white, and at night the salon flies a red glow emanating from the gearbox panel. Tough creaky panels inherent in the “Opel” from the last century, apparently, finally sunk into oblivion. The interior Astra became pleasant to the touch, solid, but the abundance of buttons on the central console confuses. You will have to get used to working with them “blind” for more than one day.
Convenient chairs were very pleased, while in our configuration they are a sports option, with excellent lateral support and a sliding knee roller – it was not for nothing that they were awarded a special certificate of German orthopedists. In the center of the front panel, like the previous model, there is a screen of an on -board computer, which increased significantly in size. Instead, by the way, you can order a navigation system, while its display will be even larger in size. A pleasant “innovation” was the usual steering levers of turn signals in return for the previous ones, which had the “one touch” function for rebuilding, after which they had to click up and down several times in desperate attempts to return to the zero position. The handbrake here is like on “Insignia” – a regular button, and the machine is automatically removed from it when touched. And for the first time, the rim has heated the rim for the first time in the classroom.
It is nice that in the cabin now there are many drawers and shelves where you can fold everything that can be useful on a trip. Glasses, for example, perfectly lay down on the driver’s door, and the mobile phone – into the recess on the central console. And in the door pockets, bottles of up to 1, 5 liters in front and up to 1 liter in the back are now placed in the doorway. Well, of course, there is an input for USB, the ability to connect the phone and the like that already included in the use of the option. The central armrest extends forward, allowing the driver of any complexion conveniently settled. I must say that Astra has the makings of the transformer: the depth of the department on the central tunnel due to the double bottom can be adjusted (or hid smuggling there). The same “chip” – in the trunk, where 370 liters of useful space can be turned into 550 liters in one motion, and back the rear sofa – 1235 liters. You can also install the FlexFloor option in the trunk. This is essentially a folding shelf, it can occupy three levels in the trunk, thereby it provides a different loading height and divides the volume into two parts in different proportions.
The passenger part of the cabin has become more spacious than before. By the way, at first glance it may seem that the falling line of the roof is simply obliged to create problems with high passengers. Nothing of the kind! Two tall men will sit here with complete comfort – verified!
Instead of levers
On the move, the new Astra is perceived more solid than the previous. And the point is not at all that noise insulation is noticeably improved, although it is felt, but that Opel engineers worked well with the “iron” – increased the hardness of the body, strengthened the engine supports, reconfigured the suspension. In particular, Watt’s mechanism was introduced into the rear suspension – two rockers connected by a rotary central lever with ball hinges at the ends. This mechanism increases the rigidity of the suspension for better rotation, minimizes the side displacement of the beam that affects the car during turns, and smoothes tremors from irregularities. This design allowed engineers to make the silent blocks more elastic, thereby reducing the noise and vibration. And most importantly, according to the “pendants”, they managed to combine comfort and handling, while when using an ordinary beam, only one thing can be achieved-either the smoothness of the stroke, or a pleasant “taxiing”. The front suspension uses a conventional McPherson with two upper supports separating the load into springs and shock absorbers. In addition, to reduce the unsubstantiated masses, rotary fists and the lower front suspension levers are made of aluminum, and the steel stabilizer of the pure stability is made by hollow.
And for sure – in the chassis settings of the new Astra, the breed is already felt: accurate, but not sharp reactions, good information content of the steering mechanism with an electric power mounted on the rail. In steep turns, Astra with minimal rolls clearly prescribes the trajectory, holding on to the asphalt until the last. And most importantly – no dips characteristic of cars with a half -dependent rear suspension from the course at the joints of the coating. True, before the refinement of the VW Golf chassis with a multi -link behind, conveying the slightest nuances of the suspension, the Astra system almost reaching. And with the brakes the same story: there are no serious complaints, but if the Golf pedal force can be dose with jewelry, then the Astra driver has to get used to.
But progress in comparison with the previous generation model is obvious. Another highlight of the chassis of the new Astra was the optional Flexride suspension as on the flagship “Insignia”, which allows you to change the algorithms of the operation of the units with one click of the button. When moving to a sports mode, the steering wheel is slightly heavy, the gas feedback becomes a little more acute, and the electronic shock absorbers are slightly tougher. But Astra and at the same time remains relatively comfortable. Road ripples begin to come to the body, but this does not create discomfort. But the rolls become smaller. Best change of Flexride modes is noticeable in the operation of the “automatic” – in sports mode, it persistently holds reduced gears. However, the 6-speed unit is good and in the usual mode: it goes up neatly and smoothly, jumps down very quickly and almost without delay. Nice bonus: when changing the diets, the instrument lights also change – from soft white to aggressive red, even more excitement of feelings.
But a 1, 6 liter engine with a capacity of 115 liters. With. It seemed to me not powerful enough for this car. But, most likely because he is wearing a tough environmental “collar”. However, in the range of engines for the new “Astra” there are units for every taste. From 100-horsepower 1, 4, aggregated only by “mechanics”, up to 1, 6 Turbo with a capacity of 180 liters. With. (up to 100 km/h in 8, 5 seconds, and the maximum speed with a manual gearbox is 260 km/h.). There is also a boost of 1, 4 with a capacity of 140 “horses”, which is able to disperse the “Astra” from zero to hundreds in 9, 7 seconds, and achieve in the end 205 km/h). Several diesel engines are also available for Europeans.
The new generation of Astra became not only more beautiful, more comfortable and economical, but also stronger. The hardness of the torsion body increased by 43%, by bending – by 10%. Based on the results of the Euro NCAP crash tests, the car scored the maximum possible assessment-5 stars. Experts especially highlighted the configuration of the new products with active head restraints and a double seat belts system that allows the passenger to stay in his chair in a collision. Such components allow you to do without equipment by car airbags for the knee area. In total, the new Opel Astra received six airbags, as well as the traction control system, the course stability system, ABS. For the first time in the class for “Astra”, a system for tracking the marking, a system for tracking the driver’s fatigue, a system for reading Opel Eye road signs, adaptive turning Bixenon AFL+ with nine (nine (!) modes and other systems.
We will take
Did I like the new Astra? If we take this “Opel” as a product of modern engineering, then yes. A very good apparatus with a mass of consumer advantages. But if we consider the car in terms of design and emotions, which, in my opinion, should certainly give birth, then here I can put only a weak “four”. Despite many spectacular details, in general, the machine turned out some kind of “gray”. I drove past – and then a beautiful and even impeccable image “scattered” and forgotten. Well, if at the same time I managed to make out the Opel nameplate. However, someone is such a “non-procurement” on the hand, for example, so that the neighbor does not envy. And he can, especially after he finds out the price. The basic version of “Astra” from 1, 4 (100 liters. With.) and a 5-speed manual transmission is offered for 569,900 rubles. It is a lot or little? In my opinion, the price tag is not just adequate, but very pleasant. For comparison: basic Chevrolet Cruze with a more powerful engine 1, 6 (113 liters. With.) it costs more than 630 900, and the main ideological competitor is VW Golf (again with a more powerful engine of 1, 6 l) – from 612,000. However, 1, 6-liter Astra will cost almost the same amount-605 900. Our copy pulled 750,000, but I remind you, in the maximum configuration – kosmo. Opel Astra warranty is 2 years without mileage restriction. Interordial mileage – 15,000 km.