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Opel Astra test drive

The French Revolution by Philippe Lacroix

Five years ago Opel came under the control of PSA and today

the new generation of the Astra marks the beginning of the

undeniable revival of its range. Starting price €25,050.

The world is changing at full speed as PSA
and FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automoiles) joined
forces in December 2020 to give birth to
Stellantis in January 2021. This means that
the German brand will be drowned in a group
of 14 car makes. This is enough for it to
lose its identity, and it was necessary to put
some order in the company by establishing a
hierarchy and taking into account the needs
of each. So, among the general brands: DS, gearbox blocks of the same origin, and with meaning that the Opel is more comfortable.
Alfa Romeo and Lancia have been classified the automatic gearboxes from the Japanese But it’s benefit is most obvious in urban areas
in the “premium” category, Peugeot and Opel Aisin. The petrol engine is a 3-cylinder 1.2-litre where it can achieve 60 kilometers in silence
as “general superior”, while Fiat and Citroën turbo engine with 110 and 130 bhp, a 4-cylinder and without emissions. Also, for those who
are classified as “standard” so as not to have 1.5-litre diesel engine with 130 bhp and a only use their cars for long journeys, the 130
to say basic or even inferior! A classification plugin hybrid composed of a 1.6-litre turbo hp petrol engine is still of interest as it is lighter
that is more subjective than objective if we petrol engine with 150 bhp and a 110 bhp (and much cheaper), it is more responsive and
remember that the chevron brand gave birth electric motor. The system develops 180 hp, more fuel efficient on the highway.
to the DS19, an iconic car of the 20 century, coupled with an 8-speed automatic gearbox
th
which revolutionized the automobile world (starting price €33,550). A 225 hp version will A particularly successful style
with its design and technology. The grandeur be available at the end of the year and an 100% This new Astra offers a full range of driving
and decadence have been orchestrated by electric Astra will come on the market in 2023. aids, and the head-up display is popular, as is
Peugeot and now confirmed by Stellantis, the 360° camera which is very useful for tricky
whose Portuguese boss, Carlos Tavarès, likes Welcome comfort maneuvers. Finally, the 4.37 metre long Astra
to promote “German quality”. It is nevertheless strange to note that Stellantis is particularly well styled with a sleek design
continues to do without a “hybrid” version, the and very thin L-shaped headlights, giving it
Petrol, Diesel and Hybrid model that is the main seller of its competition. a certain Italian elegance. The dashboard is
So, there you have it, the new Astra will be Even Renault has understood its market value in the same vein, with two large screens that
based on legendary Germanic reliability, which and has no regrets. Astra will have to rely on its form a single block, legible and functional.
is sort of ancient history, because although “rechargeable hybrid” model to play the green The modular boot has a good capacity (up
it is assembled in Germany, it is built on card. Its performance on the road is highly to 1,340 litres) and is also practical, although
a platform already shared by a number of satisfactory and its handling impeccable, the batteries of the plug-in hybrid version
Peugeots, Citroëns and DSs, with engines and inevitably reminiscent of the Peugeot 308, reduce it by 10%.

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