Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller has revealed new details about the next-generation Astra. Speaking to Automotive News Europe, Lohscheller confirmed the car would ride on the EMP2 platform which also underpins an assortment of other vehicles including the Peugeot 308 and 508. This had been expected and the executive admitted as much as he said, “Obviously we share the same platform, which is a big benefit of our company.”
While wagons are declining in popularity,
there “absolutely” will be a new Astra Sports Tourer. Lohscheller didn’t say
much about the model, but his confirmation should appease fans who want space
but don’t want to buy a crossover.
Lohscheller went on to say the Astra will
be offered with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. A number will
likely be shared with the Peugeot 308, which is available with a 1.2-liter petrol
engine that has outputs of 109 hp and 128 hp.
Customers can also get a 1.5-liter diesel that produces 128 hp and 300 Nm of torque.
More importantly, the 308 is offered with
two plug-in hybrid powertrains. Both have a 1.6-liter engine, an electric
motor, and a 12.4 kWh battery pack that provides around 60 km of
electric-only range. The entry-level variant produces a combined output of 148
hp and 360 Nm of torque, while the other has 178
hp and the same amount of torque.
In other news, spy photographers recently
caught the Astra undergoing cold weather testing. The prototype is heavily
disguised, but it’s expected to feature a Mokka-like face and a more pronounced
shoulder line. We can also see streamlined bodywork and a more curvaceous rear
end.
