Test drive Opel Astra sedan since 2007 sedan
Opel Astra New: In the New Class
Laudable? Enthusiastic? And what to do if the new Astra is really a breakthrough in its class. She, perhaps, even missed the compact segment for a couple of steps both in equipment and in terms of finishing and behavior on the road. Unique. This word sounded at the presentation of the new generation Opel Astra, which took place in Frankfurt, regularly. And it did not matter what designers, engineers, marketers and managers said this unique for the Opel brand, this is unique to this class, it is unique. And, apparently, it was no coincidence that the presentation was so detailed, ranging from a brief course of aerodynamics and ending with a closed test training ground, the Opelians are frankly proud of the new model.
How can it be otherwise? Astra beloved star in the constellation Opel, because it is this model that accounts for as many as one third of all the sales of the brand in the world. Traditionally, the world prefers five -door hatchbacks (Russia, of course, has its own special way), and it is with the renewal of this body that the new story of Astra begins. This is not a reservation for a red word, the new Astra model is really a revolutionary one.
To make sure of this, just look at the car. Astra 2010 speaks with us in the new designer Opel, which was first used in Insignia: a complex and at the same time elegant form of headlights, ultramodern fog, daring food, a silhouette of a compartment, huge disks with low -profile rubber, a roof fin. The headlights, by the way, are rotary, which significantly improved the quality of road lighting.
If earlier a five -door model, especially against the background of a stylish and rapid three -door, looked boring and simple, now it is not to take his eyes off the car. It remains only to look forward to the appearance of the new three -door Astra, and then the station wagon and the new generation sedan.
The new Astra is 17 cm longer, 61 mm wider and 2 cm higher, the wheelbase increased by 71 mm. She generally looks much more solid and more expensive. And we have not seen the salon yet
When you open the door of the new astra, it seems that you accidentally got into another car, the class above. It all starts with the door. As experts involved in sound insulation said there are different types of noise: noise itself (from which you need to get rid of) and sounds. Sounds can be unpleasant (for example, a zummer of an unhealthy seat belt) and pleasant. One of the important sounds in the cotton car of the closing door. It is not for nothing that many remember the sound of a slamming door of the Mercedes as sounding the luxury of the car. The new Astra is not Mercedes, but its doors are really closed with the sound characteristic of more expensive cars. It seems that the Opelians did not deceive, when creating the car, the results of hundreds of motorists of different countries, both men and women were really studied.
What uniquense to start? Well, at least with seats. Even the basic seats were developed according to the consultations of the German medical association AGR (movement for the health of the back), for which the drivers will say special thanks, whose growth is higher or lower than the average. The seat and the steering wheel are adjusted in such a large number of ranges that it is impossible to not choose the perfect landing. The uniqueness lies in the fact that in the seats (available as an option) a retractable section, which solves the problem of too short seat. Even we, women, have no complaints about ergonomics, and this is worth a lot! Although one is still there and it is very serious: the need to adjust the back tilt is fraught with injuries, the hand barely crawls between the middle counter and the adjustment wheel.
The interior is illuminated using the so -called spotlight, which creates soft comfort in the car. On the seats, the steering wheel and the gearbox lever is a stylish white spit. The steering wheel itself boasts competent tides on a rim, as well as its own Uniquense for this class! As Opel designers specified, this option was developed by Specially for Russia. The handbrake is a regular key. On the one hand, the key does not take so much space on the one hand, on the other, it requires addiction. By the way, it is automatically removed when touched.
Thank you very much for the usual levers of the turn signals: unlike the previous ones that had one touch for rebuilding, after which they had to click up and down several times in desperate attempts to return to the zero position, new turn signals work according to the classical principle. The central console is made in the form of a mobile phone this solution is no longer unique (for the first time we met in the new Fiesta), but it is still fresh. Add the tar: the console is strewn with so many small buttons that it is not easy to figure out right away, ripples in the eyes. It’s really a lot that climate control control, audio, navigation, and phone. The joysticks of navigation and audio systems are one under another, and it costs nothing to get confused. It is happily that the display of one on it is clearly and in detail all the necessary indications: climate, navigation system, audio system, DVD, depending on the priorities. At the top of the mobile phone, a modest emergency room and buttons Sport and Tour, but we will talk about them later.
Navigation is another Unique machine. Not only maps, but also sights near the current location with photos and detailed information, as well as shops, restaurants and other important objects are loaded in memory. We and I managed to evaluate the work of navigation at full capacity when we turned off the official route and fled to an unauthorized Wiesbaden. Natasha (yes, the Russian language is available! And there is even a real chance to see the option on Russian cars) coped with the task as a real guide.
Well, of course, the input for USB, the ability to connect the phone and the like that already included in the use of the option.
In the piggy bank of German experts, another compliment, apparently, were careful: the new Astra was not just deprived of the lack of places for trifles (which the last model suffered), it seems to provide for any whims, cup holders, pockets for bottles in the doorway, Even a holder for coins. But Boxing was especially touched under the front passenger seats according to research, most women carry stilettos in the car, and just a spacious box is intended for them. Guys, well, you knew! Despite the fact that the wheelbase has become larger, there is no particular spaciousness in the rear seats. The sofa is matured for two, the third spare place in comfortable mode can serve as an armrest with cup holders and boxing for things.
The next uniquense system Flexfloor. The floor in the trunk of Astra has three positions. In the lowest, the trunk will allow you to transport a high cargo, on average large -sized, the trunk floor line coincides with the arms laid out, in the third floor coincides with the height of loading, which allows you to put small things into the trunk. The height of the floor changes easily and quickly. In Europe, the car is offered with a repairman, and in the Russian market, most likely, there will be a dock. The spare wheel will not change the functions and volumes of the trunk.
And, finally, Uniquense, from which the Opelians themselves seem to be sincerely delighted with a built -in bicycle holder! The mount is moved directly from the number and allows you to fix two bicycles. The system was tested at a speed of 250 km/h (eh, why German unlimited autobahns only in Germany!). How much this option will be in demand in Russia. From such a functional and practical machine, you no longer expect a daring nature? And in vain! Under the body of the new Astra, perhaps her main surprise is hidden. To experience this, we went to the closed dud Opel Dudenhofen in the vicinity of Frankfurt.
A dozen types of road surface, 16 types of fuel of different quality, ninety -sorted turns in such conditions were tested by a new Astra. And judging by the camouflaged prototype flickered among the trees (you can’t shoot here!), Now they drive a three -door of a new generation. The test driver drove us through all types of roadbed, including a broken concrete, and the car clearly demonstrated: it really can be talked in, practically without raising the voice.
But the most interesting in the novelty is the chassis that works as a mechatron system. In front of the McPherson suspension, and behind a semi -dependent beam, combined with Watt mechanism, which provides amazing stability and maneuverability, without sacrifice comfort! On the road, this mechanism helps the longitudinal levers to withstand side displacements and shocks from the irregularities of the road, reduces the load on the rear bridge, allowing more plastic bushings to significantly reduce the noise and vibration from the road. This is really UNIQUENESS used for the first time in the world, despite the apparent evidence. The system is covered with Opel.
How is this realized in practice? Continuous emotions! Smooth and comfortable movement is replaced by acute -angle turns, into which the car enters with a hysterical screech of tires. It feels like a tire scree is just a sound effect, and the flickering of landscape elements outside the window is four times accelerated with some cunning computer program, this does not happen here and not with this machine. And at this time, the real Astra bursts into a turn at a serious speed and not a millimeter without the slightest effort from the driver! does not deviate from the trajectory. The information content of the steering is at the highest level. Also, Astra for the first time in the compact class is equipped with an intellectual electronic damping control system - Opel Flexride, like the flagship Insignia. Using Flexride, you can change the suspension settings, the steering wheel power steering and the response to the accelerator pedal, choosing one of three modes: standard, comfortable Tour and incendiary Sport. Although in fact, the system constantly analyzes the driving style and, if necessary, adapts to circumstances. A pleasant bonus: when changing the modes, the backlighting also changes from the soft lilac to the aggressive red.
Opel has prepared eight motors for buyers, four gasoline and diesel. In the Russian market, alas, diesel engines are still in question, although there is still a chance to see them on sale, it is currently being discussed. We will definitely sell gasoline: turbocharged and atmospheric, with a volume of 1.4 and 1.6 liters, with a capacity of 100 to 180 hp. It is worth noting that 1.4 Turbo is more than a worthy unit, and even from a 1.6-liter simply blows a roof. As for diesel engines, heavy fuel engines have a volume of 1.3 to 2.0 liters and power in the range of 95-160 hp. Motors are aggregated with five-speed mechanics (hopeless 1.4- and 1.6-liter and 1.3-liter turbodiesel), six-speed mechanics and six-speed automatic. Mechanical gearbox is beyond praise, to blame the machine in sluggishness, the tongue will not turn either.
Laudable? Enthusiastic? And what to do if the new Astra is really a breakthrough in its class. She, perhaps, even missed the compact segment for a couple of steps both in equipment and in terms of finishing and behavior on the road. Unique suspension operation, excellent motors, advanced security systems (marking system, tracking system for the driver’s fatigue, a system of reading road signs, etc.), heating the steering wheel, high -quality decoration of the salon, a thoughtful ergonomics (not counting the scattering of small buttons and illuminated adjustment of the inclination The backs of the seats), magnificent sound insulation. Despite the promises of the Germans, not to increase the cost of the new items significantly, it is not believed that the car will cost around 500,000,700,000 rubles, as before, however, there is a hope that, due to the production of the new astrail at the St. Petersburg plant, the prices can be kept.
In Europe, the sales of a five -door hatchback of the new generation Opel Astra will begin in December. Cars will begin to be supplied to Russia in early 2010. A year later, a start to produce a new model at the Russian plant General Motors is planned.
Svetlana Aleeva
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Stylish design
Magnificent salon and thoughtful ergonomics
Options inherent in a higher class
High -quality sound insulation
Acute controllability, excellent dynamics, excellent stability and smoothness
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Numerous small keys on the central console
Terrible adjustment of the back of the seats
A source: Carclub.ru
