Opel Astra GTC test drive since 2011
Opel Astra GTC. Carelessly
Opel Astra GTC, which saw the light in 2005, was in the spotlight. And it was not deprived of commercial success: it was a third of all the sales of the brand. But the designers of the current version did not limit themselves to easy restyling of a successful model of a compact GT Opel Astra GTC. Price: from 696 900 p. On sale: since the beginning of 2012
Stanislav Shustitsky, 56 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 26 years, personal car - Chevrolet Lanos
How accurate our proverb is greeted by clothes, but they are escorted by the mind! I put the five for clothes Astra GTC as soon as I saw the car. And then there was a distribution of advances: such a beautiful car is simply obliged to justify the hopes for an impeccable ride. Designers not only brilliantly worked on the project, but also managed to convince technologists that beauty is more important than pragmatism. And perhaps the beliefs did not need to see the projects of the project, made, according to Mark Adams, the main designer Opel, in one breath. The solution of the exterior is just as spectacular as only a few strokes on the body panels, but they emphasize both personality and family traits. The touch on the door panel resembles the solution used in the form of Insignia: the upper rib that begins with the door handle and the encircling the back of the car. And if the appearance of the previous version of Astra GTC was spoke to an excellent degree, then the current image is even more beautiful. In general, the thesis is expressive of forms combined with German accuracy, chosen by designers, justified itself.
At the height and the salon of the novelty. I heard that the complaints caused not very convenient seats of the predecessor. Here, the basement seats are equipped with the largest number of adjustments in the segment, which allows the driver of any height and physique comfortably located, and you can optionally choose seats with eight adjustments and four options for lumbar support. The option that received a certificate of the German organization of specialists on issues
health of the spine. There are no serious differences in the interior of the salon from the 5 -door Astra. And it’s right that from good to look for good: everything is ergonomically and quite impressive. On the door panels, characteristic strokes of the pen. As for the volume, it can also be increased optionally. Firstly, it is a multi-level FLOX Floor of the luggage compartment, and secondly, an electric parking brake that needs to save space on the central console. Here, in short, with regard to the clothes. The organizers of the test drive not in vain chose for the presentation of Opel Astra GTC the island of Mallorca. These are excellent scenery and an excellent opportunity to test the car on mountain serpentines. And there is no doubt that driving will enjoy if a 1.6 -frail turbo engine with a capacity of 180 liters at hand. With. and mechanical 6 -speed KP. True, the explosive nature I expected did not show Astra GTC. No, 100 km/h for passport 8.3 seconds, she honestly gains, but perhaps I wanted to see the ideal in everything. But the car is controlled excellently and on the road stands like a glove. The developers of Opel Astra GTC spoke about innovation in the suspension at the evening press conference, starting with the fact that the chassis of the 5-door Astra and Astra GTC are two big differences. The GTC wheelbase is 10 mm longer, the distance between the front wheels is increased by 40 mm, and between the rear by 30 mm. The clearance has become 15 mm less than the five -door. The suspension design itself has also changed. The front is equipped with Hiperstrut racks (similarly with the design of 325 -horsepower InSignia OPC) with independent rotary fists. Compared to the classic McPherson, this solution allowed to reduce the axis angle when turning the wheels by 44%, and reduce the shoulder of the location by 46%, excluding the effect of parasitic steering. In addition, the angle of transverse tilt of the Hiperstrut racks is reduced by 6 degrees, which made it possible to increase the stain of the contact of the rotary wheels. The original suspension is original, where a transverse beam with a changed profile with the Watt mechanism is used. The connection is schematically looks like this: traction, fixed on a small transverse beam, with the other, through ball joints, attached to transverse levers directly related to the wheels. Such a scheme provides excellent exchange rate stability, and when turning it works like a multi -link suspension, minimizing the transverse movements of the wheels. In addition, such a mechanism can significantly reduce the side loads acting on the rear suspension, which allows you to use softer silent blocks. And this makes the suspension more comfortable. The Astra GTC chassis is equipped with an adaptive Flexride damping system, which is automatically adjusted to both the character of the road and the driving style.
The designers represented the Astra GTC chassis with pride
The Flexride system also has three control options changed by pressing buttons: universal Standart, comfortable Tour and Sport active driving mode. In each of the modes, not only the rigidity of the suspension changes, but also the angles of the opening of the throttle, and the severity of the steering. Moreover, even in Tour mode, steering, as they say, is quite informative. It is worth adding here that in the design of the steering Astra GTC, an adaptive electrical power is used with an effort adjustable in speed on the steering wheel.
Now about the engines. In the Astra GTC arsenal there are three gasoline turbocharged engine (two 1.4 with a capacity of 120 and 140 hp and 1.6 with a capacity of 180 hp) and turbodiesel (2.0, 165 hp). As for Russia, in addition to machines with turbo engines, a version with a 1.8 atmospheric will be delivered to our market, in addition to machines with turbo engines. With. Astra GTC with a diesel engine will also be supplied, but its power in the Russian version will be 130 liters. With. A version with a 1.4-liter engine with a capacity of 140 liters. With. It will be equipped with both a mechanical KP and a six -speed automatic.
LDW, FDI systems warning about leaving the occupied strip and reduction of distance
And also about the set of functions available to the new Astra GTC. These are assistance systems for the driver, the base for which is the modernized Opel Eye front camera. Among them, the system of warning about the exit from the occupied strip, fixing the intersection of the road marking line and is included at a speed of more than 55 km/h, as well as the recognition system of road signs, which operates in a radius of up to 60 m. In addition, the use of the new Opel Eye camera allowed Improve the adaptive system of head lighting, supplementing it with an intellectual system for assessing the intensity of the light flow. There is also a system for determining the distance to ahead of the coming car.
UV re -read all of the above and recall the TV show how it is done. But the trait with two I thought Hiperstrut racks or a rear beam with Watt mechanism, when the Astra GTC drove along the narrow serpentines of the Mallorca. I just enjoyed driving this car. The pleasure was also enjoyed (once again the designers) the car turned out to be just amazing. Summing up the test drive, I can note that both the meeting on clothing and the wires (not without regret) passed the mind on the highest emotional note. Whatever you say, but Russian proverbs are very well -aimed
The turbo engine 1.6 with a capacity of 180 hp not an engine for the ORS version, but impressive
We do not love
The trunk transforms, changing the volume from 380 to 1165 liters. Practical
The turbo engine 1.6 with a capacity of 180 hp Not an engine for the ORS version, but impressive. Powerful
LDW, FDI systems warning about leaving the occupied strip and reduction of distance. Comfortable
Driving
You get real pleasure from him. I have repeatedly caught myself thinking that I did not want to look for cons.
Salon
No complaints. Perhaps the inclination of the front racks limits the visibility of the turns.
Comfort
The suspension is comfortable, but without rolls.
Safety
And with this, too, everything is in order five stars in the tests of Euro NCAP.
Price
Quite reasonable. And a decent selection of configurations is present.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Great interior design. Excellent control of controllability and comfort. A good selection of configurations.
Perhaps, in addition to the angle of inclination of the front racks that interfere with the review when turning on a mountain road, there are no minuses.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions 4466x1840x1482 mm
Gasoline engine, 1600 cm3, 180 l.C./5500 min-1, 230 nm/2200-5400 min-1
Mechanical transmission, 6 -speed
Dynamics 220 km/h, 8.3 s to 100 km/h
Fuel consumption is 7.2 l/100 km in the fun. cycle
Competitors Renault Megane Coupe, Volkswagen Scirocco
Our opinion
Without a doubt, in the Russian market, the car will be used, if not popular, then stable demand. Firstly, because he is beautiful. Secondly, thanks to a number of innovative solutions. Thirdly ... No, this is perhaps the most important thing from the Opel Astra GTC management enjoy.
Source: Magazine 5 wheel [January 2012]
