Opel Astra GTC test drive since 2011
Test drive of the new Opel Astra GTC: Keeping traditions
The Kolesa.ru portal was pleased with the work of the Opel designers, appreciated the work of the OPCs engineers, and once again complained to the environmental trends of the global automotive industry that strangled the heart of the stylish Opel Astra GTC. I counted the previous Astra GTC Htc and I still consider one of the most beautiful three-door golf classes. The chopped edges of the contested appearance were so harmoniously collected in a single silhouette that the tongue did not turn to call the body a banal hatchback. Sportsup is not otherwise. And not in vain behind the wheel of a stylish GTC Generation H In most cases, representatives of the strong half of humanity turned out to be.
Opelians did the new five -door Opel Astra J already for girls. The invited and pretty appearance of the average soap dish is pretty, but not exquisite. It does not have a single memorable or even controversial detail that could be discussed for more than thirty seconds. To match and air at any speed, which is why a completely uninformative steering wheel, gullies and a mandatory attribute of the female machine smooth automatic transmission. It was such in October of the eleventh year that we had a five -door Opel Astra J. for the test.
And it was with the feeling of some bias that I went to the test of the latest Astra GTC generation J, which recently appeared in the showrooms of Russian dealers.
Official photos of Opel advertising photographers were not deceived: the new Astra GTS really looks excellent. The car is beautiful from any angles. And although, in comparison with the previous series, the new three-door lost in brutality, pressed and slightly spread along the road, emphasized by swollen wheel arches, still looks rapidly.
Moreover, thanks to the competent distribution of space inside the body, the Opelians were partly avoided, the main drawback of almost all three -door coupe of the tight second row and a small trunk. Of course, the process of hitting the back row still resembles an acrobatic sketch with obligatory wiping out the outerwear of thresholds and central rack, however, with my 180 cm growth, getting gray behind it is quite comfortable: a couple more centimeters of the reserve remains before the front seats and the ceiling.
But the three -door choice of a person who is clearly not burdened with caring for passengers. And a stylish three -door compartment is completely bought for yourself a loved one. And in this regard, Opel Astra with the GTC index can offer not only the exterior attracting attention.
The interior of the front of the cabin, copying the usual Astra J, is distinguished by one, but very important detail with sports seats, which even received an AGR certificate (independent group of doctors and experts of Germany in ergonomics). And although the option is like a sedushki, it is worth paying for them. Eight adjustments, including the lumbar rush electric drive and a change in the length of the edge of the pillow, will conveniently get a person of any height, and the developed lateral support will hold the driver tenaciously when active driving.
And for this most active ride, Opel Astra GTC has four power units, of which we got a 1.4-liter gasoline turbo engine with a capacity of 140 horsepower. The engine, already familiar to us from the test of a five -door astra, did not cause stormy emotions then. However, our GTC turned out to be equipped with a mechanical six -speed gearbox, which, unlike an automatic five -door tested last fall, significantly better reveals the potential of a non -powerful engine.
The encouraging numbers in the column of technical characteristics, like 200 Nm of torque, reached in the range from 1850 to 4900 rpm, have not caused anticipation for a long time to light up. Turbilno today is the privilege of not sports versions, but only the necessary optimization, strangled by environmental standards, engine. And the 1.4 -liter motor of the new Opel Astra is a bright confirmation of this.
Despite the widest range of traction, the engine issues the main return in the first third of the tachometer scale, simulating the starting acceleration. But, the further the flip arrow climbed, the very acceleration came to nothing. And it was precisely in the search for the optimal operability of the engine of the new Astra GTC that the mechanical checkpoint was very useful, the six programs of which, with the clarity of the time included at the right time, allowed the Astra did not fall into the mud face in front of the neighbors in the stream.
Opel engineers also worked on the suspension settings and, which especially pleased, over the steering. And the five -door Astra held onto the road perfectly, allowing you to pass the turns at speeds above the average without tension. However, the empty steering wheel, as if from a game console, repelled all desire to test the car on lateral overloads.
In the GTC, the steering force on the steering wheel is greater, informativeness, compared with the five-door Astra, is noticeably higher, but the sensations are still artificial. Together with the full -time front suspension, High Perfomance Strut, which was worked on the OPC court atelier, the Opel Astra GTC manageability can be praised. The car hunts in turn, allowing you to clearly determine the limit of stability, but complete unity with the car does not occur due to the same computer steering wheel.
As a result, Opel got a fairly interesting machine that will, first of all, delight the eye and its own pride, which should make a stylish and very attractive car. But to complete the driver, moreover, with very good chassis settings, Astra GTC should be selected with the engine more powerful and always with a manual box. Then the three -door compartment will be able to please and the spirit
Opel Astra GTC price
Prices for a three -door astra begin at 696,900 rubles. The basic equipment of Enjoy is characterized by the presence of a gasoline atmosphere 1.8 (140 hp) with a five-speed mechanical gearbox and a very good equipment, which includes ABS and ESP, the front suspension Hiperstrut, 4 airbags, air conditioning, a radio with 7 speakers and control on the steering wheel, cruise control, full of an e-retrocket and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The version of Sport is distinguished by more developed front chairs, a two-zone climate control, rear parking, heating the front seats, an inch drive more and slightly different interior design. The surcharge for all this will amount to 70,000 rubles with the same engine and box.
Also, three more turbo engines are offered for Astra GTC: two gasoline and one diesel. With a motor 1.4 (140 hp), the minimum price will be 716,000 rubles, with an engine 1.6 (180 hp) 771 000 rubles. Solor Opel Astra GTC will cost at least 826,900 rubles. Surcharge for a machine for all three versions 35,000 rubles.
It is worth noting a rich selection of optional equipment, the prices of which, traditionally for Opel, are very humane.
The choice of the portal kolesa.ru
Although, the owner of even the basic version becomes famous for the original, first of all, for the completeness of joy, you should not save on the engine. The diesel engine has a moment of almost 400 nm, and the most powerful gasoline 180-horsepower engine remains in a reasonable price category. The main thing is not to succumb to the temptation of comfort and choose precisely the mechanical gearbox.
It is better to save on options by choosing an Enjoy version with obligatory sports seats and some inexpensive functional packages at the discretion. In the end, GTC will look good in any case, while remaining in the optimal price category without a feeling of overpayment.
Our choice: Opel Astra GTS Enjoy 1.6 MT6 + sports seats (20,000 rubles) and the color of the Matallik (10,000 rubles). Total: 801 000 rubles.
Opel Astra GTC: Technique Case
Although, Astra GTC is built on the platform of the usual Astra J, there are so many changes that the three -door is related to almost one name and the general motor gamut. Instead of standard McPherson front racks, GTC has a suspension with a swing fist without additional rods called High Perfomance Strut. The rear suspension is a Watt mechanism with a half -dependent scheme is the same as on a five -door version, only with changed settings.
Due to the innovations, the front track expanded by 30 mm, the rear by 40 mm. The road clearance decreased by 15 mm and is quite acceptable 145 mm. In the settings of the electric power, a gear ratio has been changed for the sake of the best feedback.
Competitors Opel Astra GTC in the Russian market:
Volkswagen Scirocco
Renault Megane Coupe
Source: Wheel magazine [February 2012]
