2009-06-18

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New Generation Opel Astra: Re-interpreting Opel’s Dynamic Design

Rüsselsheim. The next generation Opel Astra brings a new look to the compact class, with its strong sporty lines, elegant surfaces and its own interpretation of the brand’s award-winning design language.

Designers have taken Opel’s new philosophy -- sculptural artistry combined with German precision – to the compact class. The same wing and blade styling cues first seen in the mid-sized Insignia are still given to the five-door Astra, but with a twist.

The new generation Astra has a slim but low trapezoidal grille with the bold Opel logo integrated in it. The blade sculpted into the side panels of the new generation Astra sweeps upward and visually connects with the side windows line, giving the car balance and harmony.

Eagle eye-shaped headlamps that encompass the prominent signature wing daytime running lights emphasis the low, sporty character. A graceful flowing silhouette connects the new car’s muscular shoulder lines with an expressive rear to make it sporty yet elegant.
 
“We carried forward the work we began with Insignia,” says Mark Adams, Vice President Design GM Europe. “This time we’ve given our design language a fresh expression for the compact class segment. Think of it as if the Insignia and Astra are members of a family. You can recognize the same gene pool, yet each car has its own personality and character.”

Slim silhouette, elegant face adds visual excitement and confidence

Sculptural artistry is evident in the flowing forms of the design, while German precision is clearly visible in the crisp feature lines and the jewel-effect of the headlamp and rear light detailing. There are even links to Opel’s past, where the side window line and the C-pillar shape of the Opel Kadett coupé have been reinterpreted in a modern way for the new Astra.

“The new Opel Astra is a culmination of years of work – not just by our team, but from the sweat of the designers working on the nine previous generations of Astra and Kadett cars,” says Uwe Müller, chief designer of the Astra. “We used some graphics from the past, but made them crisper and more modern. We revolutionized the shape by making it more sculptural.”

The new generation Astra has fast yet curvaceous lines that lend the car its sporty look. It has a strong, cab-forward silhouette with a steeply-raked windshield and falling rear roofline. Like the mid-sized Insignia, the new Astra has a muscular stance that is dynamic, elegant and purposeful without being aggressive or brash.  

The raked A-pillars flow into a diving hood-line which culminates in narrow headlamp units, housing lights mounted on a dark inner surface, adding depth and a three-dimensional quality. The signature wing graphic on the daylight running lights sits inside sharp, eagle-eye headlamps.

The front indicator lights are now located separately in the front bumper recesses and are accented with chrome, while the neatly shaped repeater units are set into the upper front fenders.

Inverted blade motif: Variation on a distinctive Opel theme

A tense but crisply-executed soft shoulder line runs along the side of the body into the sculpted rear light units. Above, the car’s windows are fully encircled by a matte chrome frame, unique to the compact class, for a premium character.

Pressed into the side panel just ahead of the rear wheels is the unmistakable blade motif, echoing the distinctive design cue in the front doors of the Insignia. On the new Astra, though, the blade swings upward in a rearward movement, providing the compact with its own individual identity.

In profile, the car’s dynamic proportions are accentuated by the triangular shape of the rear side window, the falling roof, the wraparound rear screen and the upward direction of the blade feature. They all appear to flow together to give the vehicle a sense of movement and harmony.

Expressive C-pillar gives the new Astra a coupé look

For the C-pillar area, the precision of the execution, the moldings and its details, represent another major step forward in Opel design. The side view hints at a sporty, almost coupé look, but on opening the rear doors, the impressive size of the Astra’s generous rear passenger accommodation is revealed on this five-seat compact.

Viewed from behind, the new Astra brings a more dynamic visual appeal to the traditional hatchback look without any loss of space or versatility. The shoulder line extends along the side of the body into the sculpted rear lights in one, continuous flow. Designers achieved the muscular rear proportions by creating strong rear body shoulders, combined with a wraparound C panel and tapered rear window.

The taillight units are set apart to accentuate the width of the vehicle’s stance. Coupled with the massive, powerful shoulders and V-graphic with tapering lines, the effect is an athletic, bold and expressive view from the rear.

Seen at night, rear lamps – looking almost like four wings – mirror the contour of the front headlamps. The inner lamps also feature a double Opel signature wing graphic, giving the car a distinctive night time appearance.
 
The sporty appearance is enhanced with a clean, upper rear spoiler, which introduces a dynamic visual element to the upper body while improving aerodynamics.

Safety first – but sleek styling never comes last

From the start, designers and engineers collaborated to cover all safety requirements. Together they developed a new, intelligent bumper intended to minimize damage in front and rear collisions, reducing injury to pedestrians and passengers and saving money in repairs and insurance. That long, forward cab is the result. On the new Astra, it is not only a safety feature but one which adds to its sleek styling.

The enhanced team also worked together to streamline the new generation compact car. The Astra was given a compelling shape designed to cleave the air as efficiently as possible. Its sleek silhouette functions as an extension of the roofline and was carefully crafted to increase air pressure on the rear without adding drag.

Contacts:

Vijay Iyer
Tel: +49 (0)6142 7 73864
Mobile: +49 (0)170 339 5900
vijay.iyer[at]de.gm.com

Nathalie Van Impe
Tel.: +49 (0) 6142 -7-66166
nathalie.van.impe[at]de.opel.com

 

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