GM Europe has released official images and info on the Opel Astra Sports Tourer, which will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show and go on sale in November.
The Sports Tourer is the wagon version of the popular C-segment Astra hatchback, which has collected over 160,000 orders in six months. It’s an important car for Opel, as wagons traditionally account for about 25% of Astra sales in Europe, higher than the segment average of 17%.
Load volume can be easily adjusted between 500 and 1,550 litres via the FlexFold Rear Seat system, which allows each section of the 60/40 split-fold rear seatbacks to be lowered at the press of a button located in the side walls of the cargo area. A spring is electrically released, activating quick, remote seat folding. With the seatbacks down, the cargo load length is increased to 1,835 mm, 28 mm more than the current Astra wagon. Besides that, occupants enjoy 25 litres of extra storage space inside the cabin.
Opel says that this wagon offers the same level of comfort and agility as the hatchback. First, its footprint and 2,685 mm wheelbase is unchanged while the rear compound crank/Watt’s link suspension has been modified for higher load capabilities and better support during cornering. In addition, FlexRide adaptive suspension provides a choice between standard, sports and touring modes and Trailer Stability Assist counteracts the tail wind produced when lugging a caravan trailer.
Engine options include eight petrol and diesel units. New to the range are two 1.4-litre turbocharged petrols; a 120 bhp six-speed manual and a 140 bhp six-speed auto. Sure to be more popular that those is the 2.0 CDTi with 180 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. This diesel option comes with an overboost button and sips only 5.1 litres of fuel for every 100 km (19.6 km/l). All manual transmission cars have a gear shift indicator coaxing you to drive economically.
