November 30th 2022
Opel has been offering the Astra in Europe for the last 32 years featuring ICEs, but this ends with the 2023 model year. Available in hatchback and wagon body styles, the new 2023 Opel Astra will be all-electric, similar to its French sibling, Peugeot E-308. As the EV is based on Stellantis platform created for combustion engine–powered vehicles, the appearance is very close to them as well.
The automaker says the Astra Sports Tourer Electric will be the first all-electric wagon from a German company. However, Porsche won’t accept it as the Taycan Cross/Sport Turismo is also a wagon EV. Similar to the Peugeot E-308, the Astra EV is a front-wheel-drive-only car with one motor. It generates the same 156 horsepower (115 kilowatts) but the torque rating increases by 10 Newton meters (7 pound-feet) to 270 Nm (199 lb-ft).
Apart from the additional torque, the Astra also delivers more range of 416 kilometers (258 miles) compared to the E-308’s range of 400 km (248.5 miles) on the WLTP cycle. Both Astra and Peugeot E-308 use a 54-kWh battery pack (51 kWh usable) that requires 30 minutes to reach 80 per cent charge at a 100-kW DC station.
Opel also boasts a higher top speed than most other EVs on the market. The Astra EV can go as fast as 170 km/h (106 mph) compared to other EVs offering either 150 km/h (93 mph) or 160 km/h (99 mph).
Regarding the cargo space, the Astra wagon EV has 516 litres of space after the rear seats or 1,553 litres with seats folded. It is a lot less than the combustion-powered Astra rated at 608 liters or 1,634 liters.
Astra will hit the roads next spring and will also be available in the Plug-in hybrid flavour. Called the Grand Sport Electric (GSe), this is the flagship model in the current lineup, creating 225 hp (165 kW) and 360 Nm (265 lb-ft). It will also be accessible in hatchback and wagon body styles.
With lots of new electric vehicles getting ready to start a new life, Stellantis gears up for its electric future in Europe, where the brand will sell only EVs by 2030.
Source and Images: Motor1