The new Opel Antara. Official Press Release.

[Andaluz]

New Opel Antara targets European growth market



Opel has issued the following press release:

Following the enthusiastic reaction to the Antara GTC crossover concept car at the IAA 2005, Opel launches this year the five-door production version of the new Antara (...)

“Now the production version is ready. It realizes our high ambitions in the growing crossover market, as it takes the coupé-like sporty character of the three-door Antara GTC concept, and transforms it into a dynamic, elegantly designed five-door series-production model, with five seats and remarkable interior versatility.” Prices for the new Antara - with 2.4-liter-gasoline engine - will start at 26,850 euro. “That is a very modest price for such a high-value crossover,” adds Visser. While the opening of the GM Europe Design Center in Rüsselsheim today provides the first opportunity to see the new model, the Antara will make its public world premiere at the Mondial de l´ Automobile in Paris (September 30 – October 15, 2006). (...)

High ground clearance, large wheels and robust protective elements all round are defining characteristics of the new Antara, as are its compact dimensions (length x width x height: 4.57 x 1.85 x 1.70 meters). (...) The Antara’s V6 gasoline engine has 3.2-liter displacement, output of 165 kW/224 hp, and comes with an automatic transmission with ActiveSelect function. Opel expects the 110 kW/150 hp, 2.0-liter common-rail turbo-diesel to be the top seller. It is available with a five-speed manual gearbox, or with the same automatic transmission as the V6 engine. The entry-level engine is a 2.4-liter, 104 kW/141 hp, four-cylinder gasoline unit with two overhead camshafts and one balance shaft.

Read the full Press Release @ http://www.globalautoindex.com/news.plt?no=1456#

here is the link to Opel Media Centre -> http://media.gm.com/servlet/Gateway...s/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=81&docid=25655

 

[Yperion]

Quite nice but i 'm sure that the new VW Tiguan or whatever it will be called will be even better. That's always the case with Opel and VW. Opel makes nice cars but VW makes class leaders.

 

[Andaluz]

Opel makes nice cars but VW makes class leaders.

Yeah...but the current Astra MK5 beats the current Golf MK5 in every way.

 

[Snake Vargas]

Nah, I reckon the Golf is much better looking than the Astra, inside and out; and despite the decrease in material quality (vs. the IMO general standard these days) of Golf V vs. Golf IV and its contemporaries, I think the Golf V still feels nicer inside.

I'll leave build quality out - our Golf Vs are built in South Africa and haven't been spotlessly perfect. The Astra hasn't got drivetrains to match, either - that 1.8 petrol should be in a museum, and same with the 4-speed auto to match it. Sure, it might not be popular in Europe, but here, it's a deal breaker, to me.

---

Anyhow, back to the Antara. The outside is pretty forgettable. I'm not a fan of this neo-Opel wedgier design. However, the interior looks quite nice - decent colours, materials and a comfortable looking steering wheel. Let's hope it feels nice, too.

 

[Yperion]

Yeah...but the current Astra MK5 beats the current Golf MK5 in every way.

I have read many-many comparos between the two and Golf won all of them actually. Furthermore the Golf GTi is in a class of it's own leaving the competition far behind.

 

[Andaluz]

Nah, I reckon the Golf is much better looking than the Astra, inside and out; and despite the decrease in material quality (vs. the IMO general standard these days) of Golf V vs. Golf IV and its contemporaries, I think the Golf V still feels nicer inside.

You are kidding right?

The Golf looks dull and tired. It only looks decent in GTI or R32 trim. The standard versions are pretty dull to look at.

The Astra manages to look good in any trim. It looks much more bold and fresh than the "Toyota Yaris-like" Golf.

Again with the exception of the sportier versions, the Golf interior is pretty dreary.

Have you sat in the new Astra?

I did and I liked it a lot. The car feels much better built than the old one.

The new Astra feels very solid and the interior has better layout than the Golf.

I'll leave build quality out - our Golf Vs are built in South Africa and haven't been spotlessly perfect. The Astra hasn't got drivetrains to match, either - that 1.8 petrol should be in a museum, and same with the 4-speed auto to match it. Sure, it might not be popular in Europe, but here, it's a deal breaker, to me.

First off, the 1.8 16V ECOTEC 125 Bhp was idely praised as a good engine

Second, the new Astra features an all-new 1.8 16V Direct Injection engine with 140 Bhp and furthermore, the Astra 1.9 16V CDTI produces 150 Bhp. That's 50 Bhp more than the 1.9 TDI from the Golf and 10 Bhp more than the 2.0 16V TDI FSI from the Jetta and Passat.

Every review in Britain stated the Astra is an much better car than the Golf. Besides, the Astra topped the Golf in Germany.

Yeah...your precious Golf is no longer the best selling car in Germany. The Astra is the new leader.

Jesus...you German Car fanboys don't even give a chance to poor Opel...even when Opel deserves a praise.

 

[Andaluz]

I have read many-many comparos between the two and Golf won all of them actually. Furthermore the Golf GTi is in a class of it's own leaving the competition far behind.

And I have read several comparos including even a review done by Jeremy Clarkson and the Astra won all of them.

BTW: Accordingly with Clarkson, the Astra is even a better car than the BMW 1-Series.

The Golf GTI is Overrated. Give me a Ford Focus ST over the GTI any day!

 

[Yperion]

BTW: Accordingly with Clarkson, the Astra is even a better car than the BMW 1-Series.

According to Clarkson Jaguar for example makes much better cars than the Germans so who cares what he says.

The Astra has a stone age rear suspension, light steering wheel with no feel at all and 5 speed gear box that stucks everytime you try to make a fast change. Also for cost reduction it has drums in the rear wheels and the instrument that shows the temperature of the fluids has been removed.

 

[MikeJ]

Jesus...you German Car fanboys don't even give a chance to poor Opel...even when Opel deserves a praise.

You do know Opel is a German brand, right?

It's all about personal preference, you know. I'm sure the new Astra (which I have not driven) is a much better car than the old one (which I have driven), but then again it desperately needs to be since that one and the one before it were so far behind contemporary Golfs (which I've also driven) that it hurts. No matter how good the new one is, I still wouldn't consider an Astra... I just don't like anything about it.

But enough Astra vs. Golf talk, this thread is about the Antara. Which looks like a worthy competitor to the Japanese/Korean brands that currently dominate this market in Europe.

 

[Yperion]

But enough Astra vs. Golf talk, this thread is about the Antara. Which looks like a worthy competitor to the Japanese/Korean brands that currently dominate this market in Europe.

That's for sure. BTW this looks very similar to Chevrolet Captiva:

Probably the two models share the same platform.

 

[Snake Vargas]

Wow, I'm impressed. I've never seen such a big fan of Opel in my life! I have nothing against them, I try to be impartial, badge-wise. I just don't think the Astra is as good a car as the Golf. I don't care what Clarkson or any other reviews say (and please find me one - I don't believe you). I don't care whether it's a better seller or not - that was never the gauge of a better car.

The GM 1.9CDTI might make 150bhp, but that's so easy with forced induction. You just raise the boost more. Who cares. Plus, we don't get this 140bhp 1.8L 16v engine. The old 1.8L was widely praised as a good engine, but no longer - it is now outclassed, and not least because the Astra's added weight severely blunts its performance. The ancient 4-speed auto doesn't help - get with the times, the Golf V has a 6-speed auto and, not only that, the 6-speed dual-clutch DSG.

Furthermore, I'm not a suspension geometry Nazi, but a good independent rear suspension outclasses an equivalent torsion beam or otherwise non-independent rear suspension, especially on uneven roads. It's one of the reasons why the new Golf and the new Ford Focus have such great handling.

As for the interior, yes, the new Astra does feel much better built than the old one. They would have to try hard to make it worse, now that things have advanced. We owned a TS Astra for a while, it was pleasant for its time, but the interior just doesn't cut it. I have sat in the newest Astra several times, because, yes, at one point I did think it was the best choice, and having some semblance of brand loyalty, but the materials didn't cut it, the fitting didn't feel reassuring (the armrest-stuck-to-driver's-seat-side couldn't even support me, at 57kg, leaning moderately on it) and the silver plastic around the centre console creaked when pressed. They even deleted the little wheels on the air con vents that control how much air can come out. Scrooges.

---

But, leaving that, let's get back to the Antara. I doubt it's on the same platform - I thought the Captiva was even able to seat seven in some versions.

If they want to compete with the Japanese and Koreans, they had better make it a good price. That seems to be partially what hampers the Astra here. This isn't a segment where "European" design or whatever can really make such a difference, for all the brand-cachet that it will have wearing Holden or Opel badges; and much less so when the incumbent monarchs are the Japanese - the RAV-4, CRV, X-Trail and Forester.

 

[wltsm]

BTW: Accordingly with Clarkson, the Astra is even a better car than the BMW 1-Series.

It depends what you care about when you make this comparison!

The 1er isn't very practical, mainly because it's RWD, but the fact that it's RWD also helps it in the fact it's the best handling car in it's car, and the most fun to drive! Also the 1er is a much more expensive car when compared to the Astra!

 

[Yperion]

I 'm pretty sure that i read somewhere that Anatara and Captiva are basically the same cars underneath.

After a little search with google...voila!

The Captiva is a compact SUV designed and built by GM's Daewoo subsidiary in Korea specifically for European markets — it won't be sold in the U.S. It offers up to seven seats, can be front- or four-wheel drive, and is powered by either a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine or a new 2-liter direct-injection diesel. The 150-hp diesel is made in Korea but was designed and developed in Italy by VM Motori — a company owned by Roger Penske. The Captiva shares its Theta platform with a posher five-seat version sold in Europe as the Opel Antara and a yet-to-be-seen variant destined for the U.S. which will be the next Saturn Vue.

http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/10720/2007-chevrolet-captiva.html

 

[Snake Vargas]

Ok then, so maybe it is the same platform.