The 100% electric variant of the Opel Astra will be a reality in 2023. A new electric car that will hit the market to deal with the competitive C-segment. Opel’s plans go beyond simply electrifying its compact at the highest level. On the agenda is the development of a sports version that allows it to rival, among others, the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX.
Opel has very ambitious plans for the sixth generation of its successful compact. The new Vauxhall Astra has landed in European dealers loaded with news. One of the most important changes that the Astra range has undergone has to do neither more nor less than with the mechanical section. Unlike the previous model, the new bet on electrification.
The Astra, in addition to gasoline and diesel engines, is available in a plug-in hybrid version (PHEV). The plug-in model boasts an electric range of up to 60 kilometers. And although a priori it may seem sufficient considering the times, Opel is determined to go one step further. In 2023 the 100% electric variant of the Opel Astra will see the light.
Opel Astra-e, a new 100% electric compact
Bearing in mind that next year the new Opel Astra e, we can firmly state that the development process is underway. This new electric car will have to face, among other models, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Nissan Leaf. The supply of electric compacts is growing at a rapid rate. The new MG4 Electric will soon hit the market, another proposal that we must follow closely.
The arrival on the scene of an electric variant of the new Astra will undoubtedly be a turning point in the history of this model. It is already a relevant enough fact. However, and thanks to recent statements, we can say that Opel’s plans for the sixth generation Astra do not end here. Opel has opened the door to a sports version of the electric Astra.
Mark Adams, Head of Design at Vauxhall, has recently hinted that “something” is on the agenda. Recall that Vauxhall is the brand through which Opel models are sold in the UK. They are basically the same models but with right hand drive. It is because of that, if an electric Vauxhall Astra with a sporty focus is planned, there will also be one under the Opel brand.
The sports version of the new Opel Astra-e
“Yes, we are working on things that are not too far away, where we will be embarking in that direction,” Adams noted. It is a very interesting comment and one that inevitably makes us wonder if we will see the acronym OPC or GSi in the future Astra-e range. The senior Vauxhall official also added the following: “There is a fine line between being perceived as sporty and dynamic, which is a positive attribute, shall we say. But at the same time, you don’t necessarily want a brand that’s tough and aggressive. It’s finding that sweet spot and as designers we definitely have to think about those softer factors.”
A sports version of the future electric Astra will be key to rivaling the high-performance electric compacts that are on the way. Especially with the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX, whose launch is also planned for 2023.
Font: topgear