After Opel recently presented its GSe models with plug-in hybrid drive for the Astra, the purely electric version follows. It is said to have a range of 400 km despite a small battery – but unfortunately it is quite expensive.
While manufacturers such as Volkswagen or Mercedes have given their electric versions their home as an independent product family with a special design, sub-brand and corresponding designation, Opel is following the path of BMW and initially gives the customer the choice of which drive he wants to drive with, regardless of the respective car model: Electric, petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid.
The flexible drive concept does not change anything in terms of appearance, and the new Opel Astra Electric looks like a normal compact class model from Rüsselsheim – either with a hatchback body or as a particularly versatile estate car.
The engine is already known from the identically motorized Peugeot e-308. An electric motor with 115 kW / 156 hp and a maximum torque of 270 Nm works under the hood of the Opel Astra Electric, on whose boot lid the small “e” is still emblazoned despite the name Astra Electric. While many competitors already limit speeds of 150 or 160 km/h, the Rüsselsheim-based vehicle can reach speeds of at least 170 km/h and is therefore definitely more suitable for long-distance journeys than some of its competitors.
The driver can choose between the three driving modes Eco, Normal and Sport. However, the size of the battery pack is not variable and, at 54 kWh, not too large. Due to the low standard consumption of 12.7 kWh / 100 kilometers, the electric front-wheel drive vehicle achieves an electric range of more than 410 kilometers according to the factory specification.
The charging speed is manageable, because Opel’s competitor from VW ID3, Renault Megane E-Tech or Peugeot e-308 refuels at a fast charging station with a maximum of 100 kilowatts. After all, the battery pack in the underbody with its 102 cells in 17 air-conditioned modules can be boosted to up to 80 percent in just over half an hour.
If the space available in the normal hatchback variant is not enough, you can also opt for the Sports Tourer in the Opel Astra Electric, which offers a volume of 516 liters of cargo space behind the rear seats. Anyone who folds down the rear seats uses a long loading area and up to 1553 liters of volume. Apart from the standard 18-inch wheels, the equipment is largely identical to that of the well-known Astra versions. The market launch for the new Opel Astra Electric should be in the middle of next year. In terms of price, it should start just above the level of the plug-in hybrid and thus above 40,000 euros.
