2013 Opel Astra Update Revealed Ahead Of Australian Debut
Opel has pulled the wraps from its updated-for-2013 Astra range this week, following the back-end unveiling of the overseas Sedan variant earlier this month.
Today's news comes with confirmation that Australian buyers will get the latest version of the Astra when the Opel brand makes its local debut late next month.
“The timing for our local launch could not be more ideal, in allowing us the opportunity to bring the freshest Astra face to market from the outset,” Opel Australia Managing Director Bill Mott said.
“It’s a clear sign of the importance placed on both the Astra in our model line-up, and our local launch overall, that production for Australia has been expedited to allow us to launch the updated Astra at the same time as Germany.”
The unveiling of the updated Astra is big news for the German brand's local arm: launched in 2009, the small car makes-up fully one-third of global Opel sales.
Opel Australia will certainly be looking to this mid-life refresh to drive sales of the stylish five- and three-door Hatch models, along with the Tourer wagon, in Australia's competitive small-car market.
Australian specifications for the Astra range have still to be revealed, but in Europe, the 2013 Astra range will be offered with seven engines: four petrol engines ranging in power from 74 to 132kW, and three diesels ranging from 70 to 96kW.
Two of the diesel models will be based on the same 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX engine, equipped with a start/stop system and other fuel-saving technologies to offer claimed fuel consumption figures as low as 3.7 l/100km.
In 2013, another petrol engine will join the range: GM's new turbocharged 1.6 litre SIDI ECOTEC four-cylinder petrol engine.
Watch for more details to come for the Australian Opel line-up in the next month.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/543...otor+Report%29
