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.

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here is the link to Opel Media Centre -> - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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.

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

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.

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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.

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.

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.


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.

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!

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.

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.

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



Probably the two models share the same platform.