• Opel Astra is "Car of the Year 2016"
• Lean machine: New Astra up to 200 kilogrammes lighter
• Agile, frugal and quiet: Astra only available with latest-generation engines
• Clever design: Smaller exterior dimensions, more spacious and comfortable inside
• Infotainment debut: IntelliLink R 4.0 compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• First in class: Intelligent full-LED matrix light IntelliLux LED^®
• Clever back-up: Technologies and driver assistance systems from higher segments from the Opel family
• Wellness seats: Massage function, ventilation and seat-width setting

Opel and compact class cars - this specific success story starts with the Kadett in 1936 and will be continued with the new Astra, the 11th generation of an Opel compact class car.

Voted as Car of the Year 2016, the next generation Astra is based on an all-new lightweight vehicle architecture, which is only driven by latest generation engines and offers features previously only known from higher segments within the Opel family.

The lean design makes the new Astra look more athletic than ever before. To put it briefly, the new Astra combines efficiency with elegance and will redefine the compact class segment with its innovations.

"Three values are decisive for the new Astra - efficiency, innovation and dynamic performance," said Ryan Buttigieg, General Manager of Cars International, representatives of Opel in Malta. "Opel engineers developed it from the proverbial white sheet of paper. The new Astra is up to 200 kilogrammes lighter than its predecessor - and its athletic design makes this outwardly visible.

"Its dimensions are smaller but both spaciousness and comfort have been increased considerably. The Astra only features engines of the latest generation. Numerous technologies and assistance systems from higher segments within Opel increase the comfort and safety of the Astra passengers, with the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar, ultra-modern phone integration and the ground-breaking new adaptive full-LED matrix light IntelliLux leading the way."

The end results of the new Astra's fitness programme are its agility and driving comfort. It is more responsive; corners better and gives a much more direct overall driving experience. In a nutshell, the new Astra is more fun to drive than ever before.

The engine in the new Opel Astra supports this claim. Outputs range from 70 kW/95 hp to 147 kW/200 hp. The diesel and gasoline engines with a displacement of up to 1.6 litres all have three things in common: they combine highest efficiency with excellent responsiveness and running smoothness.

The 1.6 CDTI with a wide range of outputs from at 81 kW/110 hp covers the diesel offer whereas the 1.4 ECOTEC Petrol (74 kW/100 hp) is the base level gasoline engines. The highlight in the Astra engine portfolio is the all-new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, The all-aluminum engine will make its debut with 110 kW/150 hp. It impresses with dynamic responsiveness and high performance while curbing fuel consumption. The engine delivers maximum torque of up to 245 Nm very early. Based on its construction, the new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo also adds less weight to the car.

The Astra does not just look smaller - it is smaller. With a total length of 4.37 metres, it is almost five centimetres shorter than its predecessor. With a height of 1.46 metres, it is also 2.6 centimetres smaller.

Smaller on the outside but bigger on the inside, Opel engineers are responsible for successfully squaring this circle. The wheelbase may have been reduced by two centimeters but the amount of space inside increased. In combination with newly crafted seats, the passengers in the rear can enjoy an additional 35 millimetres legroom.

Furthermore, the distance between the front and rear seats was increased, improving travel comfort and sense of space. Switches and controls are all reduced to an absolute minimum, supporting the efficiency and ease of use which is at the core of the Astra. The award-winning IntelliLink system takes centre stage, carefully located to ensure both an ideal view to the display as well as easy reach and use.

All new models adhere to the principle: Opel democratises technologies and innovations from higher segments, making innovations affordable, for example in connectivity. The next generation Astra is the first new Opel model that will be available with the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar

Opel OnStar offers customers a broad range of safety and comfort services including SOS emergency response, roadside assistance, 24/7 instant technical support through a live OnStar advisor service and much more features and connectivity both onboard and through a dedicated mobile app.

In addition, the new generation of the IntelliLink infotainment system will celebrate its debut in the Astra. As it is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, it will facilitate bringing the world of smartphones into the car - a premiere in the compact class segment. Each system builds off of the features smartphone users rely on most.

Android Auto is built around Google Maps, Google Now and the ability to talk to Google, as well as a growing audio and messaging app ecosystem that includes WhatsApp, Skype, Google Play Music, Spotify, and podcast players. A full list of supported apps is available at Android.com/auto.

Apple CarPlay takes the iPhone features you'd want to access while driving and puts them on the vehicle's display in a smart, simple manner. That allows drivers to make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Apple CarPlay supported apps include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music and compatible third party apps. A full list of those apps can be found at Apple.com/ios/carplay. The functions can be controlled via the large, up to eight-inch touchscreen located high on the center stack, via remote control on the steering wheel (volume) or via voice control.

Premium technologies for the compact class: IntelliLux LED^® and Co.

This an absolute novelty and safety highlight in the new Astra. The ground-breaking full-LED matrix light of the next generation enables driving with glare-free high beams and will be available in the compact class for the first time in the Astra.

The new Opel Astra has won the SAFETYBEST 2015 award with its trendsetting adaptive IntelliLux LED® matrix light system. The AUTOBEST jury consists of specialised independent journalists from 26 European countries.

Consisting of 16 LED segments - eight on each side of the vehicle - the new LED matrix system automatically and constantly adapts the length and distribution of the light beam to every traffic situation. In the process, it works with the Opel Eye front camera. As soon as the vehicle exits urban areas, the high-beam lighting is automatically switched on - and it always remains on. At driving speeds of 80 km/h, drivers detect objects at the side of the road around 30 to 40 metres sooner than with conventional halogen or xenon low beam lighting. This gives them around 1.5 seconds more time to react.

Dazzling other road users is also not a problem. When the camera detects light sources from oncoming or preceding traffic, individual LEDs in the relevant zone are deactivated, simply "cutting out" the area around the vehicles. The rest of the road and its surroundings remain brightly illuminated. With this degree of precision and adaptation, LED matrix light elevates lighting technology to the next level.

Not only does the system illuminate the surroundings brighter than conventional lighting systems, it also has a considerably longer running life than headlamps with halogen or xenon lamps. Another advantage is that mechanical movements are no longer necessary in the headlamp - the individual LED segments turn on or off according to the situation, which also contributes to durability.

Apart from Opel OnStar and IntelliLux LED^®, future Astra owners can look forward to a string of further safety, driver assistance and comfort systems - many of which are unrivalled in this segment.

The Traffic Sign Assistant and the Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning along with Following Distance Indication and the Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking not only make driving the new Astra more comfortable but also safer.

Cruise control with speed limiter ensures that the speed is always within the legal boundaries. Advanced Park Assist increases comfort and can park the car automatically at the push of a button. The rear view camera is activated once reverse gear is selected. And Side Blind Spot Alert recognizes obstacles within a 3-metre radius on either side and behind the car that are hidden from the driver's vision.

The AGR (Campaign for Healthy Backs) tested and certified ergonomic seats are also outstanding. They continue Opel's tradition in excellent, ergonomic seats and now come with additional comfort features. The new Opel Astra will offer 18-way adjustable seats for the driver. They have a massage function, ventilation and seat-width setting. And the rear passengers can also look forward to more comfort than before with the two heatable outer back seats available as an option.

The all-new Opel Astra is therefore not only safer, more comfortable, more attractive and more modern than ever before, it is also lighter, more agile, more aerodynamic and more efficient in every sense of the word. It is Opel's road to the future.

Opel Astra is available in Malta at  Cars International Ltd., of Mdina Road, Qormi, who are the Opel representatives in Malta. To test-drive the all-new Astra and experience its luxury first hand, send an email to [email protected] or call 2269 2122. You can also visit opel.com.mt or the Facebook page Opel Malta.

The new Astra enjoys the comprehensive 5-year warranty offered on all Opel models.