Opel Astra is also to appear in a  sporty version

We already know that the Opel Astra will also be purely electric from 2023.

The head of design at Opel's British sister brand Vauxhall, Mark Adams, has now revealed that there are also plans for a particularly sporty version. British car magazine Topgear has learned that. "Yes, we are working on things that are not too far away where we will go in that direction," Adams said in response to a question about a sporty version of the electric Astra.

Adams would not reveal concrete details. But he said the "bold and pure" design philosophy that Vauxhall and Opel are applying to their new cars could include a sportier interpretation. "There is a fine line in the perception of being sporty and dynamic, which, let's say, is perceived as a positive attribute," he explained. "But at the same time, you don't necessarily want to be a brand that comes across as tough and aggressive. It's a matter of finding that sweet spot, and we as designers have to think about the softer factors."

Unlike the smaller Corsa-e, the electric Astra will be built on parent company Stellantis' multi-platform EMP2. This can serve as the basis for both internal combustion, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles. 

To enable maximum range, the bodywork of e-cars is designed to be as streamlined as possible. What this means for designers, Topgear wanted to know. "Are there any constraints when you are trying to be more aerodynamically efficient? Of course, it does," Adams admits. As always, he says, the challenge is to balance the visual with the functional: "We don't just have to have a certain amount of interior space and luggage volume. An e-car also has to be super-efficient and aerodynamic. We have to find the balance of all these things. And that's not easy, it requires a lot of hard work and experience."

The new Astra will be Opel's first range to offer customers a choice of pure electric drive, plug-in hybrid and classic combustion engine. The power range extends from 81 kW (110 hp) to 165 kW (225 hp) system output. Technical details of the electric version have not yet been communicated, but so far it is said that the plug-in version will be the most powerful Astra offshoot. Adams has not yet hinted at the sporty Astra electric version.