In intensive test drives in northern Sweden, the new Opel Astra gets its finishing touch. He is from the end of the hunt for the Class VW Golf.
Every time Michael Harder rises during winter testing in northern Sweden Arjeplog in a car, he pulls his head a particularly deep. "People forget very quickly how tough leather upholstery can be hefty at subzero temperatures. Since sinks are no longer one and thats why Ive even been hit his head pretty ", the Opel technicians laughs.
Thank God, is to get into the new Opel Astra this time passed without major damage and Harder can turn his test laps on the frozen lake. Finally, the friendly mid-fifties is responsible for suspension and brakes of the new Golf-hunter. Not quite insignificant part of a new Astra model. And when it comes to the bread-and-butter car par excellence, yet every little mistake is fatal. Particularly as the hope for the ailing company is in the final phase of his trial, each consisting of three summer and winter seasons.
Troubleshooting in detail"In the first season the technical basis is determined in the second and in the third we optimize this it is validated. So checked one last time if the car "meets the requirements of the specifications, explains Rita Forst, Vice-head of Opels development center. Whether in the home Trollhattan Saab, Opel test center in Dudenhofen, the Spanish Idiada or by ultimate suspension test on the Nordschleife, the developers try to find every little mistake and eradicate.
Michael Harder is the long, cold winter abgewinnen also positive: "This year I have a developer in March still good options. Last year we were at the time already in the water. "A test in Arjeplog season runs from early December to late March. Even then, the ice on the lake is still 1.6 meters thick. About 750 people work throughout the winter.
Minus Records in Trial RunTo make a car ready for production, but not enough, even the arctic temperatures of northern Sweden. Opel operates on the hermetically sealed test site in Colmis located near Arjeplog, 30 cold chambers to cool down the car reliably and reproducibly to minus 45 degrees. Since reveal himself smaller material weaknesses mercilessly. However, not everything can be tested on the test bench, or in the large freezers. Therefore, engineers must always take the control into their own hands.
Again and again they go with the new Opel Astra braking property to investigate the behavior of the brakes at extreme temperatures and loads. The special "dry", pure snow is good, in order to test the reactions of the car as soon as the engine sucks the flakes and the Kühlereinlässe are also clogged. "This is only here," Rita says Frost. Therefore always have two cars in the convoy drive with minimum distance to the man behind the whole load would collect snow.
Coursing through bad runsSomething tugs at the nerve course, "When you perform the same actions for days, you get a quick bearing Koller," said Harder. Therefore, the teams exchanged usually after a week. For variety, the cross-country trips provide through the forests of northern Sweden, where the automobile is simulated everyday. Here, the road can sometimes be bad enough. Since nothing can crack or creak. No area of the vehicle is left out: engine, electronics, interior, chassis, bodywork and the acoustics. The new Opel Astra where everything went smoothly.
About 200 prototypes were subjected to all sorts of automotive tortures. Ranging from dust-attacks to jolting dirt roads. Now he gets the final touch. Finally, the Astra will be made at the IAA in September to show and help out at the end of the year, Opel to get out of the financial predicament.
And what if some quasi at the last second a serious mistake comes to light? "Then we have a season, for example, buy a winter in New Zealand to," said Forst, the solution to the dilemma. This extra round would then cost at least € 100,000. An output that is saved every manufacturer you. Opel Astra must when the wallet does not open again. The Messiah makes a good figure in all exercises.
Selling point ride comfortThe chassis is good-natured and comfortable. Even on the slippery snow reaches a steering movement to the rear to capture the pressing outward again. "The Corsa is tuned much more acute," says Rita Forst, while the prototype relaxed compasses around the corner of the test course. A modified torsion beam rear axle is the main reason for the predictability of the compact car and guarantee the comfort of the Astra is one of the top priorities. Even when there are no waves jerking or whipping.
The good base chassis of the Opel Astra allows a sensitive tuning of the ESP, which allows even small drift angles. This then includes accordingly potent engines that will break even in the new edition of the Astra, the 200-hp mark. It is also possible that as the Insignia an all-wheel-drive will provide traction. Besides well-known engines such as the 105-PS-1 ,6-liter petrol engine, will make small displacement turbos for corresponding forward drive. A EcoFlex version is planned. That aims to create the sophisticated balance between ecological sense and fun.
Flex-Ride driver and assistantThe design and driving assistance systems also stood the big brother Insignia godfather. A look at the similarly designed but less überladende center console when Astra reveals analogies. Hidden under tape, there are "sports" and "Tour" buttons for the adaptive flex-ride suspension. Other features, like the Opel Eye camera are (Lane Keeping Assist and traffic signs recognition) be likely to have, just as the intelligent headlamp system. Furthermore, the Opel Astra as the Gulf will be able to park themselves.
The slightly longer wheelbase schlickt settled in a pleasant sense of space and more space in the rear. To the feeling of wearing the vanartigen slanted, a little further away from the drivers front window and the small additional window at the front and back.
Testing without regard for consequencesOn the exterior, the new Opel DNA will help to recognize at first glance. "The design will be based on that of the Insignia, it will be fresh and extraordinary. And you can assume that we have a good chassis and modern engines. And also we are in the processing standards "set, says Opel Managing Director Hans Demant, who has come with some top managers to northern Sweden to the Astra to give his blessing.
Time is short. After the summer holiday is due to start production. At the IAA, the Astra will celebrate its world premiere at the end of this year and are at the dealership. Ride management called this procedure, in which the prototype will be fired without regard to losses through the snow. That it is one or the other of the chiefs has somewhat exaggerated the impact tracks show on the edge of the frozen slopes.
Apart from the test runs using the executives from Rüsselsheim the opportunity to visit the workshop of Zuliefern like Continental and Bosch, to discuss ongoing projects and new products.
Testing without spyingThere are unwritten rules: Although the "Whos Who" of the German automotive industry in Arjeplog the handle in his hand and here are testing future models, spy is like Formula-1 non-issue. "We meet sometimes in the evening for a drink at the bar, but you do not look under the car itself," said Michael Harder the honor code.
Despite the togetherness dare the developers are happy if it goes back home. Because there already waiting for her projects. This means that sooner or later we meet again anyway in the cold Sweden. For the next winter is as safe as the testing of the next model.
