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Being targeted to a larger general population, the Opel Astra, along with its fellow European rivals, is becoming more of a mid-premium brand and in this; its design is generally pleasing and inoffensive (There is a reason why not everyone drives a Hummer or sports-like cars).

There are nice aspirational elements such as the jewel-like detailing and the sculpted reflectors within the lamp that are quite Audi/BMW-esque, that are appealing. The shape of the head lights with the creases on the hood makes it look like an eagle – almost aggressive, but not that much because of its smiley-faced grilles…

Astra - Front Comparison

The grilles have been brought up to the edge of the front fascia, similar to elements that feature on alternatively fueled cars, where they are more aerodynamically sensitive. Are Opel trying to hint of the possibilities of a hybrid version of the Astra? It certainly makes the car look ‘smarter’, but with that cheesy grin and all its teeth showing, making the front end look flat and round with no real shape or form… a bit nerdy too.

There is no hiding the fact that this is meant to be a small-medium sized car. From the front, to the side of the car, there is a dynamic flow of lines that give a sense of forward motion and length. However, when it comes to the back, the flow is lost, with a part line around the boot release that draws focus to the middle of the car and emphasizes the flat line, (creating the lip that meets the rear fascia) which makes it flat, as though someone had hit it from behind.
Other reasons that emphasize its flatness is the suggestion of focus on the Astra’s overall ‘length’, from elements such as the light spears on the lower rear fascia, the lines off the roof, and lines into and above the tail lamp. Their movement in the horizontal direction is rudely interrupted by the flat surface of the rear boot door, which is all a bit too abrupt.

Astra - Rear Comparison

Proportionally (viewing from the side) the bonnet, to the A-pillar and stopping at the B-pillar, looks a little similar to the Volkswagen Golf. Its comparison stops there, where the DLO (Daylight opening/Side window – surrounded by chrome) on the Golf does not dive down as quickly, to form the C-Pillar. A result of this car having a ‘faster’ rear, is that it has a smaller window opening (DLO) over the rear passengers. This creates a different weighting comparison of body color vs. black (glass) over the rear wheel arch, and in this case, makes the rear look a little heavy.

Countering this weight issue, the designers removed the mass from the rear door with a light catcher that flicks upwards, and made more emphasis on its hips and flared wheel arches, creating a more sculptural three dimensional form. With all this help in trying to remove the visual mass, it still does seem a bit heavy, whether it is due to the narrow meeting of the cant rail to the rear glass, more mass needs to be taken out over the back half of the rear wheel arch (maybe making a longer tail light?).

The Astra is nice to look at from the front and side, just don’t get stuck behind it in traffic, you’ll go cross eyed.

Astra - Visual weight

The overall gesture of the feature lines on the 2009 BMW Z4 still stays true with a nice similarity to its conceptual older brother. Proportions equate from the formula of a long bonneted, two seated roadster.
With the sharp body line that shoots through from the door handle to the front lamp, and the hip crease that bounces to the tail lights, reminds us again of its roots. Similarly, the light catcher on the lower portion of the body side to the previous makes a good comparison as iconic features of a Z4. We can thank Chris Bangle (at the time, Head of BMW Design) for ‘flame’ surfacing.

Z4 - Contrast Accentuated Peaked Creases

However, sheered surfaces made with over accentuated peaked creases (where it makes an increased contrast of light and shadow) does not seem to have the feel of the successful ‘actual’ sheered surface of the previous showings. Furthermore, the front fascia has been cluttered with an over detailing that makes the whole car just seem a bit too complicated and obviously production-like. They should have taken more styling cues from the BMW CS Concept’s corporate face.

Z4 - Front Grille Detail

As a design, without the comparison, it’s detailing of the front does compliment the bonnet though the directional swoop of lines. In turn, the bonnet, when viewed from the side, compliments the body with its sympathetic curve to the earlier mentioned feature body line, thus creating that feeling of BMW’s frequent restrained aggressive look. The rear of the car makes for great viewing, specifically around the deck lid as it looks like a clean, more refined progression through simplification, of ideas from the BMW 6 Series. An interesting rear fascia design to (what it seems) accommodate the number plate is quite interesting in a very neutral sense if you come from the view of designing a car with its number plates.

Z4 - Rear details around plates

It seems that the overall styling direction has created a more aggressive, almost frustrated grrrrrrowl compared to the striking ‘slap in the face’ of the more conceptual model of past. The things that really stand out are the headlights that are logically themed from the style from the Z4’s other family members and the surface lift under the headlights that brings the body side surface across the front fender and to the front of the car, pushing it’s hungry looking grille forward (watch out bugs!). A more concave surface on the rear fender to wheel arch alludes to a tighter agile figure and with the hints of muscular pronunciation on the bonnet suggests something more athletic lives under its skin, drawing away from the poor handling of the previous Z4.

There is one thing that is unexplained…where did that 45 degree angle slash across the body side go from that production ‘concept car’?… bring it back!

Z4 - Previous model (inset) - Grrrrr!