Herr Arndt, “Loadmaster in a designer outfit”, “The stylish station wagon” or “We like it (…) at first sight” – if you look at the press response to the new Astra Sports Tourer, you will notice that the design is particularly well received. Oh yes, the feedback is insanely positive. We are very pleased that we have achieved our goal: to design a sports suit that arouses emotions and is desirable. The positive reactions are of course all the more valuable as the Astra Sports Tourer is the first Opel/Vauxhall station wagon to be based on our bold, clear philosophy.
The design philosophy was introduced in 2018 with the GT X Experimental concept car – what role did it play in the creation process of the Astra? A very, very important one. It’s not that we’ve reinvented design, we’ve done it before. But thanks to the philosophy that we describe as “Bold and Pure”, we had a starting position that could not have been more focused: We are the German brand in the group. We want perfect proportions and clean lines, minimalism and precision. We had a clear goal in mind and a compass that guided us.
Feel free to take us into the process with you: Are the designs for the station wagon created in parallel with those for the five-door? No, only when the first design for the five-door is frozen – we call this the “design freeze” – do we take the estate version into account visor. The front and front side view of the five-door and station wagon are identical. From the B-pillar we start with a white sheet of paper. The creative people block two weeks in the calendar for the so-called “Sketch Blitz”. The execution team around Niels (Niels Loeb, chief designer exterior, editor’s note) comes together for this, there is a briefing, then the drawing begins. Initially mostly in the classic way with paper and pen. For three or four days. Every man for himself. Then the team meets again and the resulting drafts are viewed.
STEFAN ARNDT
When the native Berliner joined the company in 1986, he designed the exterior design of the Omega B, and then in the 1990s that of the first Zafira, the first seven-seater in its class. Stefan Arndt later headed Advanced Design at Opel/Vauxhall and dealt with new platform architectures and studies relating to the car of the future. He has been chief interior designer since 2005. ADAM, Meriva B, Insignia and the new Astra were created under his leadership.
“We had a clear goal in mind and a compass that guided us.”
Unmistakable brand face: The new Astra Sports Tourer is the first Opel station wagon to feature the Opel Vizor.
The best of both worlds: when designing, the designers always had practicality in mind, despite all the emotionality.
Pure precision: The wing-shaped graphics of the LED daytime running lights are particularly slim and fit seamlessly into the Opel Vizor.
Do the designers’ designs compete against each other?No. It’s not about competing, it’s more about filtering out the best. Before it goes into the next drawing round. And the one after that. It is always an incredibly intensive process, at the end of which, in this case, there was the crisp design of the Sports Tourer. Of course, not every detail has been finalized by then, but the result is the basis for the first 1:1 models that we are testing in customer clinics. What do you like, which line is better? When the decision for a draft has finally been made, then my team’s hour has come.
What is your part? We are the industrialization team. Our job is to get the design on the road. I love this process, it’s dynamic and result-oriented. And we were particularly hot on the Astra Sports Tourer. Not only do we have a long tradition of station wagons in the company, most Astra customers – at least two out of three – opt for the station wagon. And for these customers we wanted to create a designer piece that can also fully demonstrate its suitability for everyday use.
Uncompromising: so that the third brake light also fits into the Opel compass, it is vertical for the first time.
Let’s start with suitability for everyday use: the heart of a station wagon beats in the trunk, right? Definitely. The loading space is subject to the same laws as the overall package: clear lines and precision. In order to keep the loading sill as low as possible, we have integrated the number plate – unlike the five-door model – in the tailgate instead of in the bumper. The boot opening is big enough to fit a washing machine in. And the loading floor is absolutely flat. There are also well thought-out details: a hook for the shopping bag, a light and a 12 volt socket as standard. If desired, the roller blind cover disappears into a second loading level on the combustion models. From augmented to virtual reality – the latest digital technologies have made this efficient packaging possible in the first place. Especially since we were confronted with the restrictions caused by the corona pandemic in this development phase. More than once I’ve virtually immersed myself in the loading area from the living room with the VR glasses on my face. My family eventually got used to the sight. (laughs).
And what distinguishes the exterior of the Sports Tourer?The lines of the sports suit are elegant and flowing; he stands wide and full on the street. I would always choose the optional black roof – it further emphasizes the sporty, stretched look. When viewed from the side, the forward-reaching pillars at the rear reinforce the impression that the sports suit is ready to jump. And, of course, the rear view of the station wagon also features the Opel compass – the broad horizontal lines mean it is firmly planted on the road from this perspective as well. At the same time, it was important to us to convey the zeitgeist.
OPEL COMPASS
In the Opel compass, two prominent axes intersect with the brand emblem. In the front view, the crease in the bonnet introduces the vertical axis, while the twin headlights form the horizontal axis. The Opel compass can also be found in the rear view of the Astra Sports Tourer – with the flashing light mounted in the middle, the vertical third brake light and the ultra-slim LED taillights, as with all Astra light units.
“A classic that will still cut an excellent figure on the road for many years to come.”
First Opel station wagon with a black roof: The color contrast makes the sports station wagon look even slimmer and stretched.
The next generation of the compact class bestseller is the first Opel station wagon to be electrified.
To what extent?It was important to us to put a caravan on the road that is even more efficient. But not bigger. We did it: The Sports Tourer is shorter than its predecessor. Whole six centimeters. At the same time, the wheelbase has grown by seven centimeters compared to the previous version, which of course benefits passenger comfort. We owed that to the zeitgeist. No more bigger, wider, longer. After all, the Astra Sports Tourer also marks a turning point in terms of drive: it has been available as an electric plug-in hybrid since it went on sale – making it our first electrified station wagon ever. A battery-electric version will follow in the course of the coming year. The design is also sustainable: it is timelessly beautiful. If we were fashion designers, the Astra Sports Tourer would be a perfectly tailored suit. A classic that, far removed from trends and hypes, will still cut an excellent figure on the street for many years to come.
What role does the interior actually play compared to the exterior? Both must be outstanding. The exterior design attracts customers, it tempts them to get in. The interior provides the final “I want to have” feeling. The purchase decision is made inside. Whether high-quality materials, good workmanship, a pleasant feel and best usability – the interior design is very complex. That is why there has been a team for many years that specializes in interior requirements.
“The exterior design tempts you to get in, the interior is where the purchase decision is made.”
“Detox to the max”: The bold, clear appearance reduced to the essentials is also reflected in the cockpit design of the interior.
Mr. Arndt, thank you very much for showing us a little bit more about the fascination of the design process with the sports suit. Could you actually imagine designing anything other than cars? No! Designing a vehicle is as fascinating and complex as anything. I started my career as an advertising designer in the 80s, but I quickly realized that 2D wasn’t enough for me. I need the spatial representation, the shaping with plasticine. Creating a car as part of a team with great people who do their best, without an elbow mentality, structured, goal-oriented and collegial – that’s why I love my job. And for the moment when the finished car is on the street, people stop and smile. Nothing compares to that.
July 2022
Photos: Opel