Opel Astra Diet Yields 440-lb Savings

General Motors Co.'s Opel unit in Europe took a comprehensive approach to lightweighting the redesigned Astra compact hatchback. The effort sheds as much as 200 kg (441 lbs), depending on model and trim package.

The car's revised body-in-white is 20% lighter than that of its predecessor, accounting for about 170 lbs of the weight savings.

Another 110 lbs was trimmed from the chassis through the use of high- and ultra-high-strength steels, the use of more compact subframes, modified suspension components and the decision not to use full underbody aerodynamic paneling.

The 2016 Astra's aluminum-block turbocharged 1.4-liter EcoTec engine is 22 lbs lighter than the previous cast-iron block unit. A new and more compact transmission design saves a like amount, according to Opel.

Additional savings were achieved with the Astra's wheels and tires (25 lbs), brakes (22 lbs), seats (22 lbs) and a 25% lighter exhaust system (9.9 lbs).