STYLISH
broad vision
ONE OF THE MOST PLEASING SYMBOLS YOU CAN FIND ON A MAP IS A LITTLE SPRAY OF SHORT LINES. IT TELLS YOU TO EXPECT A GREAT VIEW. Words by Sue Baker pictures by Richard Parsons
It should be printed on the driving seat of the Astra Sport Hatch SRi, with its optional panoramic windscreen, whose glass stretches seamlessly all the way from the back of the bonnet to just behind the driver's head. What a liberating sensation - like being in a totally weather-proof convertible, unruffled by the fickle weather.
To a driver's eye, the summer sky is usually no more than a sliver of blue in the top of the windscreen. Here, it's an iMax-view, like being in the cockpit of your own private plane at ground level. As Matthias Hallik, the designer who conceived the panoramic windscreen, enthused, 'only flying is better… this makes driving through beautiful scenery or a brightly-lit city at night a really special experience'. He's right, of course. Central London by night is a kaleidoscope of lights curving over your head.
First seen on the Astra GTC Concept car, the Panoramic windscreen drew such positive comment that it has made it into production as an option on the three-door Astra Sport Hatch, and as a feature on the new special edition Astra GTC. More importantly, it has ticked all the boxes for practicality, safety and durability.
From outside as well as in, the Panoramic windscreen is stunning - all 1.8 dramatically curvy metres, which are made from 6mm thick laminated safety glass.
The glass is then baked in a special oven, in which varying degrees of intense heat are applied, enabling the screen to bend, and gravity is allowed to pull it into a predefined shape.
As for safety, rigorous testing has ensured that the Astra with the Panoramic windscreen maintains every Astra's excellent safety credentials, and its body is further strengthened by an additional reinforcing cross member built into the middle of the roof. This also means the Astra's acclaimed handling and driving dynamics are not compromised. And because weight is increased by only 10kg, nor is its power-to-weight ratio. So it's a tough cookie, this mobile room-with-a-view.
You might wonder about being baked under such a big area of glass on a hot day, but it isn't an issue.