Holden Astra
Encyclopedia
The Holden Astra is a compact car
that was marketed by Holden
, the Australia
n subsidiary of General Motors
. Spanning five generations, the original, Australia-only Astra of 1984 was a derivative of the locally-produced Nissan Pulsar
, as was the 1987 Astra. It was succeeded by the Holden Nova
in 1989—another unique to Australia model line, Holden in 1995 reintroduced the Astra for the New Zealand
market. This was merely a badge engineering
exercise, as the Opel Astra
, from which the third generation Holden Astra was based, had been sold there since 1993. The following year, 1996, Holden discontinued the Nova line in favour of the Opel-based Holden Astra. This strategy has been in place ever since, with fourth and fifth generations launched in 1998 and 2004 respectively. During August 2009 Holden discontinued the Astra and replaced it with the Cruze
, released two months prior.
Nissan Pulsar
(N12). The Pulsar, a Japan
ese designed model, sold alongside the unique to Australia Astra line-up. The Pulsar for Australia was essembled in Clayton, Victoria
; however, for the Astra the body panels were pressed at Holden's Elizabeth, South Australia
facility. Unlike its Nissan counterpart, the Astra was only offered as a five-door hatchback
, with the three-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles
omitted from the range due to fears they would overlap with Nissan's own Pulsar range. However, Holden's continuation of the Gemini
sedan range was the nearest equivalent of this in the range.
The only engine available was a Nissan-designed 1.5 litre engine, locally manufactured, this engine produced 52 kW and 115 newton metres (84.8 ft·lbf) of torque
. Transmission
options were a five-speed manual
or a three-speed automatic
.
Compared to the N12 Pulsar, the Astra LB sported a distinctive grille
, the work of Australian stylist Paul Beranger housing the Holden lion insignia in the centre, Also unique were Astra-only tail lamps, badging and decals.
A revised LC model was released in March 1986. Unleaded-fuel requirements uprated the engine displacement
to 1.6 litres, power by 0.6 kW and torque to 124 newton metres (91.5 ft·lbf). Model and trim changes were also apart of the update, including a new grille insert, and the addition of an SL model positioned below the SL/X and SL/E levels.
The Used Car Safety Ratings, published in 2008 by Monash University
, found that first generation Astras (LB/LC) provide a "significantly worse than average" level of occupant safety protection
in the event of an accident
.
For the second generation LD Astra, the Nissan Pulsar
was again used as the basis, this time using the latest N13 series. Unlike before, the LD was the result of a proper joint venture
development programme. That is, Nissan provided the bodywork and Holden supplied powertrain
s for fitment in both applications. Launched concurrently in July 1987, both the LD Astra and N13 Pulsar were offered in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles
. Outside of Australia though, three-door hatchback and station wagon
body variants of the Nissan were also available.
Both 1.6 (55 kW; 135 newton metres (99.6 ft·lbf)) and 1.8 litre (79 kW; 151 newton metres (111.4 ft·lbf)) displacements
of Holden's Family II
engine were offered in the Astra-Pulsar models. Badged as "1.6-" and "1.8 injection", respectively, the term injection denoted the utilisation of fuel injection
. In 1989, all associations with Nissan were severed and a new agreement between Toyota was formed. This relationship, known as the United Australian Automobile Industries
(UAAI) was a continuation of the Austraian Government
's Button Plan that started with Nissan. Nissan continued to use the Holden engines until 1991 before replacing their N13 Pulsar line with the N14, while at the same time entering a new model sharing alliance with Ford.
The Used Car Safety Ratings evaluation from 2008 found that LD series Astras provide a "worse than average" level of occupant protection in the event of an accident.
market as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Imported from Vauxhall
's Ellesmere Port
plant in Cheshire
, England
, this third-generation Astra model known as the TR series, was derived from the Opel Astra F
in Germany
; Opel being another General Motors
subsidiary. However, this was merely a rebadging of the existing Opel model that was marketed in New Zealand since 1993 as the Opel Astra.
Holden in Australia did not recommence the selling of Astras until 1996, after the dissolution of Australian Government Button car plan
. This resulted in the collapse of UAAI
, the Holden-Toyota alliance, and as result Holden opted to return to marketing rebadged General Motors vehicles. Between 1989 and 1996, the Astra's role was fulfilled by the Nova
, Holden's version of Toyota's Corolla
(E90 and E100). During this period of badge engineering in Australia, General Motors New Zealand
had used Opel
as one of its main marques alongside Holden and Isuzu
. Because the Button plan or local equivalent never existed in New Zealand, the two initial generations of Holden Astra (LB/LC and LD) were thus never available in that market.
Like the two previous generations, TR Astras were assessed in the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings, and shown to provide an "average" level of protection.
n market, although only the latter received the sharper facelift — the European and Australian versions retained the softer curves of the original body. Models with a 5-stud wheel pattern have the ABS option factory-installed.
The TS Astra model change followed that of the Opel Astra G range, including the sedan, hatchback and convertible. However, the Coupé by Bertone was not offered with a Holden badge. The drivetrain was identical to other cars in in the Astra lineup, and as such, was not a bona-fide sports car. Like the Astra A, the Astra B was available as a wagon in New Zealand, but not Australia. In 2003, a 147 kW 2.0-litre Turbo engine became available. The standard Astra was only available with a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine, and lived on until 2005 as the Holden Astra Classic, alongside the new model. The philosophy behind this was for Holden to remain competitive in the market until the cheaper Viva
model was introduced.
In accordance to the Monash University
's 2008 update to the Used Car Safety Ratings, TS Astra models were rated "better than average" in the field of crash safety protection.
Limited Editions
-platformed Opel Astra H came in September 2004 as a five-door hatchback only, manufactured in Belgium, selling alongside a now Polish
-built Astra TS sedan, hatchback and convertible . The sedan and hatchback TS Astra models carried "Astra Classic" badges, but were finally dropped in late 2005, replaced by the Holden Viva
, a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti
. Between 2003 and 2004, the Lacetti was marketed in Australia as a Daewoo before Holden withdrew the brand from Australia due to unsustainable sales.
_60th_anniversary_station_wagon_01.jpg)
Like the previous generation, the AH series was found to provides a "better than average" level of safety according to the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings. At launch, AH Astras came with front- and side-impact airbag
s as standard inclusions, allowing the Astra to receive a four-star ANCAP
crash safety rating. Higher-specified models were able to achieve the full five-stars due to the addition of standard safety equipment.
Holden suspended importation of the Astra on 20 April 2009, citing currency fluctuations and commodity price issues. Holden's import cessation, which resulted in no Astras arriving during June and July 2009, coincided with the introduction of the Holden Cruze
, reported to be the direct replacement for the Holden Viva
. On 31 August 2009, Holden confirmed that the cessation of Astra imports will remain of a permanent basis, with no intention of further imports of either the then current AH series or the next generation car. Holden stated their small car efforts would be focused on the Cruze.
Special editions
was marketed in Australia as the HSV VXR by Holden Special Vehicles
from 2006 to 2009.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
that was marketed by Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
, the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n subsidiary of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Spanning five generations, the original, Australia-only Astra of 1984 was a derivative of the locally-produced Nissan Pulsar
Nissan Pulsar
The Nissan Pulsar is an automobile that was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978, when it debuted as a subcompact car, to 2007, when it was replaced in all markets by the Nissan Tiida. It was originally conceived as a replacement for Nissan's first front-wheel drive platform, the...
, as was the 1987 Astra. It was succeeded by the Holden Nova
Holden Nova
The Holden Nova was a compact car that was produced by the GM-Holden-Toyota alliance, known as United Australian Automobile Industries in Australia between August 1989 and 1996. The alliance, and therefore the car, was a result of the failed Button car plan which attempted to rationalise the...
in 1989—another unique to Australia model line, Holden in 1995 reintroduced the Astra for the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
market. This was merely a badge engineering
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
exercise, as the Opel Astra
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
, from which the third generation Holden Astra was based, had been sold there since 1993. The following year, 1996, Holden discontinued the Nova line in favour of the Opel-based Holden Astra. This strategy has been in place ever since, with fourth and fifth generations launched in 1998 and 2004 respectively. During August 2009 Holden discontinued the Astra and replaced it with the Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, released two months prior.
First generation (LB, LC; 1984–1987)
The original Holden Astra, introduced in August 1984 as the LB series was a badge engineeredBadge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
Nissan Pulsar
Nissan Pulsar
The Nissan Pulsar is an automobile that was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978, when it debuted as a subcompact car, to 2007, when it was replaced in all markets by the Nissan Tiida. It was originally conceived as a replacement for Nissan's first front-wheel drive platform, the...
(N12). The Pulsar, a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese designed model, sold alongside the unique to Australia Astra line-up. The Pulsar for Australia was essembled in Clayton, Victoria
Clayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
; however, for the Astra the body panels were pressed at Holden's Elizabeth, South Australia
Elizabeth, South Australia
Elizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...
facility. Unlike its Nissan counterpart, the Astra was only offered as a five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, with the three-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles
Car body style
Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...
omitted from the range due to fears they would overlap with Nissan's own Pulsar range. However, Holden's continuation of the Gemini
Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors-Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
sedan range was the nearest equivalent of this in the range.
The only engine available was a Nissan-designed 1.5 litre engine, locally manufactured, this engine produced 52 kW and 115 newton metres (84.8 ft·lbf) of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
. Transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
options were a five-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or a three-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
Compared to the N12 Pulsar, the Astra LB sported a distinctive grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
, the work of Australian stylist Paul Beranger housing the Holden lion insignia in the centre, Also unique were Astra-only tail lamps, badging and decals.
A revised LC model was released in March 1986. Unleaded-fuel requirements uprated the engine displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
to 1.6 litres, power by 0.6 kW and torque to 124 newton metres (91.5 ft·lbf). Model and trim changes were also apart of the update, including a new grille insert, and the addition of an SL model positioned below the SL/X and SL/E levels.
The Used Car Safety Ratings, published in 2008 by Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, found that first generation Astras (LB/LC) provide a "significantly worse than average" level of occupant safety protection
Automobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
in the event of an accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
.
Specification levels
Two trim levels, the SL/X and the SL/E were offered in the LB Astra series, although a basic SL model arrived in 1986 with the LC upgrade.- SL: entry-level model available upon the LC's introduction.
- SL/X: introduced with LB series featured cloth trim, a digital clock and a combined radio receiverReceiver (radio)A radio receiver converts signals from a radio antenna to a usable form. It uses electronic filters to separate a wanted radio frequency signal from all other signals, the electronic amplifier increases the level suitable for further processing, and finally recovers the desired information through...
and Compact CassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
player.
- SL/E: added alloy wheelAlloy wheelAlloy wheels are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. They are typically lighter for the same strength...
s among other features to the equipment list. However, the LC update saw the SL/E specification downgraded from alloy wheels to steel wheels with plastic wheel coversHubcapA hubcap, wheel cover or wheel trim is a decorative disk on an automobile wheel that covers at least a central portion of the wheel. Cars with stamped steel wheels often use a full wheel cover that conceals the entire wheel. Cars with alloy wheels or styled steel wheels generally use smaller...
.
Second generation (LD; 1987–1989)
Nissan Pulsar
The Nissan Pulsar is an automobile that was produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan from 1978, when it debuted as a subcompact car, to 2007, when it was replaced in all markets by the Nissan Tiida. It was originally conceived as a replacement for Nissan's first front-wheel drive platform, the...
was again used as the basis, this time using the latest N13 series. Unlike before, the LD was the result of a proper joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
development programme. That is, Nissan provided the bodywork and Holden supplied powertrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
s for fitment in both applications. Launched concurrently in July 1987, both the LD Astra and N13 Pulsar were offered in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles
Car body style
Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...
. Outside of Australia though, three-door hatchback and station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body variants of the Nissan were also available.
Both 1.6 (55 kW; 135 newton metres (99.6 ft·lbf)) and 1.8 litre (79 kW; 151 newton metres (111.4 ft·lbf)) displacements
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of Holden's Family II
GM Family II engine
The Family II is a straight-4 piston engine that was originally developed by Opel in the early 1970s. It was used in the Opel Ascona and Opel Kadett and their corresponding sister models the Vauxhall Cavalier and Vauxhall Astra...
engine were offered in the Astra-Pulsar models. Badged as "1.6-" and "1.8 injection", respectively, the term injection denoted the utilisation of fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
. In 1989, all associations with Nissan were severed and a new agreement between Toyota was formed. This relationship, known as the United Australian Automobile Industries
United Australian Automobile Industries
United Australian Automobile Industries was a firm founded in Australia in 1989 as the result of an agreement between Holden and Toyota. For Holden, it replaced the earlier Holden-Nissan joint venture that had existed since 1983.UAAI produced three vehicles: the Holden Apollo, Holden Nova and...
(UAAI) was a continuation of the Austraian Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
's Button Plan that started with Nissan. Nissan continued to use the Holden engines until 1991 before replacing their N13 Pulsar line with the N14, while at the same time entering a new model sharing alliance with Ford.
The Used Car Safety Ratings evaluation from 2008 found that LD series Astras provide a "worse than average" level of occupant protection in the event of an accident.
Specification levels
Of the three trim specifications offered, the SLX and SLE nameplates no longer featured the "/" symbol, as in SL/X. Besides this anomaly, the LD range mirrored that of the LC Astra:- SL: entry-level variant, available only as five-door hatchback, featuring the five-speed manual transmissionManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
and 1.6 litre engine combination. The brake setup for the LD series Astra in any specification was a discDisc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
/drumDrum brakeA drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
setup, whereas the equivalent Australian Pulsars had four-wheel disc brakes as standard.
- SLX: was the second tier variant fitted with the 1.8 litre engine in coupled to either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmissionAutomatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. The SLX also featured full plastic wheel trims, as opposed to the steelSteelSteel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
centre hubcapHubcapA hubcap, wheel cover or wheel trim is a decorative disk on an automobile wheel that covers at least a central portion of the wheel. Cars with stamped steel wheels often use a full wheel cover that conceals the entire wheel. Cars with alloy wheels or styled steel wheels generally use smaller...
fitted to the SL.
- SLE: was the highest luxury level on offer was the highest specification offered, available only as an automatic 1.8 litre. The SLE was equivalent to Pulsar's GXE specification.
- HSV Astra SV1800: was a Holden Special VehiclesHolden Special VehiclesHolden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
(HSV) tuned version of the LD Astra. Introduced in September 1988, most of the 65 or so examples employed the sedan body style. Upgrades from the standard Astra were limited to cosmetic and suspensionSuspension (vehicle)Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
changes, with both "Stage 1" and "Stage 2" suspension setups offered.
Third generation (TR; 1995–1998)
In 1995, Holden began selling the Astra again in the New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
market as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. Imported from Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
's Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
plant in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, this third-generation Astra model known as the TR series, was derived from the Opel Astra F
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; Opel being another General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
subsidiary. However, this was merely a rebadging of the existing Opel model that was marketed in New Zealand since 1993 as the Opel Astra.
Holden in Australia did not recommence the selling of Astras until 1996, after the dissolution of Australian Government Button car plan
Button car plan
The Button car plan, also known as the Button plan was the informal name given to the Motor Industry Development Plan. The plan was an Australian federal government initiative, intended to rationalise the Australian motor vehicle industry. Industry consultation had begun in 1984 with a proposed...
. This resulted in the collapse of UAAI
United Australian Automobile Industries
United Australian Automobile Industries was a firm founded in Australia in 1989 as the result of an agreement between Holden and Toyota. For Holden, it replaced the earlier Holden-Nissan joint venture that had existed since 1983.UAAI produced three vehicles: the Holden Apollo, Holden Nova and...
, the Holden-Toyota alliance, and as result Holden opted to return to marketing rebadged General Motors vehicles. Between 1989 and 1996, the Astra's role was fulfilled by the Nova
Holden Nova
The Holden Nova was a compact car that was produced by the GM-Holden-Toyota alliance, known as United Australian Automobile Industries in Australia between August 1989 and 1996. The alliance, and therefore the car, was a result of the failed Button car plan which attempted to rationalise the...
, Holden's version of Toyota's Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
(E90 and E100). During this period of badge engineering in Australia, General Motors New Zealand
Holden New Zealand
Holden New Zealand Limited, formerly General Motors New Zealand Limited before 1994 is the sales subsidiary for General Motors in New Zealand...
had used Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
as one of its main marques alongside Holden and Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
. Because the Button plan or local equivalent never existed in New Zealand, the two initial generations of Holden Astra (LB/LC and LD) were thus never available in that market.
Like the two previous generations, TR Astras were assessed in the 2008 Used Car Safety Ratings, and shown to provide an "average" level of protection.
Specification levels
- City: was the introductory model featuring a driver's airbagAirbagAn Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
, central lockingPower door locksPower door locks allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck, by pressing a button or flipping a switch....
, and power steeringPower steeringPower steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
. The engine and transmission combination consisted of a 1.6 litre engine (74 kW; 135 newton metres (99.6 ft·lbf)) with a five-speed manualManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. - GL: editions were fitted with front fog lamps, electric side mirrorsWing mirrorA wing mirror is a mirror found on the exterior of motor vehicles for the purposes of helping the driver see areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle, outside of the driver's peripheral vision .Although almost all modern cars mount their side mirrors on the doors, normally at the "A" pillar,...
and a tachometerTachometerA tachometer is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common...
over the City, and also featured a 1.8 litre engine (85 kW; 165 newton metres (121.7 ft·lbf)) with the option of either manual or automatic transmissionAutomatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. - GSi: was the sporty hatchback-only entrant, featuring dual airbags, alloy wheelAlloy wheelAlloy wheels are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. They are typically lighter for the same strength...
s, sports interior trim and suspensionSuspension (vehicle)Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
, along with a 2.0 litre engine (100 kW; 188 newton metres (138.7 ft·lbf)) coupled to a five-speed manual.
Fourth generation (TS; 1998–2005)
In 1998, the Astra was replaced again with a German Opel-engineered, Belgium-built version. Known as the TS Astra, it was equipped with either a 90 kW 1.8- or a 2.2-litre petrol engine and was offered in City, CD, CDXi, the SXi and SRi specifications. The SRi was three-door hatchback only, and the standard Astra was only available with a 1.8-litre litre 16-valve engine. The TS Astra was similar to the Chevrolet Astra of the South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n market, although only the latter received the sharper facelift — the European and Australian versions retained the softer curves of the original body. Models with a 5-stud wheel pattern have the ABS option factory-installed.
The TS Astra model change followed that of the Opel Astra G range, including the sedan, hatchback and convertible. However, the Coupé by Bertone was not offered with a Holden badge. The drivetrain was identical to other cars in in the Astra lineup, and as such, was not a bona-fide sports car. Like the Astra A, the Astra B was available as a wagon in New Zealand, but not Australia. In 2003, a 147 kW 2.0-litre Turbo engine became available. The standard Astra was only available with a 1.8-litre 16-valve engine, and lived on until 2005 as the Holden Astra Classic, alongside the new model. The philosophy behind this was for Holden to remain competitive in the market until the cheaper Viva
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
model was introduced.
In accordance to the Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
's 2008 update to the Used Car Safety Ratings, TS Astra models were rated "better than average" in the field of crash safety protection.
Specification levels
- City: was the most basic TS model, with a six-speaker audio system, dual airbags, disc brakes, 1.8-litre Z18XE engine, adjustable headlamps, and triple information display.
- SXi: based on "City", but utilized the coupe body style, added front fog lamps and sports trim. Optional features included, a CD player, ABS brakesAnti-lock braking systemAn anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
, alloy wheels, air conditioning, and a rear spoiler.
- CD: included "City" features, plus: 15-inch alloy wheels, a CD Player, ABS brakes, traction control, air conditioning, electronic mirrors, and power windowPower windowPower windows or electric windows as well as electric or power window lifts are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank handle.- History :Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard...
s. Optional equipment available were: front fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise controlCruise controlCruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
, and a rear spoiler. - SRi: carried the same equipment as the "SXi", but was based on the "CD" variant.
- CDX: added (over "CD"): cruise control, front fog lamps, climate control air conditioning, chrome trim around dials, side airbags, leather upholstery, and a larger LCD display.
Limited Editions
- Olympic Edition: Holden produced Olympic Editions of both the City and CD grades edition sold during 2000, included "Sydney 20002000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
" Olympic badging. - Equipe: was based on the Astra City, but added 15-inch alloy wheels and various combinations of extra features including cruise controlCruise controlCruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
, power windows, electric side-view mirrorsWing mirrorA wing mirror is a mirror found on the exterior of motor vehicles for the purposes of helping the driver see areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle, outside of the driver's peripheral vision .Although almost all modern cars mount their side mirrors on the doors, normally at the "A" pillar,...
, fog lamps and rear spoilerSpoiler (automotive)A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
.
Fifth generation (AH; 2004–2009)
The fifth generation AH Astra, based on the DeltaGM Delta platform
Delta was General Motors' compact front-wheel drive automobile and crossover SUV platform, a successor to the GM T platform; it also replaced GM J platform and the Z platform used by the Saturn S-Series. The platform debuted in the 2003 Saturn Ion. Vehicles of this platform generally carry the...
-platformed Opel Astra H came in September 2004 as a five-door hatchback only, manufactured in Belgium, selling alongside a now Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-built Astra TS sedan, hatchback and convertible . The sedan and hatchback TS Astra models carried "Astra Classic" badges, but were finally dropped in late 2005, replaced by the Holden Viva
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
, a rebadged Daewoo Lacetti
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
. Between 2003 and 2004, the Lacetti was marketed in Australia as a Daewoo before Holden withdrew the brand from Australia due to unsustainable sales.
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s as standard inclusions, allowing the Astra to receive a four-star ANCAP
Australasian New Car Assessment Program
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program is an automobile organisation operated by the governments and motoring organisations of Australia and New Zealand to give consumers coherent results on the protection given by vehicles in front and side impact collisions...
crash safety rating. Higher-specified models were able to achieve the full five-stars due to the addition of standard safety equipment.
Holden suspended importation of the Astra on 20 April 2009, citing currency fluctuations and commodity price issues. Holden's import cessation, which resulted in no Astras arriving during June and July 2009, coincided with the introduction of the Holden Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, reported to be the direct replacement for the Holden Viva
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
. On 31 August 2009, Holden confirmed that the cessation of Astra imports will remain of a permanent basis, with no intention of further imports of either the then current AH series or the next generation car. Holden stated their small car efforts would be focused on the Cruze.
Model year changes
- MY05: the AH range expanded in August 2005 with the release of the Astra station wagonStation wagonA station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
.
- MY06.5: revisions from June 2006 added head-protecting side curtain airbags as standard equipment for the CDX. Also released was the turbodieselTurbodieselTurbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
hatchback, badged CDTi. Two versions of the diesel were offered: a 1.9 litre version with 110 kW teamed with a six-speed manual transmissionManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, and a six-speed automaticAutomatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
model with an 88 kW version of the same engine. This was a first for the Astra in Australia, but not New Zealand where the Astra TS had previously been offered with a 1.7 litre turbodiesel.
- MY07: models appeared in January 2007, coinciding with the release of the Astra SRi and Twin Top convertibleConvertibleA convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
. Both releases came with a 2.2 litre petrol engine producing 110 kW, available with the six-speed manual or four-speed automatic.
- MY07.5: in April 2007 the Astra line-up received a facelift including tweaked front grilleGrilleA grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
, lights on all models, new 16 inch alloy design for CDX and CDTi models, and black tinted headlamps for sport variants. The 1.8 litre petrol engine also benefited from a power upgrade from 90 kW to 103 kW—an increase of 11 percent. The 2.2 litre engines available in the SRi, and Twin Top remained the same, as did the 2.0L turbo in the Astra SRi Turbo
- MY08: changes from October 2007 saw the deletion of the five-door SRi, leaving only the SRi coupé, and the Twin Top with the 2.2 litre engine.
- MY08.5: minor, non-cosmetic update from May 2008 onwards. MY08.5 Astras received electronic stability controlElectronic stability controlElectronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESC) as standard fitment across the entire lineup. ESC was previously limited to SRi and CDTi variants. This series also marked the return of the five-door SRi, although it was now standard with the 1.8 as opposed to the 2.2 litre petrol engine previously fitted. This engine change also affected the coupé SRi variant, but not the Twin Top. The Astra wagon range was also expanded to include the diesel engine option available already on the hatchback. Although only offered with an automatic transmission, the diesel CDTi wagon marked the return of the Astra wagon to the New Zealand market after its discontinuation after the TS series.
- MY09: The CD and CDX hatchback and station wagon variants reverted back to the black bezel projector-style headlamps.
Specification levels
- CD: was the base model.
- CDX: added 16 inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a trip computerTrip computerA trip computer is an onboard computer device fitted to cars which can generally record distance travelled, average speed, average fuel consumption, and display real time fuel consumption information...
and six-stack CD player. - CDXi: versions added eight-way power-adjustable front seats, climate control air conditioning and curtain airbags.
- CDTi: diesel-powered version of the CDX.
- SRi: was the sport model of the AH series Astra, equipped with leather seats, climate control and 17 inch alloy wheels.
- SRi Turbo: was the turbochargedTurbochargerA turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
version of the above.
Special editions
- 60th Anniversary: editions were introduced to commemorate the 60th anniversary since the first Holden, the 48-215Holden 48-215The Holden 48-215, also known unofficially as the Holden FX is a mid-size, six-cylinder sedan which was produced by the Australian automaker, General Motors–Holden's Ltd between November 1948 and October 1953....
. 60th Anniversary models included 15 inch alloy wheels, steering wheel radio controls and ESC. - CD Equipe: These models gained the 15 inch alloy wheels, cruise control and rear power windows at no extra cost during 2006 and 2007.
HSV VXR
The Opel/Vauxhall Astra OPC/VXROpel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
was marketed in Australia as the HSV VXR by Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
from 2006 to 2009.