General Motors Astra
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The Astra is a small family car of the General Motors Corporation, badged as an Opel in India, continental Europe and the Republic of Ireland; a Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, a Holden in Australasia, and a Chevrolet in Latin America. In Russia, it carries Opel and Chevrolet badges.
The Astra is now built in Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, India, Poland and Russia, as well as being assembled in CKD (completely knocked-down) kits in other countries. It competes against the Ford Focus and VW Golf. In the mid- to late-1980s, it was badged as a Pontiac in the United States of America.
Astra history
There have been five main versions of the Astra:- 1979–84 Vauxhall Astra Mk 1/Opel Kadett D/Chevrolet Kadett
- 1984–present Vauxhall Astra Mk 2/Opel Kadett E/Daewoo Le Mans/Daewoo Racer/Daewoo Cielo/Daewoo Nexia/Pontiac LeMans/Passport Optima
- 1991–8 Opel Astra A/F/Opel Kadett (South Africa) F/Vauxhall Astra Mk 3/Holden Astra TR/Chevrolet Astra
- 1998–present Opel Astra B/G/Vauxhall Astra Mk 4/Holden Astra TS/Holden Astra Classic/Chevrolet Astra (Brazil)/Chevrolet Viva (Russia)
- 2004–present Opel Astra C/H/Vauxhall Astra Mk 5/Holden Astra AH (uses the GM Delta platform).
1979
The Astra name originated with Vauxhall's 1979 model, though the car was designed and built a year earlier in Germany as an Opel Kadett. This model replaced the Vauxhall Viva in the UK, along with some versions of the Vauxhall Chevette. However, the Chevette remained on the price list for several years afterwards until the Vauxhall Nova was launched. The Astra was Vauxhall's first model to have front-wheel drive.The car featured a new unified engine for Vauxhall/Opel, featuring an all-aluminium head, overhead camshaft and hydraulic valve lifters. The engine was a huge leap forward from the earlier generation of small engines used in Vauxhall and Opel cars in terms of power, economy and refinement. It was initially available in 1300 and 1600 forms, and later an 1800 fuel-injected version was added, used in the Mk 1 Astra GTE model, introduced in 1983. Vauxhall now had a serious rival for the Volkswagen Golf, and it quickly became popular with buyers. A 1200cc version which used the older Opel OHV engine was also available.
There were three bodystyles for the first generation Vauxhall Astra, saloon,hatchback and estate, both available with three or five doors (two or four for saloon). The saloon models were styled exactly like the hatchbacks, except they had a different rear window and a conventional bootlid. There was also a van version which was badged the Bedford Astravan. Unlike the previous Opel T-Car, no coupe was offered.
1984
The Mk 2 Astra used the same range of engines and running gear as the Mk 1, but with a completely restyled body with much better aerodynamics. A new GTE using a 2 L fuel injected model was also introduced, and early models of these featured an all electronic dash with digital speedometer. This was largely received as a gimmick, and later models reverted to traditional analogue instrumentation. A special twin-camshaft version of the engine was also developed and a high performance version of the GTE was created around it. This engine developed 156 hp in standard form, giving spritely performance. The Mk 2 was long-lived, and was available in estate, hatchback, saloon (sedan) and cabriolet versions. The Mk 3 model was essentially an evolution of the Mk 2, rather than a redesign.
This model formed the basis of the Daewoo Cielo, Racer, Nexia and LeMans, and its export versions, the Asüna SE (Canada), Asüna GT (Canada), Passport Optima (Canada) and Pontiac LeMans (Canada, New Zealand and USA).
The second generation Vauxhall Astra, sold in the rest of Europe as the Opel Kadett, was voted European Car of the Year for 1985. It fought off stiff competition from the Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf.
1991
The world car version of the Astra (model A, though some claim this is the model F, continuing the Kadett lineage) was released in 1991. It was offered as a three- or five-door hatchback, a sedan (saloon), and station wagon (estate), known as Caravan. A cabriolet was also offered, designed and built by Bertone in Italy.
In South Africa, the Kadett name was retained for the Astra hatchback range until 1999, which included a two L turbo called the 200TS, unique to that market. Sedan and station wagon models were offered under the Astra name. Controversially, the Kadett and Astra in South Africa won the title of 'Car of the Year' in two consecutive years (1992 and 1993) even though they were versions of the same car.
South African nomenclature was denoted in decilitres, so the Astra and Kadett ranges featured 140, 160i, 180i and 200i models.
This model also became available in Australasia badged as a Holden, first in New Zealand in 1995, and then Australia in 1996. The first models were imported from the UK, but the current model is imported from Belgium. The original Holden Astra was in fact a rebadged Nissan Pulsar, sold in Australia in the mid-1980s
The Astra MK3 consists of two main revisions and was revised in 1995, with the launch of vauxhall/opel's new Ecotec Engine. For a short period a sub model which consisted of parts from both revisions was produced. The sub model used all the new Ecotec running gear and the new outer styling but many parts from the previous revision to use up some of the older stock from the earlier revision.
It should be noted that the MK3 Ecotec lump was favored in rally stock over the newer MK4 Engine for a period as the MK3 engine was famed to be more reliable and lasted longer better under heavy driving.
In the UK Vauxhall offered the following ranges: MERIT - LS - GLS - CD - CDX - Si - SXI - S (Sport) - GSI
In later Sport and GSI models (1995+) Lotus Sprung Suspension was used to give better ride.
1998
The Astra B (or Astra G) was launched in Europe in 1998. It was available as a 3- and 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon and two special versions: the Opel Astra Coupé and the Opel Astra Cabrio, both of them designed and built by Bertone. The biggest innovation is the introduction of a natural gas-powered engine. Its chassis was tuned by Lotus and formed the base of a seven-seater compact MPV badged the Zafira.
In some markets, such as Australia and New Zealand, the Polish-built Astra B was sold as the Astra Classic alongside the Astra C, as a rival to Korean imports. It has now been repleced by the Daewoo Lacetti, but has been re-badged as a Holden Viva. It currently continues as the Chevrolet Astra in Latin America.
In 2004, GM-AvtoVAZ, GM's joint venture with VAZ, launched the Chevrolet Viva, a four-door version of the Astra B
2004
GM Europe launched Astra C/H (Mk 5 in Vauxhall terms and AH series in Holden terms) at the end of 2003 and early 2004, depending on the market. Based on the platform of the outgoing model, its size has been increased, the engines improved and the styling and interior made distinctly more dynamic. Handling has been further improved with each engine provided with its own Lotus tuned suspension settings. It is so far available as a five-door hatchback, a five-door Caravan station wagon and a sporty three-door hatchback, designated the GTC for European markets, Sport Hatch in the UK and the Coupé in Australia. The smaller useful capacity of the boot/trunk in the hatchback version compared to the previous model has been criticized. This has boosted sales of the station wagon derivative.
The GTC has the option of a Panorama windscreen (unique for a production car at the time of its launch) which extends into the roof area.
A first for any major European car is the availability of digital radio on some versions of the new Astra, while for the Astra product class first are the electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) and the AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting).
2005
The new Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid appears.By the end of 2005 estate and coupe versions were also launched.
Coming to America?
It has been rumored that the Astra will be coming to the United States in 2008 or 2009 as a replacement for the Saturn Ion. Given that General Motors has aligned its Saturn brand with the European brands Opel and Vauxhall, it is thought that the Astra will be the first of several models to be shared between all three companies. GM North America has not confirmed or denied anything, but it has been said that Opel leaked the information. It is not certain what version of the Astra the American market would receive, or what would happen to the current Spring Hill, Tennessee plant that builds the current Ion if American sales were to occur.
External links
- [AstraNation.com - International Astra Owners Club] [forum]
- [Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid].
- [Used Vauxhall Astra information]
| Preceded by: Vauxhall Viva Vauxhall Chevette Opel Kadett |
Succeeded by: still in production |
| Opel AG | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Passenger:
Agila | Antara | Astra | Corsa | GT | Meriva | Signum | Sintra | Speedster | Tigra | Vectra | Zafira | ||
|
LCV:
Combo | Movano | Vivaro | ||
|
Concept:
Aero GT | Antara GTC | CD | Diesel Rekordwagen | Eco Speedster | Frogster | Frua Diplomat | G90 | GT 2 | Insignia | Maxx | OPC X-Treme | Snowtrekker | Trixx | ||
|
Historic:
Admiral | Ascona | Blitz | Calibra | Commodore | Diplomat | Frontera | GT | Kadett | Kapitän | Manta | Monterey | Monza | Olympia | Omega | Rekord | Senator | ||
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