Opel Astra

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See also Vauxhall Astra and Holden Astra for the usage of the nameplate by other General Motors subsidiaries.

Opel Astra

Also called:	Chevrolet Astra Holden Astra Vauxhall Astra Saturn Astra
Manufacturer:	General Motors
Production:	1991–present
Predecessor:	Opel Kadett
Class:	Small family car
Similar:	Ford Focus Volkswagen Golf

The Opel Astra is a small family car produced by Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors. It is branded as an Opel in continental Europe, Japan, the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, and India; Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, Holden in Australasia, and Chevrolet in Latin America. In Russia, it is sold as both an Opel and a Chevrolet.

Starting in mid-2007, the vehicle will be exported to the United States and Canada, and be sold through Saturn dealers as part of GM's larger plan to integrate Saturn and Opel by 2014. [1]

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 mainly against the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

1 Naming convention
2 Astra F/A
3 Astra G/B
4 Astra H/C
5 External links

[edit] Naming convention

As of 2006, there have been three generations of the vehicle. In a fashion typical for Opel models, they are designated with subsequent letters of the Latin alphabet. Opel's official convention is to continue the Opel Kadett lineage, thus referring to the first generation of Opel Astra as the Astra F (the last Opel Kadett was the Kadett E). Another convention used by GM starts with Astra A, adopting the notion that the Astra is a separate model. Models sold as Vauxhall, Holden or Chevrolet have different generation designations reflecting the history of those nameplates in their home markets and their naming conventions.

[edit] Astra F/A

Astra Mk 1

Also called:	Vauxhall Astra Opel Astra Classic Holden Astra Chevrolet Astra Chevrolet Optima Opel Kadett (South Africa, hatchback only) Opel Astra II (Denmark, 1998-99)^{[citation needed]}
Production:	1991–1997
Body style:	2-door convertible 3-door hatchback 4-door saloon 5-door estate 5-door hatchback
Platform:	FF T-body
Related:	Pontiac LeMans

The Astra F was released in 1991. With the Kadett E's successor, Opel adopted the Astra nameplate, which was already used by Vauxhall for the Kadett D and E (see Vauxhall Astra). It was offered as a three or five-door hatchback, a saloon (sedan), and an estate (wagon), known as the Caravan. A cabriolet was also offered, designed and built by Bertone in Italy.

The model was launched in South Africa in 1992, where it was produced under licence by Delta. However, the Kadett name was retained for the Astra hatchback until 1999, which included a variant with a 2.0 L turbocharged engine 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.

The Astra 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 originally a rebadged Nissan Pulsar, first sold in Australia in the mid-1980s.

The Astra F consisted of two main revisions and was revised in 1995, with the launch of Opel's new Ecotec engine. For a short period, a submodel which consisted of parts from both revisions was produced. The submodel used all the new Ecotec running gear, but many parts from the previous revision were used in order to use up leftover parts. Other main changes included mildly-altered exterior styling, and availability of new specification models.

Aside from the South Africa-only 200TS, the lead model was the GSi - a 2.0l 16v petrol injected model with 147bhp, available as a 3-door only. It also featured sports bodykit and interior. The GSi too was updated in 1997, with the engine being replaced for a lower-powered but more modern 'Ecotec' version.

In the UK, there is only one dedicated enthusiasts club for this seeming "everyday nothing-special" car - the Astra Mk3 Owners' Club; www.mk3oc.com

[edit] Astra G/B

Astra Mk 2

Also called:	Chevrolet Astra Chevrolet Viva Opel Astra Classic Holden Astra Holden Astra Classic Vauxhall Astra
Production:	1998–2003
Body style:	2-door convertible 2-door coupé 3-door hatchback 4-door saloon 5-door hatchback 5-door estate
Platform:	FF T-body
Related:	Opel Zafira

The Astra Mk2 was launched in Europe in 1998. It was available as a 3 and 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon and two special versions: the Astra Coupé and the 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, the Opel Zafira.

In some markets, such as Australia and New Zealand, the Polish-built Astra G was sold as the Astra Classic alongside the Astra H, as a rival to South Korean imports. It has now been replaced by the Daewoo Lacetti, but has been re-badged as the 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 G.

A taxi version of the Brazilian sourced model, powered with diesel is sold in Chile as the Chevrolet Chevy Taxi, and a gasoline powered one as the Chevy Urban.

[edit] Astra H/C

Astra Mk 3

Production:	2004-present
Body style:	2-door coupé convertible 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door estate 5-door hatchback
Platform:	FF Delta
Related:	Chevrolet Cobalt Chevrolet HHR Opel Zafira Pontiac G4 Pontiac G5 Saturn Ion

GM Europe launched Astra H at the end of 2003 and early 2004, depending on the market. Based on the then-new Delta platform, its size was increased, the engines improved and the styling and interior made distinctly more dynamic. Handling was 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 estate and a sporty three-door hatchback, designated the GTC for European markets, Sport Hatch in the UK and the Coupé in Australia. The GTC has the option of a panoramic 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 electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) and AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting). In 2005, the new Opel Astra Diesel Hybrid appeared. By the end of 2005, estate and coupé versions were also launched.

A four-door sedan body was launched on 19 October 2006 at the international auto show in Istanbul, Turkey.

It's sold as Chevrolet Astra in Mexico and (from 2006) in Chile.

Chevrolet do Brazil developed a sedan borrowing the exterior design of the Astra H and launched it as the Chevrolet Vectra in 2005.