Holden Astra News

Exclusive report reveals one of the biggest factors in the deaths of young drivers.

Holden has released Australian pricing and specifications for its new European-sourced Astra hatch range.The current-gen Astra was previously sold under the Opel banner, but since the Euro brand's demise in Australia Holden has been working to bring back the Astra. For now we're only getting the three-door GTC and VXR sports models, keeping the Australian-built four-door Cruze as the practical option. Priced from $26,990, the base Astra packs a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine developing 147kW/280Nm when equipped with the standard six-speed manual gearbox.An automatic version is available from $29,190, but the self-shifter is less powerful rated at 125kW/260Nm.The VXR performer rides on 20-inch alloy wheels which hide upgraded front and rear cross-drilled brake discs.Standard features on the Astra GTC include sports seats, MyLink infotainment system with integrated satnav, 18-inch alloys, auto headlights and wipers and Bluetooth phone and audio.Stepping up to the $29,990 Astra GTC Sport manual brings 19-inch alloys, LED taillights, leather trimmed eight-way adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, sports body kit and electric park brake.The GTC Sport automatic is available from $32,190 and is no more powerful than the standard GTC.The range-topping Astra VXR performer is priced from $39,990 and is powered by a 206kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Power goes through the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, while an automatic version is not available.As standard, the VXR is equipped with three-mode adaptive dampers which include Standard, Sport and VXR settings, each giving a firmer ride.The VXR also rides on 20-inch alloy wheels which hide upgraded front and rear cross-drilled brake discs – the fronts clamped by Brembo calipers.Inside the Astra hot hatch boasts sports seats, VXR alloy pedals and a VXR steering wheel on top of the features already standard on the lesser GTC Sport model.Apart from the badges, the Holden Astras are essentially identical to the cars Opel sold during its time in Australia, however they're now significantly less expensive as Holdens. The GTC is around $2000 less than its Opel equivalent, the GTC Sport a whopping $4000 cheaper and the VXR is $3000 less. The Holden Astra range will go on sale nationally May 4.

The president of General Motors, Dan Ammann, says Holden can overtake Toyota by 2020 -- armed with a flood of US and European cars. The president of General Motors, Dan Ammann, has boldly backed Holden’s claim that it will overtake market leader Toyota in Australia by 2020 -- even though Holden hasn’t been number one for 11 years and has just posted its lowest sales in 19 years. The most senior man within General Motors made the comments at the Paris motor show overnight and gave an insight into the global cars that would drive Holden sales. It means Holden will have more European cars in its line-up (rather than sourcing solely from South Korea and Thailand) and could have the iconic Camaro muscle car and heavy duty pick-ups from the US in Australian showrooms within the next five years. “I think (being number one again) is achievable,” said Mr Ammann. “I think it’s the right plan for Holden to have and I think it’s important at this time, with the reconfiguration of the business down there, that we make a very clear statement about our intentions and that we’re going to be in the market with a total portfolio.” RELATED: Holden's bold plan to return to number oneMORE: Car factories could close early if funding cut VIDEO: Holden says we're here to stay Mr Ammann, originally from New Zealand, said Holden now had friends in high places in Detroit who would unlock the doors to a host of US and European cars that have previously been off limits to Holden. Former Holden boss Mark Reuss (2008 to 2009) is now in charge of global vehicle development, and his successor at Holden, Alan Batey (2009 to 2010), is now the executive vice president of General Motors in North America. “A lot of the senior leadership in (General Motors) have an association and a strong affiliation with Holden,” said Mr Ammann. “There is a disproportionate amount of emotional attachment to Holden. Watch this space. We have more to come.” Mr Ammann admitted Holden had lost focus on growing segments of the new-car market because it had spent the past decade trying to protect the Commodore as customer demand faded. “If you looked over the last few years with the benefit of hindsight, having the strength that we’ve had in Commodore has probably taken the focus off some of the other areas where we could have been stronger and had more product in the market,” said Mr Ammann. But General Motors had emerged from the Global Financial Crisis in 2009 with a new way of thinking and was planning to build more cars for right-hand-drive markets, he said. Left-hand-drive cars such as those sold in China, North America and Europe are left-hand-drive and account for 75 per cent of all cars sold globally. Customarily, right-hand-drive cars cost more to build on a per unit basis because they only account for 25 per cent of cars sold globally. But Mr Ammann said General Motors has started to integrate changes for right-hand-drive cars at the very beginning of the planning stages, to increase the number of right-hand-drive cars in its portfolio. “We have all sorts of great cars around the world that we can bring in,” said Mr Ammann. “We are totally committed to Holden.” “As a company we haven’t done a very good job about being systematic about right-hand-drive cars. We will be much more expansive in our thinking on that going forward.” Mr Ammann said the changes “won’t happen overnight” but “as we get into the next generation of these (vehicles) there will be more good things to come”. Mr Ammann said Holden was “well progressed” with the car that will replace the Commodore in 2018. “We have decided (where the Commodore replacement will come from), it’s progressing well, and I can’t tell you much more than that,” said Mr Ammann. “There won’t be any huge surprises I’d say, (but) it will be a world class product.” Holden has not confirmed where the Commodore replacement will be sourced from. But insiders have confirmed to News Corp Australia that, after initially planning to source the Commodore replacement from China, it will now come from Opel in Germany. It means that the Commodore will have come full circle, as the original Commodore launched in 1978 shared its DNA with the Opel sedan of the time. Meanwhile, the boss of Opel in Germany, Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann, told Australian media at the Paris motor show overnight that Holden will eventually source about one-third of its cars from Europe. “The Australian market and the Holden brand is important to General Motors,” said Dr Neumann. “It will be of the responsibility of Opel to supply certain cars for Australia.” Holden has already confirmed certain models from the Astra range, as well as the Insignia sedan and wagon, and Cascada convertible are coming next year. But other Opel models such as Corsa city car are expected to follow.“(Opel cars) will be about one third of the portfolio of Holden; it is an important export business for us,” said Dr Neumann. It means that Holden will likely sell some Korean-sourced small cars and SUVs alongside those from Opel in Europe, giving the brand a greater selection of models and price points. 

The secret (and some not so secret) models that will power Ford, Holden and Toyota when their factories close.

The Holden Astra is back after a five-year break as the iconic Aussie brand tries to reverse its small-car sales slide.The locally-made Holden Cruze has been in free-fall for the past three years and the model that once challenged the Commodore for top honours is now outside the Top 10 sellers list.Despite the imminent return of Holden’s European favourite -- the Astra found almost a quarter of million Australian driveways between 1996 and 2009 -- the company insists production of the locally-made Cruze sedan and hatch will continue alongside the Commodore for the “forseeable future”.The return of two upmarket versions of the Astra in early 2015 increases Holden’s chances of sales success in the cut-throat small-car class, and will play a key role in Holden’s ambitious plans to become Australia's top-selling car brand by 2020.The target is a tall order given that Holden sales last year fell to a 20-year low and it currently sells a little more than half the number of cars as Toyota, market leader for the past 11 years.But Holden has already started making crucial changes to its line-up.The Cruze will remain Holden’s small-car price leader -- starting at $19,990, the cheapest locally-made Holden in 20 years -- while a pair of three-door, turbocharged Astras will compete with premium European cars.Price for the Holden Astra GTC and VXR hatchbacks are yet to be confirmed but are expected to cost about $30,000 and $40,000 respectively as the brand moves upmarket.“We are determined to offer … customers the best possible products that we can source from our global operations, as we build a strong future for Holden,” said Stefan Jacoby, the president of General Motors International Operations, during today’s second visit to Holden in eight months.The two turbocharged Astras will also be joined by fellow Opel models, the sleek Cascada convertible and the Insignia VXR medium-sized sports-sedan, both likely to be priced close to $50,000.The Cascada is the spiritual successor to the Astra convertible, which Holden sold across two generations from 2001 to 2010. The Insignia will be Holden's first turbocharged all-wheel-drive V6 sedan.The regular Astra models have been left behind, for now, so they don’t do any further damage to the locally-made Cruze.So far this year Cruze sales are down 22 per cent, and it is selling at a little over half the rate of the Commodore. At its peak three years ago, the Cruze challenged the Commodore as the top-selling Holden.The return of the Astra is crucial to Holden’s plan to win back buyers who’ve defected to other brands.About 15 per cent of all cars on Australian roads are Holdens, but the company’s share of new-car sales has slipped to between 8.5 and 10 per cent of the total market over the past 12 months.Meanwhile Holden’s engineering division has been given a major boost with confirmation that General Motors will not sell its historic Lang Lang proving ground and test track.The facility about 95km south-east of Melbourne includes a 4.7km banked test oval for high-speed testing, a giant skid pan, and 44km of sealed and unsealed roads that replicate real-world driving conditions, including tram lines.Every Holden introduced since 1958 has been tested and developed at Lang Lang, but it was very nearly sold during the Global Financial Crisis in 2009.Transport magnate and car enthusiast Lindsay Fox had reportedly expressed interest in buying the Holden test facility but in the end General Motors said it wasn’t for sale.Holden currently employs about 180 engineers at Lang Lang and 140 designers at its Port Melbourne headquarters.Once Holden closes its Port Melbourne engine factory in 2016 and the Elizabeth, South Australia car assembly line in 2017, it will retain a combined design and engineering workforce of more than 200 people, the company says.“Our engineering and vehicle development team at Lang Lang will have the capability to tune suspension, steering and drivetrain characteristics for Australia’s unique conditions and customers,” Holden boss Gerry Dorizas said in a media statement.“The Lang Lang team will also remain plugged in to GM’s global engineering department, with ongoing input into product programs that reach beyond Holden and influence GM vehicles around the world. Our world-class GM Australia Design Centre will also continue to help shape not just future Holdens but GM vehicles around the globe.”Watch the desktop version of the Holden Astra VXR and Cascada at Lang Lang video here. What’s coming and when:Holden Astra GTC3-door hatch, 1.6L turbo petrol engine, 6-speed manual and automatic transmission, front-wheel drive. On-sale first half 2015.  Holden Cascada2-door convertible, 1.6L turbo petrol engine, 6-speed manual and automatic transmission, front-wheel drive. On-sale first half 2015.  Holden Astra VXR3-door hatch, 2.0L turbo petrol engine 6-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive. On-sale first half 2015.  Holden Insignia VXR4-door sedan, 2.8L turbo V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive. On-sale first half 2015.  This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

THE new boss of Holden has boldly claimed the company will be Australia's top-selling car brand by the year 2020 -- just three years after shutting its factories. Holden hasn't been number one for 11 years, has just posted a 20-year low, and currently sells a little more than half the number of cars as market leader Toyota.Despite this, Holden boss Gerry Dorizas has bravely set his targets high barely five weeks into the new job. It seems like a tall order when the claims are judged against Holden's current model line-up.But behind the scenes the company is searching every corner of the globe to bolster its showrooms once Holden doesn't have a car factory to protect beyond 2017. That means all bets are off and Holden executives are going through the entire General Motors catalogue to fill every possible niche to win back buyers who've defected to other brands.Some of the cars listed here may seem fanciful based on Holden's recent history. But make no mistake, anything is possible in Holden's new era.As with all car makers, Holden refuses to discuss its future model plans and these cars are by no means confirmed. But this list has been compiled with some inside knowledge and a review of how Holden has done business in happier times, such as the late 1990s and early 2000s when European and US models helped drive it to Number One.Here are the 10 cars that could power Holden to the top of the market over the next six years.1. CamaroYou read it here first: Holden executives told dealers in a secret meeting late last year it's hopeful of getting the next generation Chevrolet Camaro in local showrooms by 2018, just after the homegrown Commodore fades from view.Normally such hot news would be kept under wraps, but Holden was trying to give dealers a confidence boost after announcing the 2017 factory closure.A right-hand-drive version of the current Chevrolet Camaro was under development when it was axed in 2009, in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis.Now that Ford has confirmed the Mustang is coming to Australia (due in late 2015) Holden is believed to be fighting hard for a right-hand-drive Chevrolet Camaro to meet its rival head-on.And the iconic Corvette? Former General Motors CEO, Dan Akerson, told Carsguide in January 2013 a right-hand-drive version was coming -- only to be corrected by his second-in-command Tim Lee less than 24 hours later.It's unlikely there will be a right-hand-drive version of this generation Corvette, but the head of General Motors global product development, Mark Reuss, a former Holden boss, told Carsguide in January 2014 he wants right-hand-drive versions of all Chevrolet vehicles in the future.2. Cascada convertibleIn the same top-secret meeting Holden dealers were told about the Camaro, they were also told the Opel Cascada convertible will be coming to Holden showrooms by year's end.The Cascada -- Spanish for rain or waterfall, unusual for a convertible given that they're about sunshine, except when they leak -- was supposed to be introduced as an Opel before General Motors pulled the German brand from sale locally last year, less than 12 months after it launched. All Holden needs to do is fit Holden badges, get cars to dealers and starting printing brochures.The Cascada is the spiritual successor to the Astra convertible, which Holden sold across two generations from 2001 to 2010.Holden is yet to decide whether the convertible will wear the Cascada badge or if Holden will use the Astra name for the convertible.Holden dealers have told Carsguide they would prefer the Astra badge because of its recognition, but Holden executives have been referring to the car by its Opel name in preliminary meetings.3. Astra hatchThe Holden Astra is going to return to showrooms, it's just a matter of when. At the moment, Holden doesn't want to dent sales of the locally-made Cruze but the Astra is on stand-by, ready to go.Holden dealers had to clear the unsold Astra stock once the Opel brand was withdrawn from Australia, so the network has already handled the new model.The three-door and five-door hatch versions of the Astra are likely starters, but the Astra sedan will probably be left behind, leaving the next generation Cruze sedan to fill the void.4. Cruze sedanHolden will import the next generation Cruze sedan once the locally-made model goes out of production. It will opt for the Cruze sedan (over the Astra sedan) because it will give Holden a strategic price step through the small-car range.The Cruze sedan will likely be the price-leader at close to $20,000 while the Astra hatch will likely be priced closer to fellow European, the Volkswagen Golf, at about $23,000.General Motors is yet to commit to a new version of the Cruze wagon.Although the current Holden Cruze wagon is well priced and regarded as a sound vehicle, it is selling in small numbers, with buyers favouring SUVs.5. Trax faceliftThe recently-released Holden Trax compact SUV is well-equipped and sharply priced but hasn't proved popular with buyers.It seems not everyone is a fan of its cutesy Dumbo Elephant looks. But a fix is a phone call away.The Trax's twin, the Opel Mokka, was due to go on sale locally until the brand was withdrawn late last year.The Mokka has a more European design inside and out even though it comes from the same South Korean factory as the Trax.Holden could simply fit Trax badges to the better-looking model on a “facelift” for a sales boost.6. BarinaAs one of the best-priced and roomiest cars in its class, the current-generation Barina is another Holden that deserves to be selling better.But it is heavy and thirsty compared to the class leaders. And while the attractively designed interior looks good in brochures, the plastics are hard to the touch and feel cheap once you're behind the wheel.The next Barina will likely continue to come from South Korea (rather than sourcing the European Opel Corsa) because it will enable Holden to keep prices low.Better quality plastics will improve the interior's appeal, while a more efficient engine and a lighter body will improve fuel economy, giving the next Barina a better chance in the cut-throat light-car class.7. Captiva SUVAn all-new Captiva SUV can't come soon enough. Most cars have a model cycle of five-to-six years. The Captiva is entering its ninth year on sale and a new-from-the-ground-up model is still about two years away.The current Captiva is selling well because it is the cheapest ticket into a seven-seat full-size SUV. But the new model will have to step up to newer competition, especially if it loses its current $10,000 price advantage.The other key to the Captiva's success is the two-model strategy: a slightly smaller five-seater and a slightly bigger seven-seater.Holden would like to continue with two models given the SUV market is still booming, but General Motors is likely to consolidate to one model globally.The Captiva is critical to Holden's 2020 Number One target: it accounts for almost one-third of sales and is currently the biggest selling model behind the Commodore and the Cruze.8. Next CommodoreHolden has scrapped plans to share the next generation, front-wheel-drive Commodore with a Chinese Buick.Now that the Commodore (or whatever Holden chooses to call its next large sedan) is no longer going to be built locally, Holden has the luxury of choosing between the Buick, Chevrolet or Opel versions of the same car.Expect four-cylinder and V6 power for the front-drive sedan, but there will no longer be a Commodore V8, wagon or ute.The Camaro is expected to fill the V8 void, while Commodore wagon customers will either downsize to a Cruze or step up to a Captiva SUV. Commodore ute buyers will have to learn to love the Colorado.9. Colorado uteThe Holden Colorado is travelling ok but it's still not selling as well as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton. That means there is still plenty of sales potential.The Colorado is being held back at the moment because it doesn't drive as well as its peers and the cabin isn't as user-friendly or as upmarket as the newer competition.It also doesn't look like a tough truck. Making it drive better will take some chassis tuning, but making it look tougher is not as hard as it sounds.General Motors in North America redesigned the nose for the Chevrolet version of the 2015 Colorado, to make it look like a full-size pick-up. And guess what? The parts clip straight on to the Holden Colorado. Simples.10. Tahoe/SilveradoHolden has been trying to get right-hand-drive versions of General Motors' full-size SUVs and pick-ups from the US for more than a decade. Since, in fact, the Chevrolet Suburban was discontinued after being sold here between 1998 and 2001.Back then, when the Australian dollar was weaker than it is today, the “Holden” Suburban sold for between $64,000 and $87,000.At today's exchange rates, the prices for the Tahoe SUV and Silverado pick-up would likely be between $50,000 and $75,000 -- smack bang in the middle of Toyota Prado and Toyota LandCruiser territory, which last year accounted for more than 10 per cent of Toyota's sales.General Motors is yet to confirm right-hand-drive versions of its full-size pick-ups and SUVs -- but former Holden boss Mark Reuss, now the head of GM's global product development, told Carsguide in January this year he wants right-hand-drive versions of all future models.If they became available, Holden would grab them with both hands.What about HSV?Holden's performance-car division will continue to build the Clubsport sedan and wagon, Maloo ute, Grange limousine and GTS super-sedan until the very end of Commodore production in October 2017.Carsguide understands it may even stockpile enough cars to run into 2018 because once these homegrown heroes go, there will be no more.In the meantime, HSV is looking to broaden its model range. Don't be surprised to see the high performance Opel Astra OPC hot hatch and Opel Insignia OPC sedan and wagon appear in Holden showrooms wearing HSV badges.HSV has sold Opel's high performance Astra before and the Astra hatch and Insignia were sold here last year as Opels before the brand was withdrawn from sale.That means they've been approved for Australian Design Rules and there is already parts availability. All that's missing are the HSV badges.Friends in high placesHolden boss Gerry Dorizas believes Holden will get more support now than ever before from its overseas head-quarters.Former Holden boss Mike Devereux is in charge of sales for the Asia-Pacific region, and the man who saved Holden from extinction during the GFC, Mark Reuss, is now in charge of General Motors' global product development.The new president of General Motors, reporting directly to CEO Mary Barra, is New Zealander Dan Ammann, who grew up around Holdens.Will Zafira make it?Opel was poised to introduce the latest Zafira people mover in Australia before the brand was withdrawn suddenly late last year.Holden is understood to be evaluating whether the Zafira can be priced competitively against the other seven-seater family wagons before introducing it locally.Holden sold the Zafira in Australia between 2001 and 2006 but was dropped from the line-up as buyers began to favour seven-seat SUVs.Today, the people-mover category represents just 0.9 per cent of the new-vehicle market.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Opel cars could be back in Holden showrooms by the end of this year, starting with the sleek and sexy Cascada convertible priced about $50,000.

Aussie car fans and nostalgia buffs will tell you that local motoring reached its peak in the 1970s.

It has a two-part retractable hardtop, not the canvas roof seen in the earlier Holden Astra droptop in Australia, to give it a showroom advantage over the Volkswagen Golf. There is no confirmation yet that the fresh-air favourite will return down under but it looks highly likely.  

The GM-owned carmaker – which will launch here within months – says it needs to reverse its previous strategy of trying to move upmarket. CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke told an Automotive News Congress yesterday there would be price cuts on the brand’s vehicles, largely in response to the European financial crisis. "We need to regain our traditional customer base," Stracke said. "We moved Opel up too quickly. Going forward there will be adjustments to make our cars more affordable." However, in a side reference to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s recent statement that the Italian brand would axe 500 million euros from product development projects, Stracke said Opel would continue to invest in new projects. “We will make a significant investment in Opel's product portfolio,” he said. “I noticed with interest that some of our key competitors have announced plans to cut product investment spending," he said. Opel will launch here with three models – Corsa, Astra and Insignia – but they will be joined by others as part of the carmaker’s plan to roll out 23 new or revised vehicles and 13 new drivetrains in the next four years in various markets around the world. Speaking from a European perspective, Stracke said Opel's price-led strategy would not be a threat to stablemate Chevrolet. "Customers don't see the brands as competitors," he said. However with Opel facing off in Australia against fellow GM brand Holden, particularly in the small car market with Astra and Corsa, we’ll be watching with interest to see how the price points compare. Opel Australia’s head of marketing and public relations Michelle Lang says that while the local arm will not comment on international operations, they don't see a rivalry here with Holden. "We do not expect to "face off" against Holden. We will operate in completely unique markets, and appeal to very distinct buyer types," she says.