Holden Astra - New 'AH' Model for Australia

A restyled, larger and more upmarket version of the Holden Astra, one of Australia's most popular nameplates, arrives here from a successful European debut.

Starting @ $21,990, Holden expects to attract new buyers at the premium end of the small car segment with the popular 4-cylinder hatch offering drivers a large car feel on the road.

The latest AH series Astra 5-door hatch shows off a dynamic, beautifully balanced new body shape that clearly advertises its European design heritage.

Larger inside and out, it brings refinements in advanced body and chassis construction reinforcing Astra’s reputation for superior 'driver’s car' ride, handling and performance character.

Safety is also a key feature, with driver and front passenger side impact airbags and brake assist as standard fitment across the range.

Three models introduce the new Astra range to Australia, and mirror those of its bigger brother, the Vectra - CD, CDX and the top-spec CDXi. Interestingly, the superceded TS Astra sedan and hatchback series will remain in Holden dealerships at a lower price, to be renamed the Astra Classic, largely due to their continued popularity in Australia.

The new-look models are powered by Astra's proven and economical 1.8-litre EcoTec 4-cylinder engine, teamed with an advanced new CANBUS engine management system for optimum performance. They are matched to a choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, said Astra had proven itself as one of the world's great small cars through sales and awards in Australia and around the world. "The Astra is deservedly Holden’s second most popular carline after Commodore. Buyers appreciate the way it looks and feels so good on the road as well as the value for money it represents," Mr Mooney said.

"The new generation Astra comes from Europe with excellent reviews and great credentials to build on Astra’s legacy in Australia. While Astra is best known for its impressive driver dynamics and contemporary design, it also represents excellent value for money, with price points across a range of models suited to a variety of buyers. These buyers have made Australia the world’s sixth-largest Astra market."

"This status is reinforced by the fact that Holden engineers had early input into the AH Astra engineering program to ensure that it met particular requirements for Australian roads," Mr Mooney said.

The entry-level CD model includes as standard features such as air conditioning, ABS, driver, front passenger and side impact airbags, steering wheel mounted audio controls, front power windows and heated power exterior mirrors.

Astra CDX and Astra CDXi are even more highly specified, with additional features including 16-inch alloy wheels, six-stack CD player, cruise control, leather-wrap steering wheel, trip computer (CDX), electronic climate control, curtain airbags, front fog lamps, eight-way front sports seats and leather-wrap sports steering wheel (CDXi).

Dynamic Lines and Clever Packaging

All sleek surfaces and bold outlines, the latest Astra evolution embodies new GM ‘design language’ and with its wide air intake, trapezoidal radiator grille and plunging extended bonnet line shows a smart family resemblance to its larger Euro sibling, the Holden Vectra.

Balanced proportions, bold body lines, an aerodynamic roof contour, prominent wheel arches and a wedge-shaped silhouette create a dynamic five-door form that sets it unmistakably apart from competitors. Distinctive graphic elements include technically detailed three-dimensional headlamp treatments which are echoed at the rear by large, high-mounted 3-D style tail lamps topped by translucent turn indicators.

The seats feature state-of-the-art ergonomics with enhanced contours, higher lateral supports, longer cushions and optimised adjustment.

The new Astra hatchback is longer, wider and higher than before. These larger proportions are reflected in a cleverly packaged cabin which offers more shoulder and head room, easier rear seat access and even more generously-sized cargo space.

The seats feature state-of-the-art ergonomics with enhanced contours, higher lateral supports, longer cushions and optimised adjustment.

The particular attention paid to interior design is evident in the choice of technically-oriented, high quality materials for seat and door trims, textured finishes, polished surfaces and a thoughtfully organised centre cockpit area which houses a large graphic display monitor and a leading-edge infotainment system in user-friendly double-DIN format.

AH Astra offers six exterior finishes, with Papyrus Gold being new to the range.

Body Structure and Occupant Protection

AH Astra’s dynamic design and agile chassis layout are complemented by a rigid new bodyshell that increases flex resistance by up to 52 per cent and reduces lateral flexing by 47 per cent. These structural advances translate into better driver feedback and a more solid-feeling, comfortable all-round driving experience.

Torsional rigidity, the basis for accurate suspension tuning, is also improved. Body-transmitted vibration levels are further suppressed, as are frequencies at the steering wheel interface, thanks in part to a more rigid front axle subframe connection. Astra’s weight-saving design qualities are enhanced by the introduction of a higher percentage of lightweight materials such as high-strength steel.

As with the Astra Classic models, the AH Astra is designed with the intention of optimising crash behaviour. The new bodyshell and chassis incorporate front, side and rear deformation zones that absorb and transfer impact energy in a controlled manner. In a frontal crash, the impact energy generated is absorbed by three load paths.

The upper path is the front end of the bodyshell, in which the energy is diverted through the wheel control struts to the A pillars, the door reinforcements and the roof. The central load path consists of the body’s main side members, which extend back under the floor as far as the central side (B) pillars and the sills. A hydroformed suspension subframe, with additional plates that dissipate energy back into the underbody, makes up the third path.

In rear impacts, the body structure absorbs as much energy as possible, with the body side members again acting as load paths. In a side-on crash, the high-strength steel B pillars, door reinforcements, seat cross-members between the centre tunnel and the door sills and the substantial sills themselves resist impact and intrusion.

Chassis Dynamics

On the road, the latest Holden Astra has the composed and comfortable feel of a much larger car. Its taut new body structure and larger ‘footprint’ afforded by a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks also deliver more of the driver’s car assets – particularly in terms of controlled and predictable handling character – that contribute so much to Astra’s enduring appeal.

A range of modifications to front and rear suspension design and the electro-hydraulic power steering system assist in increasing low-speed manoeuvrability and absorbing impact harshness for a more refined and balanced ride. During cornering, Astra delivers more logical chassis performance at understeer, increasing driver confidence and control. The braking system features large diameter discs all round. Four-channel ABS is specified as standard and a brake assist function further reduces stopping distance.

CDX and CDXi models are equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels; the CD has 15-inch steel wheels.

Powertrain

The proven 1.8-litre, 16-valve DOHC EcoTec engine that powers the new AH Astra CD, CDX and CDXi models has a power output of 90kW with maximum torque of 165Nm and it meets Euro 4 emissions standards.

A variable length intake manifold ensures a balanced spread of torque over a wide engine speed range. The 5-speed manual transmission specified as standard now has a shorter final drive ratio, while the optional 4-speed automatic has revised calibrations, giving a livelier launch feel.

New electronic architecture is based on three CANBUS systems, which enable high-speed networked communications between the various control units, including the engine management system, for optimum performance and more efficient servicing.

Safety and Security

In addition to the active and passive safety features inherent in its high-strength structural design and advanced chassis systems, the latest Astra offers driver and front passenger airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags (all models) and side curtain airbags (CDXi).

Front seat belts have pyrotechnic pre-tensioners and force limiters and there are ‘fasten belt’ visual and audible warning systems.

In the event of a severe frontal impact, drivers are protected by a patented clutch and brake pedal release system which reduces the risk of lower leg injury.

There are three child restraint anchors, now relocated on the back of the rear seat to eliminate restrictions on cargo floor space.

An extensive list of security items includes a speed lock that can automatically lock all doors at speeds exceeding 12km/h, an auto lock function that re-locks the car automatically after five minutes if doors remain unlocked after closing, ‘follow me home’ headlamps which shine for 30 seconds after the ignition has been turned off, remote central door locking with rolling code, engine immobiliser and a PIN-controlled audio system that recognises the unique identification of the car.

New Generation Audio Systems

The AH Astra series is the first of the Euro-sourced Holdens to offer the benefits of new-generation infotainment systems.

The Astra CD model stereo system is MP3-compatible and all models allow drivers to access audio menus through the steering wheel controls. On the CDX and CDXi, the trip computer can also be accessed in this way. The graphic display provides an information hub with audio menus, trip computers and on the CDXi, electronic climate control.

All models have seven speakers, while CDX and CDXi also have a seven channel graphic equaliser and digital sound processing, allowing the user to select different tone qualities such as ‘classical’, ‘jazz’ and ‘rock’.