Hummer, VE and Astras kick-off AIMS

Holden kicked off proceedings at the Australian International Motor Show this morning with the unveiling of no less than 16 new models. Truth is, however, all but a handful have already made it into dealer showrooms -- so goes the vagaries of new model release dates and motor show calendars.

Sydney was the show debut of the VE/WM series large cars and they understandably dominated the Lion's stand in both cooking and HSV guises. Alongside, the new Captiva SUVs including the top-of-the-range Maxx were also appearing under lights for the first time.

The 'true' reveals numbered four: two HSV-badged cars, an Astra with a flip-top lid and the long-rumoured but surprisingly compact Hummer H3.

The H3 and HSV's flagship long-wheelbase Grange are the subject of separate stories here at CarPoint. For the record, HSV is stating that there's "strong early interest" from export markets for the Grange.

A motor show regular it seems (previewed at Sydney last year and Melbourne earlier in 2006), the other HSV, the Astra Turbo-based VXR hit dealers at the same time as it was unveiled on the show stand. With 177kW and a sub-$43,000 pricetag, it's bound to go fast.

The final reveal at Holden central (aside from the radio-controlled L'il Red 'blimpette' -- as preview by CarPoint Confidential) was the stylish and slinky Astra Twintop. Featuring a three-piece folding hardtop, the Twintop goes on sale in December powered by a 2.2-litre direct-injected four-cylinder petrol engine rated at 110kW/215Nm (see CarPoint's Coupe Cabriolet round-up later today for more details).

The Twintop will be joined by sporty three and five-door Astra SRis which also go on sale in December.