Sporty Astra returns as a Holden; VXR from under $40K

The German-made Opel Astra J might be six years old, but that hasn't stopped General Motors relaunching it in Australia as a Holden.

Available from May 4 only in three-door GTC and hot VXR 'coupe' forms – essentially rebadged versions of the Astra GTC and OPC sold here under the Opel brand before it was axed after less than a year in August 2013 – Holden's sporty Astra line-up opens at $26,990 plus on-road costs.

That's $2000 less than the previous starting price of the Opel Astra GTC, which opened at $28,990 with a 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the previous manual-only GTC Sport was $34,990 and powered by a 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbo four.

Holden's new Astra GTC range is significantly more powerful, its 1.6 turbo engine outputting 147kW/280Nm with a six-speed manual transmission, although six-speed automatic versions offer less at 125kW/260Nm, despite costing $2200 extra (from $29,190).

The new Astra family, which revives a nameplate first seen in Australia in 1987 (as a badge-engineered Pulsar) before being discontinued as a Holden seven years ago, also brings a mid-range GTC Sport variant, powered by the same engines and priced from $29,990 manual and $32,190 auto.

Exclusive GTC Sport equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED tail-lights, perforated Mondial leather trim, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, alloy sports pedals, dual-zone climate-control, leather sports steering wheel, sports body kit (front bumper lower spoiler edge, rear bumper lower spoiler edge, rocker moulding) and an electric park brake.

At the top of the Astra range is the new VXR, a manual-only model priced at $39,990 plus ORCs – $4000 less than Renault's conceptually similar Megane RS three-door coupe (from $43,990), $3000 less than the old Opel Astra OPC ($42,990) and $2000 less than Volkswagen's hot hatch benchmark, the Golf GTI (from $41,990).

However, the VXR – powered by a 206kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four – is $1000 pricier than other less powerful five-door hatches like Ford's facelifted 184kW Focus ST and Subaru's 197kW WRX (both from $38,990).

Like all GTCs, the VXR runs on 98 RON premium unleaded, with combined fuel consumption listed at 8.0L/100km – up from 6.9L/100km in the GTC manuals and 7.5L/100km in the GTC autos.

Apart from more power, VXR extras over lesser Astra GTCs include 20-inch alloys, Brembo brakes with four cross-drilled rotors, firmer suspension with FlexRide damping, electro-hydraulic steering, tyre-pressure monitoring, VXR body kit including roof spoiler, VXR sports seats, perforated leather Nappa trim, VXR leather-clad steering wheel, powered front passenger seat and VXR floor mats.

All Astra GTCs come standard with dual front, side and curtain airbags, traction/stability control, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, active head restraints (except VXR), speed limiter, front/rear parking sensors (rear only on VXR), ISOFIX child seat anchors, satellite-navigation, air-conditioning, automatic projector headlights and wipers, idle-stop (manual only), a leather-clad steering wheel, trip computer, digital radio, the Holden MyLink infotainment system with 7.0-inch colour display, single-CD player with MP3 capability, Bluetooth audio streaming and USB and AUX connectivity.

The base GTC rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and comes standard with a 17-inch steel space saver, cloth Morrocana sports seat trim with Sportec bolsters and electric power steering.

Astra GTC and GTC Sport vehicles area available in three solid paint colours (Summit White, Power Red and Sunny Melon Yellow) and three prestige colours (Carbon Flash Black, Buzz Blue and Silver Lake), while the VXR can be had in the same solid colours plus Carbon Flash Black and Arden Blue prestige paint, which costs $550 extra.

The Astra GTC models will be joined in showrooms next month by the all-new Astra-based Cascada convertible, with the Insignia VXR sports sedan to follow in June.

There's no sign yet of Holden versions of Opel's new Corsa light-car or its Zafira people-mover, which was on the verge of being launched when GM axed the Opel brand here in 2013.

However, Holden says the born-again Astras are the first in a wave of new Opel-sourced models that will eventually form more than a third of its range, and has promised to deliver 24 major vehicle launches and 36 powertrain combinations in the next five years.

2015 Holden Astra pricing (plus ORCs):