Astra sedan launches in July

The all-new Astra sedan will be released in New Zealand this July, Holden has confirmed, with the sportwagon variant set to go on sale at the end of the year. The Sportwagon, announced at Fieldays in Hamilton, will be similar in style to the Astra hatch, and will contain the same 1.4-litre engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Safety features will include automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and forward collision alert, and more information on the model range will be released by Holden closer to the launch date. The Holden Astra line-up has taken models across the GM global portfolio; the sedan, based on the Chevrolet Cruze, uses the same Delta 2 architecture as the Opel-designed hatch variant. Arriving next month, the sedan will also contain a 1.4-litre engine matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, which produces 110kW of power and 240Nm of torque, and come with a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Holden New Zealand general manager of marketing, Marnie Samphier, said the Astra sedan was a global vehicle, “developed in Europe, manufactured in Korea and finished with design elements and significant engineering input from Holden Australia.” Samphier added that while the Astra was manufactured and prominently designed overseas, Holden had ensured the car was unique to the Australasian market. “Holden Australia designers have styled a unique Holden face with exclusive new front fascia and grille, closely aligning with the next generation Commodore,” she said. Different safety features are available in the Astra sedan line-up. The entry-level LS contains rear-part assist with a rear camera, cruise control, automatic headlights and daytime running light. One step up, the LT and LTZ variants feature the above technologies as well as lane-keep assist, forward distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front part assist and side blind-spot alert. Pricing starts at $30,990 plus on-road costs for the LS model, $34,490 plus on-road costs for the LT and $38,490 plus on-road costs for the LTZ.