2007 Holden Astra TwinTop 1.8L 5MT FWD (140 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Holden wanted to offer its customers something different in the Australasian market, so it introduced the 2007 Astra TwinTop, a compact convertible vehicle that featured a retractable hard top.

When General Motors tried to impress European customers with an affordable, retractable hardtop convertible vehicle, it allowed Opel to create the Astra TwinTop. The car was then rebadged as Holden and shipped to Australia, where it wore the same nameplate as its European sibling. Since Opel launched the vehicle in late 2006, the car reached Holden’s dealerships in 2007. It was an exotic presence on the streets thanks to its retractable roof that could disappear at the touch of a button while driving. Furthermore, customers shouldn’t be worried anymore about thermal insulation or damaged rag tops. While it wasn’t the first coupe-cabriolet in Holden’s lineup, it was the first to provide four seats inside a better-equipped cabin, with an upscale touch when fully optioned.

At the front, the 2007 Holden Astra TwinTop had the same design language as the rest of its stablemates, featuring rectangular-shaped, swept-back headlights. They flanked the redesigned upper grille that sported a chromed horizontal slat with a V-shape in the middle, like its British cousin Vauxhall, supporting Holden’s badge. On the lower side of the plastic bumper, the automaker installed standard fog lamps and a center air intake that helped to cool the engine. The car came fitted with standard 16-inch alloy wheels, with an option for a 17-inch set.

From its profile, it didn’t look like a regular Astra anymore, regardless of whether its top was up or down. The 2007 Holden Astra TwinTop featured a windshield that was tilted even more than the rest of the range, with thick, body-colored A-pillars. GM’s design team struggled to create a vehicle that looked good with the roof in open or closed position, which was something that other car manufacturers couldn’t do. At the touch of a button, owners could fold or unfold the three-piece metallic roof in less than 30 seconds. Moreover, they could do that while driving at speeds of up to 30 kph. When closed, the sloped rear side of the greenhouse had a glass rear window.

Inside, the automaker installed the same dashboard as in the rest of the range. It featured a rounded instrument cluster filled with the large dials of the speedometer and tachometer. A small screen was placed between them, in the lower area, showing data from the onboard computer, while on the upper side was the fuel level gauge. The 2006 Holden Astra TwinTop had rich standard features, including heated leather front seats. In the back, the automaker installed a bench seat profiled for two adults that provided enough legroom but was not as generous as in the five-door hatchback version of the Astra.

At the sales start, the 2006 Holden Astra TwinTop was powered by a 2.2-liter inline-four gasoline engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. As an option, customers could get a four-speed automatic. Later, the automaker expanded the range with the 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0-liter powerhouses fueled by gasoline or diesel. Even though the car’s cost was almost twice that of a regular five-door hatchback Astra, it enjoyed some success. However, like the rest of the range, it was axed from Holden’s lineup in 2009.