Holden to trim 2020 Astra range and provide a spec boost

Holden Astra range will be trimmed for the year 2020 as it seems to raise the sales in the small car segment. Even though Holden has not confirmed or denied regarding the revisions, the official dealer documents show that it would surely come with few changes. According to the source, the mid-spec R+ trim will be eliminated, with the current Astra R to rather obtain the active safety equipment, which was previously booked for the R+. 

A host of minor updates that will be rolled out across the globe includes Opel's newest touchscreen infotainment system that will substitute the existent setup, and the halogens previously employed on the base variants will be replaced by LED units. In addition to that, it will come equipped with a black package, which includes black mirror caps, alloy wheels, and bumper detailing. This black treatment will be present as standard on the Astra RS and RS-V, too. 

It is expected to feature dual-zone climate control feature on the RS variant, whereas the top of the line RS-V will come with a panoramic sunroof and active cruise control as standard, which were previously available as an option. However, driving enthusiasts might get upset with the fact that it will no longer come with a manual transmission and will get a six-speed automatic transmission as standard across the range. 

The carmaker has not revealed the pricing yet; however, the on-going Astra range gets a price tag of $21,490 for the R and $30,740 for the RS-V. The powertrain for R features a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol mill that puts out 147 hp of maximum power and 240 Nm of peak torque, whereas the figures change to 197 hp and 280 Nm for the 1.6-litre turbo-four motor, which is provided in the RS and RS-V.