VAUXHALL Astra Twin Top Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Vauxhall introduced the Astra Twin Top on the British market in 2006, trying to compete against other coupes with a vehicle that was so much more than that.

Selling a convertible in a country where the rain has its own temper might be considered uninspired. But when that open-top car is fitted with a retractable hard top that can be put up or down in a matter of seconds while driving, the idea didn’t seem that bad anymore, and Vauxhall used the opportunity to introduce the Astra Twin Top in the UK as an alternative for other more or less expensive coupes and convertibles alike. On the other hand, it could do that easily since the car was developed by GM for Vauxhall’s twin sister brand Opel from Germany, so all it had to do was to switch the steering wheel from left to right, using elements that it already had from the rest of the Astra range.

Vauxhall unveiled the Astra Twin Top in 2007 when customers were eager to get their hands on decently priced open-top vehicles. The car’s front fascia was carried over from the Astra GTC, with rhomboidal, swept-back headlights. Between them, the automaker placed the wide chromed badge above the car’s grille. At the same time, the lower part of the bumper featured a second air intake mounted in the middle and flanked by the scoops for the optional fog lamps.

From its profile, the raked windshield looked carried over from the Astra GTC, but it featured thicker A-pillars since they served as rollover protection systems. The slightly ascending waistline of the vehicle was both elegant and sporty. When GM designed the car, it was able to create a vehicle that looked good in both situations: with the roof up or down, which some other automakers couldn’t. The rear deck was long enough to accommodate the retractable folding roof.

Inside, Vauxhall said that there was enough room for four adults. That was true, but the legroom for the rear passengers was very limited, so the carmaker’s statement was valid only depending on the height of those seated on the front seats. Like the rest of the range, the Astra TT featured a rounded vizor above the instrument cluster where the large speedometer and tachometer dials were mounted on the outer sides of the dash panel, while the fuel level gauge and the coolant thermometer were placed between them, in the upper side of the instrument cluster. Customers could open or close the roof in less than 30 seconds at speeds of up to 18 MPH (29 kph). Finally, the car’s trunk was a bit problematic since it had to accommodate the three retractable roof panels.

Under the hood, Vauxhall installed a range of gasoline and diesel engines. The base version was an underpowered 1.6-liter powerplant that could hardly fit the car’s sporty image. On the other hand, customers could have the car with more powerful engines, all paired with five- or six-speed manual gearboxes.