Thursday 17th December 2009

Astra Mark2: 1984-1991

Sleek, aerodynamic and with one of the lowest drag coefficient (Cd) figures yet seen for a car of its size (a slippery shape is inherently easier to create over larger surfaces or on knee-high sports cars), the Mark 2 Astra once again moved the technological goalposts on an entire generation.

A Cd of just 0.30 was achieved thanks to drag-reducing rain guttering, flush windows, a faired-in under-floor fuel tank and a wind-cheating front end, while even the wheelarch lips were removed to allow air to pass by more cleanly. Visually and practically it was a shock to the system of market more used to hard lines and square edges. But boy did it ride the crest of the wave it created.

Codenamed Project T-85 and unveiled to muted gasps as a design flag-bearer, the Mark 2 was a runaway sales success from day one, aided by its being named European Car of the Year in 1985. During its seven year reign the second generation Astra would go on to better its predecessor's market record by some 20%, making 600,000 UK sales.

The comprehensive range again included the staple three and five-door hatchbacks and a five-door estate, though the four-door saloon was sold as a stand-alone Belmont model. We got our first look at some drop-top Astra chic as a two-door convertible built by Bertone in Turin took a bow. The 1.6-litre diesel engine become a 1.7-litre, while the petrol range now featured five choices from 1.2 to 2.0-litre.Again the stand-out machine was the potent GTE (in 2.0-litre guise this time), now with four valves per cylinder (16V) and a chunky 156PS.

Astra production was concentrated at Liverpool's Ellesmere Port from August 1984, later marked by the launch of the Jubilee special edition which commemorated a quarter of a century of Vauxhall production at the plant.

1984: That was the year... Out went the £1 note but BMX bikes came in. The IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton. It was LA Olympic gold for Tessa Sanderson, Daley Thompson and Sebastian Coe, and for Torvill and Dean at the Winter Olympics. The miners' strike raged. Band Aid drew us together. Crockett and Tubbs chased baddies in Miami Vice. Arnie arrived in Terminator and Madonna was huge with Like A Virgin.

Next: The Astra Mark3 1991-1998