Barra, who assumed the helm at GM from Dan Akerson in 2014, hosed down any thought of GM continuing Holden’s manufacturing operations in Australia beyond its current 2017 closure. That hasn’t made reaching profitability any easier for Opel, Mr. Neumann said.

General Motors CEO Mary Barry has underlined GM’s commitment to its recovering European branch Opel as she showed off a new version of Opel’s mainstay Astra compact at the Frankfurt auto show.

Ms Barra also repeated earlier comments that Holden would be more closely tied to GM’s European brand Opel in future.

It’s all part of a new model offensive that will see up to 24 new models launched as Holdens in Australasia over the next five years.

So, there you have it; an official confirmed 29 new models as genuinely as good and honest as the Astra, including an electric vehicle and a SUV flagship.

“The new Astra is what happens when sculptural artistry meets German precision”, he said. The sides get a rising beltline, prominent shoulder line and black C-pillar giving the roof a floating appearance.

The hatch is scheduled to go on sale in its home Germany on October 10, with the wagon due for release some time next year.

But union concessions on a two-year pay freeze, a 38-hour four-day week meaning longer shifts, and the closure of the final salary scheme to new entrants, managed to persuade the United States group to keep faith with Ellesmere Port.

The new Astra is based on the D2XX platform from the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, is up to 200 kg lighter than the outgoing model (depending on the variant).

The Astra Sports Tourer also features OnStar connectivity with its high-speed 4G LTE mobile network, emergency response notification and stolen vehicle recovery alert along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available through a new version of the IntelliLink system.

There’s an entry-level 1.0-liter three-cylinder gasoline unit delivering 105 hp, as well as a new 1.4 ECOTEC that produces 145 hp and 250 Nm (185 lb-ft) of twist. It seems unlikely they will replace the Korean-sourced Holden Cruze, but instead join the fray as slightly more expensive and premium specified models.