Pontiac Astre

Pontiac Astre
1976 Pontiac Astre hatchback
Overview
Manufacturer	Pontiac (General Motors)
Production	1972–1977
Model years	1973–1977
Assembly	Sainte-Thérèse Assembly- Quebec, Canada Lordstown Assembly- Lordstown, Ohio, United States
Designer	GM & Chevrolet Design staffs Chief stylist, Bill Mitchell
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	2-door notchback sedan 2-door hatchback coupe 2-door wagon 2-door panel delivery
Layout	FR layout
Platform	GM H platform (RWD)
Related	Buick Skyhawk Oldsmobile Starfire Pontiac Sunbird Chevrolet Monza Chevrolet Vega
Powertrain
Engine	140 cu in (2.3 Liter) OHC I4 (1973-76) 151 cu in (2.5 liter) OHV I4 (1977)
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 5-speed manual w/overdrive Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed auto.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	97.0 in (2,464 mm)
Length	176.4 in (4,481 mm) (1974-on)
Width	65.4 in (1,661 mm)
Height	50.0 in (1,270 mm)
Curb weight	2,760 lb (1,250 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Pontiac Sunbird

The Pontiac Astre is a subcompact automobile that was marketed by Pontiac as a rebadged variant of the Chevrolet Vega. Initially marketed in Canada for model years 1973-1974, the Astre debuted in the U.S. for the 1975 model year, competing with other domestic and foreign subcompacts that included the Mercury Bobcat, Volkswagen Rabbit, and Toyota Corolla.

Built on the H-body platform, the car was available in hatchback, notchback, wagon, and panel delivery body styles. The Astre shared the aluminum-block 2.3 liter inline-four engine with the Vega through 1976, while the final 1977 models used Pontiac's all-iron 2.5 liter inline-four engine. The Astre was cancelled with the Vega at the end of the 1977 model year, although the wagon continued for 1978 and 1979, rebadged as part of the Pontiac Sunbird line. The word "" is French for "star", a shared naming convention for the Vega.

In 1968 GM chairman James Roche announced that General Motors would produce a new mini-car in the U.S. in two years. Pontiac's own small car program had been rejected. Not only did corporate management make the decision to enter the mini-car market, it also decided to develop the car itself. It was a corporate car, not a divisional one. Ed Cole formed a GM corporate design team exclusively for the Chevrolet Vega headed by William Munser, who had worked on the Camaro. The Pontiac Division was given its own version of the Vega for the Canadian market, named Astre for the 1973 model year. U.S. Pontiac dealers finally had a subcompact to sell when the Astre made its U.S. debut for the 1975 model year.