The retractable hard-top is built for GM by Car Top Systems, which is also responsible for the roofs of the Mercedes SL and Peugeot 307. The TwinTop is assembled at GM’s Bochum factory in Germany alongside conventional Astras.
‘One-touch’ operation deploys five electric motors and eight hydraulic rams to magic the roof under the rear clamshell in 26 seconds, which is about average in the segment.
Value is high on the TwinTop’s list of attributes. The basic 1.6 weighs in at £16,995, undercutting all major rivals, while the tolerably rapid 1.8-litre petrol, anticipated to make up the bulk of sales, starts at £18,295.
High-mileage users can opt for the 150bhp 1.9-litre CDTi turbodiesel – £19,995 in Sport trim and £20,695 in Design – while at the top of the pile the 2.0-litre turbo we’re testing here is available only in Design trim and, at £20,740, looks like conspicuously good value against rivals such as the £21,375 307 CC 180 and the £23,315 Volkswagen Eos 2.0 T-FSi.
