1996 Holden Vectra Liftback Photos, engines & full specs

General Motors built the Vectra for more continents. It started with the European Opel Vectra and continued with the Vauxhall in the U.K. and Holden in Australia.

The Vectra nameplate was used in all the markets and all body shapes. It was available as a sedan, hatchback (liftback), and a station-wagon. GM considered that it would be better for the Australian factory to build the Holden Vectra liftback there and export it to other RHD markets in the area.

The 1995 Vectra was a major improvement over its predecessor with more rounded areas and fluid shapes. It looked like the GM partly agreed with the biodesign trend, but it didn't want to ditch it completely. A particular shape was for the door-mirrors connected to the bodywork via an aerodynamic pillar that followed the V-shaped line from the hood. Up to the B-pillar, it was the same vehicle as to the sedan version, but after the C-pillar, it featured a sloped liftgate that offered a wide opening for the trunk.

Inside, the bucket-seats at the front were mounted low on the floor to create the impression of a sporty family sedan. The concept worked well for the front passengers but left little legroom for the rear ones. GM installed the same dashboard with curved lines, with a fluid line for the instrument cluster.

Under the hood, Holden offered the Vectra B with a choice of four gasoline and a turbodiesel engine. All of them were paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. For selected versions, the Vectra was available with a four-speed automatic.