Sunshine, warm weather, maybe a trip to the beach...Oh sorry, we're not dreaming about the summer holiday just yet. We were only reviewing what is suitable for a convertible. But then we saw this video.
As we snap back to reality, we're kindly reminded by our calendar that April is the current month. And we all know what happens in April, right? That's right: rain showers.
So, what happens if nature decided you should have a bad day and it hits you with abundant rain while cruising down the street in your 2016 Buick / Opel Cascada, for example?
The answer comes from GM and their specialized water booths, located at the end of Cascada's assembly line. As they roll off the line, cars are put to the final waterproof testing session. Oh, I forgot to mention: it's "rough waterproof testing" for the cabriolet that comes equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoTec engine delivering 200 HP and 206 lb-ft (280 Nm) of torque.
You see, each booth has at least 124 individual nozzles that can recreate a downsized rainstorm that lasts for around 10 minutes. In other words, the Cascada will have to endure 1.9 gallons of water every minute. And no exceptions are made.
“Convertibles are best enjoyed when it’s warm and sunny, but Cascada has been designed and engineered to be used year-round, regardless of the weather. Not only is Cascada’s top engineered to be weatherproof in extreme conditions, but each and every Cascada built will also be put through a rigorous water test,” explained John Dolch, program quality manager for Cascada.
Well, it looks like for a Buick / Opel Cascada, "when it rains, it pours" has a totally different meaning. See for yourselves how the cabriolet is being water-bullied in the video below:
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