Photo: Opel
The previous generation Astra TwinTop was a moderately successful offering from Opel, however, it just wasn’t stylish enough and buyers often opted for a more expensive drop top, in favor of it. Now, however Opel has revealed the Cascada, an Astra and Insignia-based convertible, which does away with the complicated and heavy folding metal hardtop, in favor of a more classic-looking ragtop.
The car borrows suspension elements from both the Astra and Insignia, and it features Opel clever HiPerStrut front suspension which eliminates torque steer in the more powerful models, while also improving steering feel and agility. Its chassis is reportedly some 43% stiffer than that of the previous roofless Astra, and it now features pyrotechnic hoops behind the rear headrests, which pop up in the event of a flip.
The elegant-looking canvas roof folds away in 17 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (30 mph), and once down it reveals the Cascada’s interior, which borrows most of its elements from the Astra. The roof can also be operated via a dedicated key fob button.
The car itself looks like a rather upmarket offering, especially with the brown leather seats fitted to the car in the pictures, undoubtedly a top-spec model. Opel is also keen to point out that the Cascada is actually longer than an Audi A5 Cabriolet, hinting at the kind of rivals it has to face.
Under the bonnet, Opel will be offering the car with an all-new 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol unit, which develops 168 hp and 280 Nm of torque. It gains direct injection and stop/start, and emissions drop by 13% over the current 1.6-liter turbocharged engine used throughout the Opel range.
A 138 hp petrol 1.4 is also offered as the base engine, while a selection of 2.0-liter diesel units will also be available, with the most powerful probably being the 163 hp version of the engine. Opel is also relying on the fact that its new offering will be cheaper than other similar cars on the market, and with its blend of qualities and good looks, it might just have what it takes to be a winner.
The elegant-looking canvas roof folds away in 17 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (30 mph), and once down it reveals the Cascada’s interior, which borrows most of its elements from the Astra. The roof can also be operated via a dedicated key fob button.
The car itself looks like a rather upmarket offering, especially with the brown leather seats fitted to the car in the pictures, undoubtedly a top-spec model. Opel is also keen to point out that the Cascada is actually longer than an Audi A5 Cabriolet, hinting at the kind of rivals it has to face.
Under the bonnet, Opel will be offering the car with an all-new 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol unit, which develops 168 hp and 280 Nm of torque. It gains direct injection and stop/start, and emissions drop by 13% over the current 1.6-liter turbocharged engine used throughout the Opel range.
A 138 hp petrol 1.4 is also offered as the base engine, while a selection of 2.0-liter diesel units will also be available, with the most powerful probably being the 163 hp version of the engine. Opel is also relying on the fact that its new offering will be cheaper than other similar cars on the market, and with its blend of qualities and good looks, it might just have what it takes to be a winner.
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