!NEW! Opel Cabrio Glamor at the Techno Classica Essen

• Opel convertibles with flair: 14 models as symbols of open-air driving fun
• Over 100 years of elegant automotive history at Stand 125 in Hall 2
• Visitor highlight: Photos in Opel Motor Car “System Lutzmann” from 1899
• New Cascada continues Opel mid-size convertible tradition

Opel Patent Motor Car System Lutzmann (1899)

With 14 cars spanning more than 100 years of car manufacturing, Opel exhibits a selection of its most popular convertibles at this year’s Techno Classica in Essen, Germany from April 10-14. The glamorous exhibit includes the first Opel Patent Motor Car, System Lutzmann of 1899, the 10/18 Doppelphaeton with its ‘American top’, the Rekord A Cabrio from the company Deutsch, the Monza Keinath C5, and the new mid-size Opel Cascada convertible presented at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

A special highlight for visitors to Opel Stand 125 in Hall 2: They can revive the past and get their picture taken in a real “Lutzmann” from 1899. Models from Carlottas Mode dressed in 19^th century clothing bring an extra special touch to the ambience for visitors daily from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14 .The scene is set in front of a large screen that gives visitors the feeling of driving down a picturesque, tree-lined road in a gentle breeze. This personal souvenir photo from the Techno Classica can be taken during the duration of the show.

As in previous years, Adam Opel AG’s historical vehicle department shares the over 700 square meter stand at the 25^th Techno Classica with Alt-Opel-IG, the largest Opel brand club in the world.

Cascada as modern interpretation of Opel Kapitän and Co.

The elegant Cascada extends a tradition for premium convertibles, like the famous Opel Kapitän presented 75 years ago which was offered as a two and four-door sedan and convertible at its debut in 1938. At Opel’s stand in Essen, the Cascada and Kapitän convertibles will be flanked by conversions from renowned coachbuilders who constructed dream cabrios based on Opel cars well into the 1980s.

Using the stately Opel Admiral of 1937 as a basis, the Hebmüller Karosserie company in Wülfrath created a luxurious, two-seat sports cabrio, and Gläser of Dresden took a similar approach with the Opel Super 6 in 1936. Coachbuilder Deutsch from Cologne converted the four-seat Rekord C in the late 1960s, and Keinath in Dettingen crafted an attractive cabrio from the sporty Monza coupé.

Opel’s Essen display also includes: an Opel 6/12 from 1910, the successor to the legendary 4/12 Doctor’s Car, an ultra-chic 1.1-liter luxury two-seater; a sporty 1.8-liter Moonlight Roadster from 1933 and an Olympia cabrio sedan from 1950. All are part of Opel’s Classic collection in Rüsselsheim.

The beginning was open

The very first Opel was, in fact, a cabrio. Like all cars built at the dawn of the automobile age, the Opel Patent Motor Car, System Lutzmann from 1899 followed traditional carriage design principles and had a body without an integral roof. By the time production ended in 1901, 65 Patent Motor Cars had left the Rüsselsheim factory.

The Opel 10/18 hp from 1908 and the 6/12 hp from 1910 also came without a top – a roof and side panels were available at extra cost. While an open body was still standard as late as the 1920s, closed bodies followed in the 1930s and open-air driving then became a symbol of luxury and status.

Vehicles from Rüsselsheim inspired famous coachbuilders to create their own beauties using Opel models as a starting point. The Deutsch company from Cologne-Braunsfeld built 51 units of their sporty Moonlight Roadster. The basis for this racy two-seater was the 1.8-liter model line presented in 1931, with which Opel became the first volume manufacturer to introduce an affordable straight-six engine in the mid-size class.

Groundbreaking vehicle and engine design

To celebrate the company’s 75^th anniversary, Adam Opel AG presented two novel vehicles with trend-setting design on February 17, 1937: the Super 6 and the premium class Admiral model. Both cars were equipped with advanced overhead valve engine technology. The Super 6, for the upper mid-size class, featured a smooth-running 2.5-liter straight-six with 55 hp, and the premium class Admiral had a powerful six-cylinder with 3.6-liter displacement and 75 hp. Both models were offered ex-works as a sedan, as well as a two-door, and in the Admiral’s case, also as a four-door cabrio.

In addition to coachbuilders Buhne (Berlin), Autenrieth (Darmstadt) and Hebmüller (Wülfrath), Gläser from Dresden built special bodies based on the Super 6. The Gläser cabrio was a roadster-like convertible with two jump seats in the long rear body. Based on the Admiral, the sport cabrio from Hebmüller featured similar elegant, but even larger, design and was more luxurious and exclusive.

Another cabrio for more discerning tastes is the Kapitän convertible presented in 1937, which was available in addition to the sedan. The first Opel Kapitän – whose successors were among the best-selling six-cylinder cars in Germany into the early 1960s – achieved sales of 25,374 units, 4,563 of which were cabrios. The Super 6, Admiral and Kapitän were, for the time being, the last cabrios offered by the company.

The diversity of open-top driving was then reduced to one model. Unlike a full cabrio, the Opel Olympia cabrio sedan had fixed window frames connected to the windshield – a pre-war style of open-top driving that was well-established with manufacturers and popular with buyers. In 1956, the last car with this design, in the shape of the Olympia Rekord model line, rolled off the assembly line. The role of a popular compact cabrio was then assumed by various versions of the Kadett and Astra.

Into the future with the Cascada – and back to the roots of cabrios

Predecessors of the new four-seat Cascada include creations from Karl Deutsch in Cologne. The coachbuilder converted the Rekord A of 1963 into a cabrio, as it did with the Rekord C in 1966 and its sporty sister model the Commodore A. The entry-level price for a two-door Rekord C base car was 7,590 German marks, and the conversion cost another 4,000 marks. Only around 30 open-air Rekord A and B models were built, while about 50 Rekord C and Commodore A cabrios were produced before the model change in 1972. Instead of a mid-size class sedan, Opel’s partner, Keinath in Dettingen, chose the sporty upper-class Monza coupé as the basis for its conversion in the early 1980s. Just like the production model, the sophisticated Keinath C5 – with two individual Recaro seats in the rear cabin and a modified notchback – was available with four or six-cylinder engines with outputs up to 180 hp. The base price was 81,000 marks and the total units built of the exclusive custom-made model remain in the two digits.

The tradition of large convertibles is experiencing a renaissance with the new Opel Cascada. The nearly 4.7-meter long mid-size convertible has four full-sized seats, high-quality, classic soft-top technology and a load volume of up to 380 liters. The Cascada features a wide range of economical, technically sophisticated engines, the highlight of which is the 1.6-liter SIDI Turbo from the new family of mid-size gasoline engines. The 125 kW/170 hp Turbo with direct injection offers excellent refinement and smooth power development – the perfect basis for gentle and calm cruising. The new Cascada is once again being built in an Opel plant, just like the Kapitän and Admiral in their day.

!NEW! Cascada: Opel’s athletic, glamorous mid-size convertible

Opel at the 83. International Motor Show in Geneva

• Elongated 4-seat mid-size convertible with muscular, timeless elegance
• Sophisticated soft-top system opens in 17 seconds at driving speeds up to 50 km/h
• Outstanding body stiffness combined with HiPerStrut front suspension technology
• Broad powertrain line-up with new generation direct injection gasoline 1.6 SIDI Turbo
• Premium convertible qualities and rich equipment at attractive price

The Cascada, Opel’s new all-season convertible set to arrive at dealerships from April, is a classy four-seater with an elegant, elongated silhouette and a high quality soft-top. Positioned at the top of Opel’s product line-up, the Cascada is a mid-size convertible that’s distinguished not only by its size (length: 4,696 mm; width 2,020 mm incl. mirrors), but also by its allure, premium technologies and the many features it offers.

The Opel Cascada delivers a sharp driving experience with its super-rigid body, advanced HiPerStrut front suspension – initially developed for the high performance Insignia OPC – and FlexRide adaptive damping system. All occupants can enjoy the pleasures of open-air driving thanks to the premium soft-top that opens at the touch of a button in 17 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 50 km/h, or also via remote control when the car is at a standstill. True premium features such as electric seatbelt presenters, electric Easy Entry system, exclusive Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated ergonomically designed seats and invisible safety systems all combine to make life comfortable and safe.

Featuring a rich standard equipment, the Cascada is available to order, with prices starting at just 25,945 euros (RRP incl. VAT in Germany).

After several generations of compact Kadett and Astra convertibles, Opel returns with the Cascada to an older tradition of prestigious and rare mid-size, four-seat soft-top convertibles from the fifties and sixties – like the Kapitän and the Rekord. The Cascada recalls that era in a decidedly contemporary and refreshing way with the best of modern technologies.

Attitude: Pure soft-top elegance enables full open-air enjoyment

With its broad stance and a flowing continuity of sculptured shapes that is typical of Opel, the design of the Cascada reflects the classic and timeless elegance of “Grandes Routières” from a glamorous, bygone age. With the top down for open-air driving, the Cascada has an absolutely clean profile. Behind the fast, gracefully raked A-pillars, there is no visible roof top cover or rollover protection to disturb its smooth silhouette. To add some visual drama to this simplicity of line, a subtle Opel blade contour in the lower body side is mirrored by a sharp crease that flows upward into the wraparound rear lights. The gently upswept waistline is highlighted by a chrome strip which sweeps elegantly around the cockpit. It delineates the boundary between the roof top and body with fluidity and grace.

“We’ve given Cascada’s body this drama that makes it stand out from all other convertibles”, says Malcolm Ward, Opel Lead Designer. “And while most convertibles cultivate their looks with the top down only and seem clumsy with their roof up, the Cascada always cuts a fine figure. Even with the roof closed, it has a perfect, seamless profile.”

Tastefully sculpted with a purposeful power bulge, the hood flows back from a deep grille which features bold chrome applications. The fog lights are housed in inverted ‘shark fin’ elements, which are visually highlighted by chrome inserts. Using LED technology, the daytime running lights in the headlamps and the rear lights both incorporate Opel’s signature wing feature. In the rear, the new generation of 3D homogeneous LED modules is spread to give solid, sharp illumination, a feature typical of premium class cars. A prominent chrome bar linking the light units set into the trunk lid echoes the bold chrome trim at the front.

Perfection: Simply the best engineering solutions for Cascada’s soft top

Top quality materials and engineering solutions, selected from suppliers of the most prestigious premium convertibles, are used in the Cascada’s soft-top system. Its structure uses magnesium components to contain its weight, and its rear glass window sits almost flush to the fabric, with a level of execution that so far is only available in luxury roadsters. The Cascada’s premium soft-top also features superior acoustic and thermal insulation from a special layer of polyester fleece sandwiched between the outer and interior linings.

A standard electro-hydraulic power system, activated via a switch between the front seats, opens the roof in just 17 seconds at driving speeds of up to 50 km/h – placing the Cascada among the market leaders for its soft-top operation. A remote control in the key fob for opening and closing the roof is also standard equipment for all models. Three soft-top colors, Black, Malbec-Red, and Sweet Mocca, are available at launch. They can be coordinated with a palette of ten body colors, varying from sporty Blue Buzz to elegant Phantom Grey, and luxurious Dark Mahagony.

Indulgence: Crafted cockpit with outstanding comfort and functionality

The Cascada’s sculpted cabin features striking, sporty design elements, highlighted by precise, handcrafted details. The wing-shaped instrument panel – with authentic stitching on its soft, Morrocana wrapped surfaces – flows into the doors to dynamically embrace the front occupants. All seats are richly trimmed and available with several elegantly embossed fabrics and leathers. Up-level AGR certified ergonomic seats are upholstered in rich fabric or two leather qualities: the black, perforated trim looks sportier, and the soft, opulent and warm brandy-colored Nappa leather exudes comfort and luxury. Seat heating is naturally available for both front seats; the leather seats can also benefit from heat reflective protection and a ventilation system: on hot, sunny days, fresh air is drawn through perforations to optimize front occupant comfort.

 

The Opel Cascada is comfortable and practical for all-season daily use, benefiting from a storage and stowage capacity which is particularly generous for a convertible. Several useful, large storage areas are located around the driver: in the door, in and under the instrument panel and, thanks to an Electric Park Brake (standard in the up-level Cosmo specification), in the center console – just where you need storage space the most.

Trunk volume with the roof down is 280 liters, while up to 380 liters are available when the soft-top is up. This positions the Cascada among the top convertibles in terms of trunk space. To increase its load volume or to transport exceptionally long objects (e.g. snowboards or skis), the Opel Cascada benefits from the FlexFold system that electrically releases and folds down the 50:50 split rear seat-back rests. This feature, which cannot be offered in hard-top convertibles, allows to enhance luggage compartment capacity to up to 750 liters and to transport objects of up to 1,818 mm in length.

Being an all-weather, all-season convertible, the Opel Cascada has all the features that allow everyday use without any constraints also during the winter season. In addition to the perfect thermal isolation of its soft top it also offers a heated steering wheel, parking heater, quick heat systems and other features which stand for the cars’ everyday practicality.

Excellence: Superior body stiffness combined with outstanding chassis technology

Body stiffness is a key requirement for open-roof vehicles, having a major effect on driving dynamics, steering precision, acoustics, safety and comfort. High body stiffness also conveys a feeling of genuine quality and solidity. Several measures give the Cascada a superior balance between torsional and bending stiffness. These include impressive, crossed steel bars in the underbody and reinforced side sills. This strong structure provides a solid base for the action of the suspension components and contributes towards a significant reduction in noise, vibration and harshness. Compared to Opel’s previous generation convertible, the Astra TwinTop, the Cascada’s body is 41 percent stiffer in torsion and 27 percent stiffer in bending.

The new mid-size Opel Cascada has an impressive footprint, which benefits handling and stability, as well as the car’s visual appeal. The wheelbase (2,695 mm) is only 40 mm shorter than the one of the Insignia. Front and rear tracks measure 1,587 mm. The front track is 2 mm wider than the Insignia’s.

Cascada’s front axle features Opel’s best chassis technology as standard, with a HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) suspension layout, initially developed for the Insignia OPC. HiPerStrut separates the functions of damping and steering, providing optimum traction and cornering precision as well as reduced torque steer and improved grip in all road conditions.

The Opel Cascada has electrically powered rack-and-pinion steering with speed sensitive assistance. For more direct steering feel and precision, the electric motor is mounted on the rack, instead of at the base of the steering column.

FlexRide, Opel’s integrated fully adaptive chassis control system with three settings (Standard, the comfort-orienterd Tour and the Sport modes), is of course available in the Cascada. It enhances ride quality, handling and safety by automatically adapting to different driving conditions and driving styles, as well as the driver’s selected preferences. The Opel Cascada can be equipped with 17 to 20 inch wheels.

Refinement: New generation Direct Injection 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC gasoline engine

A broad powertrain line-up is available in the Opel Cascada convertible. A 1.4 liter gasoline Turbo opens the engine portfolio. It is combined with a manual six-speed transmission and is available with power ratings of 88 kW/120 hp or 103 kW/140 hp. Both versions deliver up to 220 Nm of torque with an overboost function.

Opel 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC gasoline engine

At launch, the highlight in the Cascada powertrain line-up is the 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC gasoline engine. This mid-size, direct injection unit is part of an all-new engine generation that makes its debut in Opel’s new convertible and will also power other mid-size and compact models in the line-up. The 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC boasts exceptionally smooth power and torque delivery, as well as an outstanding refinement, which perfectly fits to a convertible that is mostly used for cruising along. It delivers 125 kW/170 hp, between 4,250 and 6,000 rpm, and up to 280 Nm of torque thanks to an overboost function – the best torque value for a 1.6 Turbo engine in this power category. It can be fitted with a manual six-speed gearbox combined with a Start/Stop system or with an automatic six-speed transmission of the new generation. The 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC also offers an excellent balance between performance (222 km/h top speed and 9.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h) and fuel efficiency (6.3 liter/100 km, 148 g/km CO₂).

Opel 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo diesel engine

On the diesel side, the new, sophisticated 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo engine with 143 kW/195 hp and powerful torque of 400 Nm will have its debuts before summer. Using state-of-the art, sequential twin-turbo diesel technology, it delivers an exceptional blend of high performance (up to 230 km/h top speed and 9.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h) and excellent fuel economy (5.2 liter/100 km and 138 g/km CO₂ only). It is mated with a six-speed manual gear box and Start/Stop system.

The well-known and fuel-efficient 2.0 CDTI with 121 kW/165 hp comes with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. This engine delivers up to 380 Nm when overboost is engaged.

The Cascada is the first model in Opel’s line-up to receive the new generation low-friction, six-speed automatic transmission. It features an Active Select function which enables manual shifting for a more sporty driving experience.

Serenity: Sophisticated technology and safety features

New Opel Cascada with AFL Bi-Xenon lights and Front camera

The Cascada combines an open-air driving experience with the best of Opel technology. This includes the intelligent AFL+ Adaptive Forward Lighting system with up to ten automatic functions, the second generation Opel Eye front camera with its new, extended functionalities - enhanced Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW), a new Following Distance Indication (FDI) and Forward Collision Alert (FCA), a rearview camera and an Advanced Park Assist (APA) to ease parking maneuvers, an ultra-sonic based Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

New Opel Cascada - Passive safety systems

The Cascada’s extremely rigid passenger cell is fabricated mainly from high-strength steel, minimizing body deformation to provide the greatest possible survival space in the event of a crash. The doors have diagonally mounted, ultra-high strength steel beams and belt ine reinforcements. The A-pillars supporting the windscreen are in press-hardened steel. And for roll-over protection, pyrotechnically activated spring-loaded high-strength bars automatically deploy behind the rear seats. These pop-ups are also triggered in other severe crash situations – when the airbags are deployed – to prepare the vehicle for possible secondary impacts which could result in a roll-over. Both front seats benefit from active, two-way headrests and double seatbelt pre-tensioners – and even the rear seatbelts also have pre-tensioners.

Designed and developed in Germany, the Cascada is built at Opel’s state-of-the art production facility in Gliwice, Poland.