Not only did Opel and its sister company Vauxhall confirm the name of its four-seater convertible today, but GM’s European subsidiaries also dropped two teaser images of the all-new Cascada.
The new nameplate is derived from the Spanish word meaning waterfall (hence the background on one of the cropped from the waist down photos), and it ends in the letter “a”, which is typical for Opel models.
At 4.70 meters long, the Cascada is a full-size four-seater convertible that’s significantly longer than the current BMW 3-Series Convertible (4.61m) and the A5 Convertible (4.62m).
Opel hasn’t released a lot of details on the car, but it is believed to be based on a stretched version of the Astra platform, possibly using some hardware from the Insignia, though this has not yet been confirmed.
Whereas the car it essentially replaces, the Astra TwinTop, used a retractable hardtop, the Cascada is fitted with a lighter folding cloth top, which the automaker says can be opened or closed at the touch of a button, even when the car is moving at speeds of up to 30mph or 48km/h.
The engine range remains a mystery for now, but given the car’s size and more upmarket positioning, it will likely be offered with Opel’s more powerful units such as the all-new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline unit with direct injection and Start/Stop producing up to 197hp (200hp).
Contrary to previous reports, the Cascada will not debut at this month’s Paris Motor Show as the automaker wants to turn all the attention on its new Adam premium city car. Opel did not say when or where it will reveal the convertible, but did note that European sales will start in early 2013.
“Cascada, along with ADAM and Mokka, will bring a fresh and exciting dimension to our product line-up for customers,” said Vauxhall Chairman and Managing Director, Duncan Aldred.
“This year is genuinely a new chapter in Vauxhall’s long history, and I’m pleased that we’re able to enter the mid-size convertible sector with Cascada, and continue to refresh people’s perception of our great brand,” he added.
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