Opel Launches Output of Cascada Cabrio

VIENNA – General Motors’ Gliwice, Poland, plant launches output of the first Opel/Vauxhall Cascada cabrio, slated to make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

“The Cascada is the next building block in our product offensive,” says Steve Girsky, who heads GM Europe and is Opel’s supervisory board chairman.

“Following the Adam and the Mokka with the Cascada, we are now also reaching customers in segments where we have not yet been present.”

With the Cascada, a name derived from the Spanish word for waterfall, Opel returns to the midsize-convertible segment.

“The elegant newcomer carries on the long tradition of timeless, classic Opel cabrios from the ’50 and ’60s,” the auto maker says. “The Cascada promises a return to the roots of pure, unadulterated driving fun.”

Opel’s new convertible is a classic 4-seater with an elongated silhouette and a soft top. It is almost 185 ins. (470.0 cm) long and 72.4 ins. (184.0 cm) wide.

At market launch, 10 exterior colors are available, and they can be combined with three roof colors. In addition, wheels are available in nine different designs and sizes from 17 to 20 ins.

The Cascada comes with 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engines with 120 hp or 140 hp, as well as the completely new 170-hp turbocharged 1.6L direct injection engine. It is also available with the 165 hp 2.0L CDTI ecoFLEX diesel.

The portfolio soon will be completed by the 195-hp 2.0L BiTurbo CDTI ecoFLEX diesel.

Opel invested some €55 million ($72 million) in the Gliwice facility for the Cascada, Plant Manager Andrzej Korpak tells local media.

“It is a complex undertaking that our highly motivated team mastered with brilliance,” Korpak says. “So today is a very special day for us.”

Manufacturing space was increased by about 60,278 sq.-ft. (5,600 sq.-m).

The Cascada shares the Gliwice plant with several Astra models. However, it leaves the main assembly line for installation of convertible-specific parts, mainly the soft top sourced from Magna.

“We estimate Cascada production could be between some thousands and approximately 10,000 units a year,” a GM Poland spokesman is quoted as saying.

The Cascada is the sixth Opel model for the Gliwice facility.

The Polish plant already produces three body versions of the Astra IV. The portfolio includes the 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan and 3-door GTC coupe, plus its sporty OPC version, considered a separate model.

The old Astra III sedan, rebadged as the Astra Classic Sedan, is manufactured in small volumes, as well, but production is expected to be phased out at the end of 2013.

Last year, GM Poland built some 125,300 cars, down 28 % from 2011. Volume this year is expected to remain at that level or be slightly lower.

The plant’s maximum capacity is about 207,000 cars on three shifts.

“We could achieve 220,000 to 230,000 units by working additionally on Saturdays,” Korpak told WardsAuto in an earlier interview.

The Gliwice plant employs about 3,000 workers.