Opel already features a very well-rounded lineup that ranges from compact hatchbacks->ke304 to crossover->ke288 SUVs. One area that Opel simply couldn’t keep pace was the premium convertible->ke144 segment, as BMW->ke178, Mercedes->ke187, and Audi->ke14 pretty much had that segment on lockdown. With its corporate eyes focused on expansion, Opel chose to release an all-new full-size convertible that can compete with the aforementioned premium lineups.

This Opel Cascada is the first of its kind in the storied automaker’s lineup since the 1930s and really digs deep into the automaker’s sporting roots by offering up competent performance matched with great drivability. The true test for this new convertible 2-door vehicle is how well it stacks up against its fellow European brands. Opel is claiming that the new Cascada will also pull at the hearts of prospective buyers, thanks to a lower-than-average entry-level price.

So, has Opel launched the perfect balance of full-size premium convertible with a wallet-friendly price, or has it simply stamped out a cheap Audi A5->ke1188?

Click past the jump to read our full review and find out.

2013 Opel Cascada

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Opel Cascada
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 138
  • Torque: 162
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

As you approach this new drop-top coupe, you’ll notice that it carries itself very well and would look the part parked in a garage chock-full of BMWs and Audis. Its stylish front fascia boasts a pair of sharply styled headlight assemblies with integrated LED daytime running lamps. Between the headlights is Opel’s signature grille with a large chrome bar spanning its top-third.

At the base of the front fascia, you get a lower lip that boasts a fenced grille in the center. The grill e is flanked by a pair of fog lamps that are housed in what Opel calls “overturned sharkfin” elements.

The hood features a set of five ridges that give it a rather aggressive look from the front end. The ridges all start facing the center of the vehicle’s nose and shoot outward with the outermost ridges meeting the A-pillar, giving the hood a near flawless look.

The Cascada’s shallow-raked front glass helps usher airflow up and over the roof. Speaking of the roof, the company took great care in designing the fabric top, giving it a low-slung look that allows air to flow over it easily. The roof is also specially designed to handle temperamental climate, as it features polyester fleece between the inner and outer linings that act as both a superior insulator to outside temperature and a insulator of outside noises – a common complaint of most convertible owners.

Many times these full-size convertibles look great with the top down, but once you put the top up, they lose all of their charm. With the way Opel designed the top’s profile, this car looks sexy with the top up or down. Then again, that stellar side profile with the top up or down could also be attributed to the swooping waistline and ankle line that graces the side profile of the Cascada.

This awesomely styled top can go from open to closed in just 17 seconds, via an interior-mounted switch. It can also go up on the move, as it is safe to operate at speeds of up to 30 mph.

Around the back end, you get a pair of wraparound LED taillights that are connected via a chrome strip. The Cascada starts losing its charm as you proceed toward the ground on the backside, as the lower, rear fascia features nothing special and looks like the design team just mailed it in at that point.

Though the Opel Cascada is classified as a full-size convertible, it is relatively short in comparison to the BMW 6-series, measuring in at 4,697 mm (184.9 inches) long and 1,840 mm (74.2 inches) wide compared to the Bimmer’s 4,894 mm (192.7-inch) length and 1,894 mm (74.6-inch) width.

In terms of safety, Opel did not cheap out on us. It will fit the Cascada with pyrotechnic-activated rollover bars, a high-strength steel passenger cell, diagonally mounted high-strength door-reinforcement beams, and press-hardened steel A-pillars.

Color options are plentiful, as Opel offers up 10 different choices of body color and three different top colors. To help you further customize your Cascada, you can choose from a collection of various rims, ranging from 18 inches to 20 inches in diameter.

Exterior Specifications:

Passenger Protection

High-Strength Steel Passenger Cell and Door-Reinforcement beams, and Press-hardened Steel A-Pillars

Overall Dimensions (LxWxH)

4,697 mm (184.9 inches) x 1,840 mm (74.2 inches) x TBD

Curb Weight

TBD


Interior

Inside the Cascada, Opel took its design to a whole new level. The soft-touch dashboard with contrasting stitching gives the Cascada a very luxurious look and feel, and it seems to flow effortlessly between the two door panels, thanks to careful crafting. The front seats are deeply contoured, so you seem to fall into them when you sit down and they wrap firmly around you without being overbearing. You can have these seats wrapped in embossed fabrics or leather. For the more discerning patron, you can opt for the ergonomic Nappa leather seating – available with heating and ventilation.

Accessing the rear seats is a breeze, using Opel’s Easy Entry system, which it did not elaborate on in the press release. Speaking of the rear seats, they fold at a 50:50 split via Opel's FlexFold system, which includes electronic seat releases.

For drivers and passengers that like to bring along lots of little things on trips, the Cascada offers up seven storage units throughout the cabin. These little compartments include, but are not limited to: one in each door, one under the instrument panel and one between the front seats. The one between the seats is made possible because the Cascada comes standard with an electric parking brake.

One tradeoff with convertibles like the Cascada is the fact that their trunks typically do not hold too much cargo. Opel maximized its trunk space to a full 350 liters (12.4 cubic-feet) with the top up and an impressive 280 liters (9.9 cubic-feet) with the top down. The top-down capacity is still 0.3 cubic-feet less than the A5 convertible, but still acceptable.

One thorn in the Cascada’s side is its center stack layout – yeah, we preach this a lot. It is a massive mess of buttons and knobs all crowned by a color screen that runs the navigation system. That’s the only real complaint that we can come up with on the Opel’s interior… Not too shabby.

Interior Specifications:

Standard Seating

Embossed Fabric

Cargo Space (Top Up/Top Down

350 liters (12.4 cubic-feet) / 280 liters (9.9 cubic-feet)


Engine and Drivetrain

The Opel Cascada will come with a slew of engine options, starting out with its entry-level 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This small 4-banger engine pumps out 140 PS (138 horsepower) and 220 Nm (162 pound-feet) of torque. This kind of power from a small-displacement powerplant is possible, thanks to the engine’s overboost feature.

The next step up in engines in the Cascada is the 2.0 CDTi engine. This 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder diesel plant pumps out a decent 165 PS (162 horsepower) and 380 Nm (280 pound-feet) of torque.

For now, the top-level engine in the Cascada lineup is the 1.6 SIDI Ecotec engine. This 1.6-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine pumps out a stout 170 PS (167 horsepower) between 1,650 and 3,200 rpm, and 280 Nm (206 pound-feet) of torque.

In the future, Opel intends to bring more powerful engines to the Cascada lineup, but for the foreseeable future, these are the available engines. This lineup really puts the Cascada well below the engine lineup in the Audi A5, but we will wait and see what new engines Opel will roll out as time passes.

In terms of transmission, there’s not too much information to give. We do know that there will be a 6-speed manual transmission and a pair of 6-speed automatic transmissions available. There is no mention of what transmissions will link up to the base-level engine, but we do know that the 2.0 CDTi engine will feature either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic and that the 1.6 SIDI engine will come only with a 6-speed, low-friction automatic gearbox.

Engine and Driveline Specifications:

Engine

Engine Format

Transmission Options

PS (Horsepower)

Torque

Fuel Economy

CO2 Emissions

1.4

1.4-liter Turbocharged Petrol 4-Cylinder

TBD

140 PS (138 Horsepower

220 Nm (162 pound-feet)

TBD

TBD

2.0 CDTi

2.0-liter Turbocharged Diesel 4-Cylinder

6-Speed Manual or 6-Speed Automatic

165 PS (162 Horsepower

380 Nm (280 pound-feet)

TBD

TBD

1.6 SIDI Ecotec

1.6-liter Turbocharged Petrol 4-Cylinder

6-Speed Low-Friction Automatic

170 PS (167 Horsepower at 1,650 to 3,200 rpm

280 Nm (206 pound-feet)

TBD

TBD


Handling and Braking

The chassis and underbody of the Cascada have been drastically upgraded over the model previous drop-top model, the Astra TwinTop. These modifications include crossed steel bars on the underbody and strengthened rocker panels, which increased the Cascada’s body stiffness by 43 percent and it is 10 percent less prone to body flex than its smaller Astra counterpart.

The Cascada boasts Opel’s impressive HiPerStrut front suspension system, which helps separate steering a dampening, thus lowering the vehicle’s torque steer and increasing the feeling of the vehicle’s steering. The Cascada features electric power steering that is brought to life by being mounted directly to the steering rack, giving it a better feel than most other electric power steering systems.

Every 2013 Cascada will come standard with Opel’s FlexRide system, which automatically makes minor changes to suit your driving style and the road surface. There are three driver control modes that override this system, which we assume are “Comfort,” “Regular” and “Sport.”

The standard brake system is not mentioned, but Opel does tell us that the Cascada can be yours with up to 326 mm (12.83-inch) and 325 mm (12.75-inch) rotors on the front and rear, respectively.

Handling and Braking Specifications:

Front Suspension

HiPerStrut System

Rear Suspension

TBD

Front Brakes

Up To 326 mm (12.83-inch) Discs

Rear Brakes

Up To 325 mm (12.75-inch) Discs

Steering System

Rack and Pinion w/ Electric Power Steering


Pricing and Release Date

Opel has yet to release a base MSRP, but we anticipate it to come in around £26,000 ($41,984 at the current exchange rate) to remain below the Audi A5’s base MSRP. The Cascada will begin delivery in March 2013.

Competition

Well, it is rather obvious who Opel is going after with the new Cascada: the Audi A5->ke1188. Sure, it can be compared to the BMW 6-series->ke320 convertible, but it is closer to the size of a 5-series. In terms of the Audi A5, Opel simply comes up short in the engine department, as Audi offers up a slew of engines. The engines start at the 170 PS (167-horsepower) 1.8 TFSI engine and range up to the super-powerful 270 PS (266-horsepower) 3.0 TFSI engine, plus a handful of eco-friendly diesels.

In pricing, we just don’t know what Opel will come up with. The A5 cabriolet starts out at £29,455 ($47,563), so the Cascada needs to come in at a far lower price to pull buyers away from a premium line like Audi.

Conclusion

We love the way the Cascada looks on the inside and out, sans the center stack. However, under the hood, the Cascada falls drastically short of our expectations. Sure, Opel is looking into expanding the engines to include more powerful options, but why release it without those more potent options available? For now we’ll reserve judgment on the car as a whole and just say that we love its looks and features, but we question Opel’s planning by releasing it with the promise of future engine upgrades.