Mere weeks after the first Opel Tigra twin top arrived in South Africa, Opel AG has released details of its new Astra cabriolet-coupé, which will be showcased at next month’s Frankfurt motor show.
Mere weeks after the first Opel Tigra twin top arrived in South Africa, Opel AG has released details of its new Astra cabriolet-coupé, which will be showcased at next month’s Frankfurt motor show.
The elegantly proportioned Astra convertible uses the attractive face of the current Opel range, whose array of stylish flutes gradually progress to the more sculpted lines of the rear end.
It uses the manufacturer’s new retractable three-part steel roof arrangement (first seen on the two-seater Tigra cabriolet-coupé) to provide maximum cabin space for up to four passengers and a generous amount of load space.
With the roof up, the boot space is claimed to measure 440 dm3, while almost 200 dm3 is available with the car in cabriolet mode. An “easy load” function allows easy access to cargo when the roof is down. The horizontally stacked roof parts can be raised at the touch of a button – by up to 25 cm – to access goods in the boot space.
The roof can be lifted or dropped, also at the touch of a button, within 30 seconds.
“Following the successful Tigra, the Astra Twin Top is our second cabriolet-coupé with an innovative retractable steel roof system. With its sporty and elegant design, unique technology features, typical Opel versatility, large trunk and ample space for four, the Astra twin top is a real eye-catcher that’s a lot of fun to drive all year round,” a European spokesman said.
The cabriolet-coupé uses engines from the range currently used in the Astra line-up. Apart from the regular array of petrol engines, including the range-topping 149 kW 2,0-litre turbo-charged Ecotec engine, a 1,9 CDTI common-rail turbodiesel engine will also be included in the line-up.
Options include Opel’s adaptive IDS Plus (interactive driving system) chassis with electronic continuous damping control (CDC) and bi-xenon headlamps with adaptive forward lighting (AFL) linked to the steering.
The car also incorporates Opel’s Safetec safety system of active and passive safety features. Optional roll bars are deployed when the top is down for added rollover protection. Concealed behind the rear seat head restraints, they are automatically deployed when a rollover is detected.
Production of the Astra twin top will start early in 2006 in Antwerp, Belgium, where it will share a line with the five-door Astra and the upcoming GTC.
