The Holden Cascada is a rebadged Opel Cascada, a two-door subcompact convertible. This European drop-top, which came out in March 2013, is categorized as a roadster sports or S-segment vehicle.
Opel Automobile GmbH designed and manufactured the Opel Cascada to take the place of the discontinued Holden Astra H TwinTop. Aside from its original Opel Cascada nameplate, it was also rebranded as:
· Holden Cascada – Australia and New Zealand
· Opel Cabrio – Spain
· Vauxhall Cascada – United Kingdom
· Buick Cascada – USA and China
Timeline
The Opel Cascada is a relatively new car, so the timeline below shows a short chronology of its history in progress.
2012-2014
The Opel Cascada was introduced in the last quarter of 2012 and was launched early the following year. The sporty soft-top cruiser shared the same market as Volkswagen’s Golf cabriolet. With its slick and upswept lines, however, the Cascada commanded more attention than its VW rival.
It was offered with the following powertrains:
· 1.4L Family 0 (B14NET LUJ) I4 turbocharged petrol engine, matched with either 6-speed GM F40 manual or 6-speed GM 6T45 (MH7) automatic transmission, rated at 88 kW and 200 N⋅m
· 1.6L SIDI Ecotec (A16XHT LVP) I4 petrol engine, matched with either 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission rated at 125 kW and 280 N⋅m
· 2.0L CDTI I4 turbodiesel engine, rated at 121 kW and 380 N⋅m
The Cascada featured a tougher build than its predecessor and a much-improved ride and steering with its new HiPer Strut suspension layout.
2015-2016
In 2015, the Buick Cascada debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. As early as January the following year, Buick started selling what was to be their first convertible since the Buick Reatta of 1991. Only one powertrain—the 1.6L I4 petrol engine mated with 6-speed automatic—was available for Buick Cascada, but it came with two trim levels to choose from:
· 1SV – the base trim pack included: ABS, ESC, power steering, 20-inch twin-spoke wheels, LED DTR lights and taillights, silver-coated grille, optional ebony-colour for convertible top, intermittent windshield wipers, power-adjustable seats/lumbar support, heated front seats, leather seat cover, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Bluetooth connectivity, 7-inch touchscreen display, Buick Infotainment System, built-in navigation, cruise control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, OnStar connectivity, passenger-sensing system, remote start/keyless entry, noise reduction, tilt-and-telescopic multi-function steering column, full airbag system, rear park assist, and tire pressure monitoring system
· Premium – base trim pack plus: air deflectors, lane departure warning, front and rear parking assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers, forward collision alert system, optional mocha or malbec (purple hue) colors for the soft convertible top, all-weather floor mats, jet-black or light neutral leather seats
A sport-touring trim pack followed shortly, which included the following features:
· Sport touring – premium trim pack plus: upgraded 20-inch twin-spoke aluminum wheels with blacked-out pockets, auto on/off headlights with tunnel detection feature, sport alloy pedals, three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, jet-black or light neutral perforated leather seats, optional dark effects package for glossy black trims on grille, mouldings, center console, instrument panel and doors
In Australia and New Zealand, the Holden Cascada hit the market in April 2015. As the case was in North America, only the turbocharged 1.6L I4 petrol engine (rated at 125-kW power and 260-N⋅m torque) paired with 6-speed automatic gearbox was available to buyers. It was fuel efficient (7.5L/100km) and exhibited a modest 0-100 km/h sprint time of 9.9 seconds. In the launching year, the Holden Cascada came in two trim