New Vauxhall Cascada out in April

Vauxhall’s new full-size, four-seat convertible, the Cascada, will be priced from just £23,995 on-the-road – nearly £8,000 less than its main rival in the premium drop-top sector – when it arrives in showrooms this April. With the Audi A5 Cabriolet firmly in its sights, the Cascada offers affordability paired with outstanding levels of equipment, technology and luxury. It comes in two trims, with the entry level SE getting 18″ alloy wheels, a sports chassis, LED tail lamps and aux-in/USB, all as standard.  The up-level Elite includes leather trim, heated front seats and steering wheel and front fog lamps. The Cascada will come with a broad range of powerful and efficient engines.  Starting the line-up is a 1.4-litre (140PS) Turbo petrol, with a manual gearbox, achieving a combined 44.8mpg and 148g/km CO2, and a 2.0-litre (165PS) diesel engine with manual and automatic transmissions, achieving up to 54.3mpg combined and 138g/km CO2. But the highlight of Cascada’s powertrain line-up is the all-new 1.6 SIDI Turbo ECOTEC petrol engine. The first production engine from Vauxhall’s MGE (Mid-Size Gasoline Engine) family, the unit offers major improvements in torque, linearity and overall efficiency. It produces a maximum 170PS from 1650-3200rpm and up to 280Nm of torque, giving a 0-60mph time of 9.2 seconds and top speed of 135mph. This engine will be available with a new, low-friction automatic six-speed gearbox that contributes towards combined fuel consumption of 39.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 168g/km. A high-performance 2.0 (195PS) Bi-Turbo diesel engine with manual transmission will also be available shortly after launch.  The Bi-Turbo achieves a combined 138g/km and 54.3mpg, yet accelerates from 0-60mph in just 8.9 seconds up to a top speed of 143mph. Vauxhall’s HiPerStrut front suspension, first used in the 325PS Insignia VXR, will also be standard across the Cascada range. The system separates damping and steering functions, reducing torque steer, while also improving steering feel and cornering control. In addition to this, the Cascada’s electric power steering has been tuned specifically for the UK market. Available in ten colours, Cascada can be ordered with solid, two-coat metallic or two-coat pearlescent paint, and a choice of three roof colours, depending on exterior colour. The vehicle’s fabric roof opens in just 17 seconds at driving speeds of up to 30mph. Offered on Vauxhall’s popular Flexible Finance scheme, customers can take advantage of zero per cent APR representative, with any deposit, over a term between 24 and 60 months, making Cascada even more affordable.  As with all Vauxhalls, first Cascada owners will benefit from Lifetime Warranty, lasting the life of the car or up to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. “The all-new Cascada is an outstanding full-size, four seat convertible with premium qualities and technologies at an affordable, mainstream price,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “It’s an exciting time for Vauxhall with Cascada launching the brand in to its fourth new sector in a year, following Ampera, Mokka and ADAM.” From Motorin News