New Opel Tigra TwinTop - In Detail

Press Release

Sporty two-seater elected "Cabrio of the Year 2004"

Driving Pleasure 365 Days a Year

• Cabrio-coupé with electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof offers everyday suitability
• Two cars in one - from coupé to cabrio and vice versa in just 18 seconds
• Sleek design and best-in-class storage space thanks to clever folding kinematics
• Two gasoline engines with 90 and 125 hp provide lively performance
• Available at dealerships in September

With the new Tigra TwinTop, Opel debuts a sporty two-seater with an electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof. Its dynamic, exciting design promises pure driving pleasure and the touch of a button transforms the Tigra from a coupé into a cabrio in just around 18 seconds. At its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March of this year the Tigra TwinTop was enthusiastically received by the public and car experts. An independent international jury crowned the newcomer "Cabrio of the Year 2004". Car journalists and experts from 11 countries were particularly impressed by the Tigra's dynamic design, its well-balanced proportions and intelligent vehicle concept.

One of the Tigra's highlights is its innovative roof mechanism: at the touch of a button, both roof parts fold into the trunk in a space-saving manner. The ingenious roof construction enables generous and versatile loading space - open (250 liters) or closed (440 liters). In addition, the Tigra has a 70 liter compartment right behind its seats, increasing its luggage capacity to more than 500 liters when the top is down - the most in its class.

Two modern ECOTEC gasoline engines ensure lively and economical performance: the 1.4-liter engine (66 kW/90 hp) with highly efficient TWINPORT fuel-saving technology and the 92 kW (125 hp) 1.8-liter engine. Both ECOTEC four-cylinder engines comply with Euro 4 emission standards. A five-speed manual, front-wheel drive transmission is standard equipment, and Easytronic automated manual transmission is available as an option for the 1.4 liter TWINPORT engine.

Model and positioning: Driving pleasure and everyday suitability

After presenting the elegant Astra Cabrio and the puristic Speedster, the new Tigra TwinTop is Opel's third open-air model in its current product range. At the same time the Tigra is the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker's contribution to the rapidly growing segment of compact coupé-cabrios. The name "TwinTop" reflects the two-seater's vehicle concept: two cars in one.

Especially cabriolets that boast a retractable steel roof, making them the ideal all-season car, are enjoying increasing popularity. In Germany, cabrios had only two to three percent market share in the 90's, whereas in the first quarter of 2004 their market share rose to 4.8 percent. Annualized to an absolute figure, this could add up to about 160,000 newly registered roadsters and cabrios this year - 20,000 more than in 2003. Europe-wide, an estimated 400,000 customers will choose a car of this type this year. A number of features promote the open-air models' boom: the new and clever metal retractable roofs enable even more everyday suitability in winter and provide advantages in terms of acoustics, security, durability, torsional rigidity, theft protection and maintenance. The demand for cabrios is also growing as a result of the general trend towards individualization.

Opel responds to this trend by addressing its customers' changing demands. The Tigra TwinTop is part of the company's progressive model offensive, and with its emotional character a prominent example of the brand product portfolio's realignment. In the future, 40 percent of Opel's model range will consist of classic body versions such as sedans or station wagons. Another 40 percent will be innovative vehicle concepts like the Signum and the Meriva, while 20 percent will be made up of exciting niche models like the new Tigra TwinTop. Opel calls its formula for success "40:40:20".

Thanks to its versatile concept, the Tigra TwinTop offers sporty open air enjoyment as well as everyday suitability and traveling comfort for two, even when the weather signals "top up". The Tigra appeals to young and young-at-heart customers who express their lifestyle with a sporty, fun car, but do not want to forego usefulness and comfort.

The Opel Tigra TwinTop will be available at the dealerships in September. Its main markets are in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Great Britain, where the newcomer will carry the Vauxhall name.

Development and production: German-French partnership

The Opel Tigra TwinTop is manufactured in Cerizay (western France) by the renowned coachbuilder Groupe Henri Heuliez S.A. The body's final assembly takes place on a leading edge production line by specially trained employees. Production guidelines and automation levels correspond to the Vectra's production in Rüsselsheim - currently the world's most modern car plant. With the help of 60 robots, 1540 parts and components are assembled at a total of 185 work stations. Production at full capacity with three work shifts turns out around 200 vehicles a day.

From the very beginning Opel´s strict quality standards were the benchmark for development and production of the Tigra TwinTop. These include choice and processing of materials and components as well as applying the most modern production processes and quality assurance measures. The development team, led by Opel Project Manager Horst Bach, conducted extensive tests at Heuliez, Opel's testing center Dudenhofen and the GM proving ground site in Millbrook (England). While testing the car, the team paid special attention to the Tigra's roof construction, focusing on its resilience during continuous operation and tightness under all weather conditions.

In total, the various Tigra prototypes completed around 600,000 test kilometers during the development phase. In addition, the engineers optimized the new model's aerodynamic and acoustic comfort characteristics in extensive wind tunnel tests. Prior to delivery, every Tigra undergoes a comprehensive final performance and quality check on Heuliez' own test track.

"With Heuliez we were able to forge an alliance with a development partner who has outstanding know-how and many years of experience in the design and production of roof systems and vehicles. The result of this close cooperation with our engineers is a car that sets new standards in its class - in styling and driving pleasure as well as versatility and ease of use", says Hans H. Demant, Opel Executive Director, Engineering.

Design and body: Sporty and stylish without trade-offs

Even when parked, the new Opel Tigra TwinTop expresses its dynamic performance. Its compact proportions (length/width/height: 3921/1905/1364 millimeters) and distinctive upward sloping body line (drag coefficient = 0.34) convey sportiness and emotion from every angle. At the same time its high waist line and sturdy color keyed door handles highlight quality and safety. The two-seater's silhouette attracts attention with its short overhangs, sloping wind shield, muscular side sills and tapered sides. The v-shaped front with its prominent head lights, large air inlets and expressive rear end - with an oval stainless steel tailpipe in the 1.8-liter model - accentuate the Tigra's sportiness. Along with the powerfully molded wheel arches, the Tigra's broad track contributes to its dynamic appearance.

"We consistently continued Opel's design line with the new Tigra TwinTop", says Niels Loeb, Chief Designer of the Tigra, on the new model's styling. „The entire design comes across as one carefully tuned unit and radiates dynamics and solidity. We are especially proud of the rear section, as it is perfectly integrated into the sporty design of the car." The car's flowing, powerful proportions are complemented by exciting details and typical Opel design attributes, such as the characteristic crease on the hood, the bold "Opel-Blitz" on the lateral bar sculptured into the trapezoidal radiator grille or the matt chrome bar in the rear bumper.

The Tigra TwinTop boasts many affectionately designed details, including the wave-shaped bar made of hydro-formed aluminum or the turn-signal lights integrated into the insinuated side air inlets, which carry the Heuliez' logo as a tribute to the cooperation with the French partner.

The rear section of the Tigra's roof sets another design accent, creating a stunning silhouette when closed. Depending on the equipment line, the matt lacquer on the rear section of the roof can be ordered in Star Silver (Cosmo) or Moonland (Sport), lending the Tigra a dazzling optical contrast.

The lamp units are another special design element of the Tigra. Holger Weyer, Tigra Designer: "The shape of the head and tail lights played an important role during the entire design process. Just like the new Astra, the Tigra TwinTop has clear glass head lights with cylindrical lamps in 3D-design, their cool, high-tech look is a real eye-catcher." The wrap-around rear lights surround the robust rear end, thus creating a classy finishing touch to the Tigra body.

Roof system and packaging: Folding is part of the job

The Opel Tigra TwinTop's exceptional highlight is its state-of-the-art, electro-hydraulically powered roof mechanism that opens and closes at the touch of a button. Thanks to its space-saving folding kinematics the Tigra´s roof concept enabled the designers to create a harmonious and dynamic design. It is also the key to the best-in-class loading space of more than 500 liters - 440 liters in the trunk and an additional 70 liters in a compartment right behind the seats. Even when the top is down, the two-seater still offers 250 liters of luggage capacity - plus the 70 liter space behind the seats, which is accessible from the passenger compartment. By maintaining the full height of the trunk, the two-seater always offers ample loading space..

Hans H. Demant, Executive Director Engineering, Adam Opel AG, explains the new Tigra TwinTop's concept: "We decided to offer the Tigra as a sporty two-seater that always looks good, open or closed. Eliminating the tiny rear seats customary in this class enabled us to use a special retractable roof system. This in turn is the key to the Tigra's dynamic, sleek design and the largest storage space in its class."

Transforming the Tigra TwinTop from coupé to cabrio is effortless and easy: pull the handbrake, turn on the ignition, release both roof latches placed on the left and the right of the window frame and push the roof button. Within 18 seconds the refined interaction between four hydraulic cylinders, five electric motors, 18 contact sensors and the clever folding mechanism automatically folds together the steel roof, which then disappears under the trunk lid. An acoustic signal confirms that the roof has retracted properly - the journey can now begin.

The rear part of the retractable roof (the c-pillar and rear window) disappears nearly vertically into the trunk, while the front part folds itself horizontally on top of the rear element - a specialty of the Tigra TwinTop's folding kinematics. Retractable roof tops in this vehicle class usually place both roof parts horizontally on top of each other and thus take away a substantial amount of overall height in the trunk and create a "plump" rear. The TwinTop's solution enables a well-proportioned rear end as well as a large loading area offering full luggage compartment height - even when the top is down.

An adjustable luggage compartment partition has been vertically installed to prevent objects in the trunk from getting in the way of the folded roof parts while opening the roof. When this partition stands upright, the entire loading capacity (440 liters) is available. To turn the coupé into a cabrio, the partition just has to be released and slightly tilted to the rear to create the space necessary for the roof. After fixing the partition it its new position, sensors signal the system to release the roof kinematics.

Just like the roof, the trunk lid can be opened and closed electro-hydraulically at the touch of a button. The folding kinematics have been arranged in such a way that the trunk lid opens in two directions: tilted to the back when opening or closing the roof and tilted to the front when loading or unloading. Sensors ensure that one function cannot be activated as long as the other one has not been completed.