Holden Cascada
| Company type | Car model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Astra TwinTop (Holden) |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Rüsselsheim , Germany |
Area served | Worldwide (Europe, UK, Australia, New Zealand, United States, China) |
Key people | Mark Adams (design lead), Andrew Dyson (exterior styling), Elizabeth Wetzel (interior design) |
| Products | Convertible cars |
The Opel Cascada is a fabric-top convertible designed to accommodate four passengers, manufactured and sold by Opel between 2013 and 2019. It prioritizes comfort for all-season touring rather than focusing on sporty performance.
This model was rebadged and distributed worldwide under the Cascada designation by four General Motors divisions: Opel, Vauxhall Motors, Holden, and Buick. In Spain, it was additionally marketed as the Opel Cabrio.
Development took place at Opel's International Technical Engineering Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The vehicle's design was led by Mark Adams at Opel's Design Center, with Andrew Dyson responsible for the exterior styling and Elizabeth Wetzel overseeing the interior.
First unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, production was carried out in Gliwice, Poland until June 28, 2019, resulting in roughly 48,500 units produced, including the final vehicles destined for the US market.
The name "Cascada" is derived from the Spanish term meaning waterfall.
History and background
Conceived and styled in Germany and assembled in Poland—with its 200-horsepower 1.6-liter engine manufactured in Hungary and a six-speed automatic transmission sourced from Mexico—the Cascada was sold globally under four General Motors brands:
- Opel, from 2013 to 2019 across Europe
- Vauxhall, between 2013 and 2018 in the United Kingdom
- Holden, from 2014 to 2017 in Australia and New Zealand
- Buick, spanning 2016 to 2019 in the United States and China
The Opel Cascada made its debut at the end of 2012 and officially launched in April 2013, offering two petrol options (1.4L and 1.6L) alongside a 2.0L diesel engine, paired with either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
Introduced to the UK market in March 2013, the Vauxhall Cascada featured turbocharged petrol engines delivering 140PS and 170PS. From October 2013 onward, a more powerful 200PS 1.6L SIDI engine became available. Additionally, a 2.0L CDTI diesel variant was offered, both with six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes.
The Buick Cascada premiered at the 2015 North American International Auto Show and was released in the US in January 2016 as Buick’s first factory-built convertible since 1991 and its first two-door model since 1999. To comply with U.S. safety and comfort regulations, over 600 modifications were implemented. It was offered in Base (1SV), Premium, and Sport Touring trims, all equipped with a 200-hp 1.6L inline-four engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. This model was not marketed in Canada.
Launching in Oceania in April 2015 as the successor to Holden’s Astra TwinTop (discontinued in 2009), the Holden Cascada initially came with a 1.6L petrol engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It was available in base and launch editions; the latter included upscale features such as 20-inch alloy wheels, Nappa leather sport seats, ventilated front seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, and LED daytime running lights. Holden ceased sales on May 1, 2017.
All versions of the Cascada were developed during General Motors’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring period. As production approached its conclusion, Opel was acquired by Groupe PSA in 2017 amid a significant decline in global convertible sales. In February 2019, GM announced that production of the Cascada would end after Groupe PSA chose not to continue manufacturing due to weak sales figures, particularly in the U.S. The final Buick Cascada rolled off the assembly line on June 28, 2019.
Design
The Cascada is constructed on GM's Delta II platform, which it shares with compact front-wheel-drive vehicles and small crossover SUVs such as the Opel Astra J. This results in commonality of many mechanical parts and the instrument cluster.
Although trim levels and features differ slightly among the Opel, Buick, Vauxhall, and Holden badge-engineered variants, typical equipment includes an electric parking brake, sport-style seats, instrument panels with French stitching, DAB Radio, automatic headlights and windshield wipers, cruise control, and a seven-inch Intellilink Infotainment System.
The ergonomic front seats for driver and passenger have been certified by the Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR), providing six-way adjustability, powered pneumatic lumbar support, a 60 mm extendable seat cushion, and 280 mm of fore-and-aft travel. Leather upholstery incorporates the Bayer Cool Leather System, which reflects solar infrared rays to enhance thermal comfort by lowering surface temperatures by 20–30 °C.
Regional distinctions include standard ISOFIX mounting points on Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden models; Holden versions also feature top tether anchors. Starting in 2016, Buick, Opel, and Vauxhall Cascadas equipped with the Elite trim gained GM's OnStar system as part of its expansion into European markets.
The cargo space measures 380 liters with the convertible roof raised and reduces to 280 liters when the roof is stowed. Rear seatbacks split evenly in a 50/50 ratio and can be folded down individually through an electromagnetic mechanism called Flexfold, allowing for longer items to be accommodated. The taillights are installed on the trunk lid with supplementary lights inside to meet safety standards when open.
Front seats come with automatic shoulder-belt presenters—an electrically actuated arm extends the seatbelt toward occupants once the doors close and the ignition is activated. This arm retracts after the seatbelt is fastened.
An Easy Entry function electronically shifts the front seats forward when tilted to facilitate access to the 2+2 rear seating arrangement; the seats return to their original position but halt if knees from rear passengers are detected.
From a structural perspective, the passenger compartment is composed of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. The doors include diagonal ultra-strong steel reinforcements at beltline height. The A-pillars consist of press-hardened steel encased by hot-rolled, cold-bent oval steel tubes. Additional rigidity comes from reinforced rocker panels, underbody X- and V-shaped braces, extra brackets, and a strengthened torsion box bulkhead behind the rear seats that incorporates pop-up roll bars. According to Opel, this body structure is 43% stiffer than that of the preceding Astra H TwinTop generation and complements the HiPer Strut suspension design.
Convertible top
Conceived as a convertible from its inception, the Cascada’s roof system was developed and produced by Magna Car Top Systems (Magna CTS). After manually deploying a trunk-mounted cargo divider, the soft top can be raised or lowered electro-hydraulically at speeds up to 50 km/h using a switch located between the front seats. The roof includes an automated articulating rigid tonneau cover that completely conceals it when retracted and features a heated glass rear window flush with the fabric surface. Frameless side windows lower slightly when doors open or during roof operation.
The fabric top is double-layered to provide thermal and acoustic insulation; an optional premium triple-layered version adds heavier materials plus polyester fleece for improved insulation. Available colors vary by model year and trim level, including black, tan, brown, and burgundy—marketed respectively as Ebony, Sahara, Sweet Mocha, and Malbec.
Tested through 15,000 operational cycles, roof movement requires the ignition key in either accessory or on position while holding down the roof control until an audible chime confirms completion—17 seconds for lowering and 19 seconds for raising. When stationary, roof operation can also be controlled remotely via an optional button on the key fob. Additionally, side windows can be operated simultaneously through an optional four-window control switch.
Designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, every Cascada undergoes water resistance testing involving 124 nozzles delivering 1.9 gallons per minute for ten minutes to simulate heavy rainfall. For occupant safety during rollover events, pyrotechnic rollover protection bars deploy behind the rear seats when a rollover is imminent; these rise approximately 14 inches to windshield height.
To manage airflow while driving with the top down, a large foldable wind deflector mounts behind the front seats when rear seating is unoccupied; its upper section lifts vertically to divert wind while its horizontal portion remains fixed. When passengers occupy the rear seats, a smaller wind deflector fits between their headrests. Each windbreaker is stored separately in its own bag within the trunk compartment.
Suspension
The Cascada utilizes suspension components shared with its Delta II platform counterparts, including the Cadillac ELR and Opel Astra GTC.
At the front, the suspension system known as HiPer Strut decreases both kingpin inclination and offset relative to a traditional MacPherson strut. This configuration helps reduce torque steer, improves front axle traction during cornering, and maximizes tire contact with the road surface. Additionally, it diminishes steering feedback caused by road irregularities and supports the fitting of 20" wheels.
For the rear suspension, a budget-friendly semi-independent torsion beam (twist beam) is employed alongside a Watt's linkage, referred to commercially as a compound crank system with Watt's Z-link. The U-shaped torsion beam features double walls and is connected to trailing arms through a 'magnetic-arc' welding technique, which allows for adjustments in thickness and attachment angles to accommodate different engine weights and vehicle configurations.
The Watt’s linkage serves to centralize the rear axle during cornering, enhancing lateral rigidity and maintaining alignment with the front suspension. It permits vertical movement on straight roads while controlling lateral positioning. The linkage is mounted on a cross-member situated behind the rear-wheel centerline, with pivoting ball joints linking lateral arms from each wheel.
Engines
The primary powertrain for the Cascada is a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder Medium Gasoline Engine featuring Spark Ignition Direct Injection technology aimed at lowering fuel consumption. This engine enables acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 8 to 9 seconds.
In the Buick Cascada lineup, only the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine equipped with variable valve timing was available, whereas the Holden Cascada offered an alternative turbocharged version.
Other engine options included two petrol variants from the 1.4 L Family 0 series producing and respectively, both generating 200 Nm of torque (increasing to 220 Nm with overboost). A diesel option was also offered: a 2.0 L CDTI unit delivering and 380 Nm of torque.
| Petrol engine | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Note | CO2 emission (g/km) | Years |
| 1.4 Turbo VVT | I4 | 1364 cc | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) at 4200 rpm | 200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) at 1850-4200 rpm | N/A in United Kingdom | 153 | 2013–2019 |
| 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp) at 4900 rpm | 200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) at 1850-4900 rpm | 148 | 2013–2019 | ||||
| 1.6 Turbo SIDI | 1598 cc | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) at 6000 rpm | 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft) (overboost 280 (207)) at 1650-4250 rpm | 148 | 2013–2019 | ||
| 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) at 5500 rpm | 280 N⋅m (207 lb⋅ft) (overboost 300 (221)) at 1650-3500 rpm | 158 | 2014–2019 | ||||
!colspan="8"|Diesel engine |- style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" !Model !Engine !Displacement !Power !Torque !Note !CO2 emission (g/km) !Years |- style="background:#fff;" | 2.0 CDTI ||rowspan="2"|I4||rowspan="2"|1956 cc|| at 4000 rpm || at 1750–2500 rpm || ||138 ||2013–2019 |- style="background:#fff;" | 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo || at 4000 rpm || at 1750–2500 rpm || ||138 ||2014–2019 |}