Vauxhall builds Astra and Insignia-based 4 seater convertible.

Four seater convertibles have never looked right proportionally; when a sedan or hatchback undergoes the surgery to turn it into a convertible, various bits of the car have to be altered to cater for the strengthening beams and the roof. However, Vauxhall’s latest attempt at making just such a vehicle has been more than just successful- in fact, I think the car looks stunning. That is because the Cascada was designed from the ground up as a cabrio.

The Cascada is based on a mixture of the Astra and Insignia platforms, but the fit and finish of the car is far removed from its modest roots. It is slated to be the most luxurious model in Vauxhall’s line-up. To achieve this, the Vauxhall designers have used elegant, flowing creases on the exterior to give the car a more upmarket look. The smooth, flowing lines fit in well with a tided up Astra front and rear end, making the entire package a smart looking one.

To match the exterior, Vauxhall has ditched the vinyl and plastic of the past and adopted the use of high-quality leather to upholster the seats and double-stitched soft-touch materials on the dashboard.

For the UK market, the Cascada will come with a choice of 3 powerplants, ranging from a 138bhp 1.4-litre petrol, up to a range topping 1.6-litre turbo petrol, which develops 168bhp. A 163bhp 2.0-litre diesel will also be available, with more powerful versions scheduled to follow. Attached to the engines is a six speed automatic transmission. Such a combination enables the Cascada to sprint to 100 km/h in a mind bending 9.2 seconds (ok, maybe not that mind bending). At this point, we are not quite sure which engines will available for Singapore.

A cabriolet is all about its roof. The Cascada’s canvas roof can be tucked away in 17 seconds at speeds of up to 48km/h and can be operated by a switch in the cabin or via a button on the key fob. The roof comes with a choice of three colours, which contrast with 10 exterior paint finishes.

The Cascada looks to be a serious contender to some of its more established German rivals. Cheaper, more practical and with arguably better looks than an A5 Cabrio, GM has an ambitious target in its sights. Sure, with an A5, you can brag to all your friends that you have an Audi, and granted, the Vauxhall/Opel Badge is not as desirable as an Audi one. But which do you prefer? A large, well made, good looking and practical car with some extra cash left over from the purchase of the car or a slightly smaller, well made Audi, with nothing left in your pocket? The choice is yours.