Opel Cascada: Is it headed to the states?

Curiously enough, many Americans don’t even know there’s a European division of General Motors operating in Europe under the “Opel” name – indeed, this label was responsible for some of the inspiration for sexy vehicles that ended up coming to North American shores such as the (now defunct Pontiac) GTO.

Much like the phenomenon in which many “Acura” branded vehicles are actually sold as “Hondas” in non-American markets, some Opel models boast GM counterparts sold as Buicks, Cadillacs, etc. In the case of the Opel Cascada, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson made a statement in which he suggested he wouldn’t mind seeing the convertible variant of the car sold in North America under the Buick brand banner. Does this warrant any merit?and where would this vehicle fit into Buick’s current lineup hierarchy and sales structure?

With Buick and Opel gaining an allegiance in recent years at what has been called an “ever-increasing rate,” this Cascada proposal doesn’t seem like a project all that “far-fetched;” based on GM’s global compact architecture referred to within the company as “Delta II,” the Cascada represents more than just a re-branded Astra. Significantly bigger than the Astra – which also shares Delta II underpinnings and chassis regiments – the Cascada stands on its own with a functional cloth top for weight savings and reduction of complexity issues, boasting genuine glass in the rear window (a rarity for many convertibles) in addition to an under-20-second time for the power-folding top to go?well?topless.

There’s no denying, however, the sensual lines and curvaceous, flirtatious magnetism of the Cascada’s toned body. Applying the word “sleek” here would be somewhat of an understatement, what with the car’s wind-swept shape and somewhat exotic design cues in certain areas. Remember the Reatta? If the Cascada was branded as a Buick in the U.S., it would be the first-such vehicle for the division since that nee-legendary two-seater that was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 wowed sports coupe fans many years ago.

Beneath the snazzy sheetmetal lies GM’s HiPer Strut front strut system, reducing torque steer and allowing the car to feel more “planted,” paired with an adaptive suspension setup similar to that of the Insignia and Buick Regal and which allows the driver to select between multiple modes for a demeanor-changing experience. Further, in more Open-esque fashion, the Cascada boasts a formidable roster of available powertrains including gas and diesel variants – the base engine is represented by GM’s workhorse 1.4-liter turbo churning out 120 horsepower with that number rising to 140 horses when equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox and start/stop system. The primary gasoline engine remains GM’s new 1.6-liter turbo, spooling up some 170 horses in the Cascada and which could be ordered with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

A comprehensive features list is just as encompassing as the rest of the car’s options and features – including advanced park assist and “Opel Eye” technology that reads road signs and warns of potential hazards – but the underlying essential question remains: Would the Cascada Convertible be a viable model in today’s Buick dealership network? Only time will tell.