Opel and Vauxhall’s 1.6-liter turbo engine, which makes 170 PS (167 hp), isn’t really the hottest unit around, no matter what the horsepower figure says – there are some (older) lower-powered engines that feel punchier, rev far quicker and don’t sound stressed at over 3,500 rpm…
Thankfully, they have now announced the debut of a new 1.6-liter unit, also boosted by a turbocharger, but this time developing 200 PS (197 hp).
Set to debut under the bonnet of the Cascada drop-top at the Frankfurt motor show, GM promises a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph) and strong in-gear pickup with a hefty torque output of 300 Nm (221 lb-ft). It has to be a good engine, to help Opel make itself relevant – there are 23 new models in the pipeline to be introduced within the next five years, and some of the more ‘mildly-sporty-flavored’ ones will be getting variations of this very unit.
The Cascada has been designed to be a low-cost alternative to the Audi A5 convertible, yet offer the same kind of posh finish (or there-about), oodles of space and strong, effortless engines that buyers of such cars nowadays expect. So, with this new 1.6-liter engine, as well as the 195 PS (192 hp) twin-turbo diesel that they also offer, the car should move itself with ease, however, we still have to see how well it will move itself out of showrooms – that will be the test for it, I think…
By Andrei Nedelea
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