Opel Tigra | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Opel (General Motors) |
Also called | Vauxhall Tigra |
Production | 1994–2000 2004–2009 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sport compact |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
TheOpel Tigra name has been applied to two different cars engineered and produced by the German automakerOpel, both based on different iterations of theCorsasupermini, the first built in Spain, the second in France. The first Tigra was a small 2+2coupé, produced from 1994 to 2000. The later compact hard topped convertibleroadster model was introduced in May 2004.
The Tigra was sold in the United Kingdom as theVauxhall Tigra, in Australia as theHolden Tigra, and in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico as theChevrolet Tigra.
Tigra A | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Vauxhall Tigra (United Kingdom) Chevrolet Tigra (Latin America) |
Production | September 1994 – July 2000 |
Assembly | Spain:Zaragoza (Opel Pirenauto Zaragoza) |
Designer | Hideo Kodama |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-doorcoupé |
Platform | GM4200 |
Related | Opel Corsa B |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,429 mm (95.6 in) |
Length | 3,922 mm (154.4 in) |
Width | 1,604 mm (63.1 in) |
Height | 1,340 mm (52.8 in) |
Curb weight | 980–1,075 kg (2,161–2,370 lb) |
The first Tigra was based on the coupéconcept car of the same name that was shown at the1993 Frankfurt Motor Show, alongside an open top Tigra Roadster concept and the Scamp off roader/pickup. The première of the concept Tigra in the United Kingdom was in October 1993, at theLondon Motorfair.[1]
The Tigra was built on the platform of the second generationOpel Corsa. The production vehicle was introduced in the beginning of 1994, and was built at Opel'sZaragoza plant in Spain. Production commenced in September 1994. General Motors'Pontiac division had considered importing the Tigra to the United States, but in the end it was determined that the car was too small for American consumers.[2] Television advertisements in the United Kingdom for the (Vauxhall) Tigra featured the tune "Fiesta" byThe Pogues.
The Tigra shared no body panels with the Corsa on which it was based, and the interior layout was different, however still kept the Corsa dashboard and most major engine parts. The Tigra also included a 2+2 seating arrangement. Due to the coupé styling and compact dimensions of the car, rear seat space was limited.[3] The design incorporated a lightning theme as per the Opel logo; this can be seen in the way the roof and waistlines meet the reverse rake of the B-pillar, while lightning-shaped reflection appears in the metal ahead of the rear wheelwell in certain lighting conditions.[4]
The Tigra was available with twopetrol engines options, both from theEcotec family, an entry-level 1.4 L with 90 PS (66 kW), and a larger sportier version, powered by the 1.6 L engine with 106 PS (78 kW), sourced from the Corsa GSi and later Corsa Sports. Both wereDOHC16 valve engines withelectronic fuel injection.
The smaller engine was available with an optional four-speedautomatic gearbox. The 1.6-litre model came with front fog lights as standard, a feature unavailable on the 1.4-litre version. An automatic option for the 1.4 was added in February 1995.
The suspension was essentially unchanged from the Corsa donor model, although the setup had been tweaked byLotus. However, the car carried extra weight, with 150 kg (331 lb) over the equivalent engined Corsa models. 0–100 km/h acceleration on the 1.6 L model was 10.5 seconds, one second slower than the Corsa GSi.[citation needed] A higher top speed of 203 km/h (126 mph) was obtained thanks to the highergear ratios, a lowerdrag coefficient of 0.31, and standard 15" wheels on the more powerful model.
The car was imported byGM and sold as the Chevrolet Tigra inBrazil andMexico, and as the Vauxhall Tigra in theUnited Kingdom. The Chevrolet Tigra was imported to Brazil only for a few months, between the end of 1998 to the beginning of 1999, due to a sudden depreciation of thereal, which forcedGeneral Motors do Brasil to end importation. Only the 1.6 L model was imported, detuned to 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) for tax purposes. The 15" wheels were also exchanged for more affordable 14" wheels.
Production ended in July 2000, with the final sale number worldwide being 256,392. In Germany, from 1994 to 2000, 59,462 models of the car were sold.
Tigra TwinTop B | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop (UK) Holden Tigra (Australia) |
Production | June 2004 – May 2009 |
Assembly | France:Cerizay (Heuliez)[5] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-doorconvertible |
Platform | GM4300 |
Related | Opel Combo C Opel Meriva A Opel Corsa C |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | 5-speedmanual 5-speedautomated manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,491 mm (98.1 in) |
Length | 3,921 mm (154.4 in) |
Width | 1,685 mm (66.3 in) |
Height | 1,364 mm (53.7 in) |
Curb weight | 1,235–1,278 kg (2,723–2,818 lb) |
After an absence of four years, Opel resurrected the nameplateTigra in June 2004, for a new sports car based on the third generationOpel Corsa.[6][7] The Tigra TwinTop, as it was called in markets of Opel, was a two-seatercoupé convertible with a retractable hardtop, in the fashion of thePeugeot 206 CC.
It was launched at theGeneva Motor Show in March 2004, and was produced by FrenchcoachbuilderHeuliez.[8] Sales commenced in October 2004. Like its predecessor, the Tigra TwinTop was available with two petrol powered engines.
The base model used the 1.4 L engine with 90 PS (66 kW), from theFamily 0, while the top of the range uses the Ecotec 1.8 L from the Corsa GSi, with 125 PS (92 kW). An economic version, which usedFiat'sMultijet 1.3 diesel engine, was introduced in 2005.
The second generation was marketed in Australia as the XC series Holden Tigra, only with the 1.8 L engine. Production ended in May 2009, with the final production number being 90,874.[citation needed]