24.5.2004
Tigra TwinTop: Compact new cabrio-coupé from Opel

With innovative roof technology, stylish design and ample loading space, the Tigra TwinTop makes Opel the first volume automaker to present a sporty two-seater of this kind.

The Tigra TwinTop comes with an electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof that opens and closes at the touch of a button. Thanks to its state-of-the-art and space-saving retractable roof design, the Tigra offers 500 liters of cargo space – the most in its class. This intelligent roof construction provides a sleek design line from the front right up to the elegant and well-proportioned rear end.

Hans H. Demant, Executive Director, Technical Development Center, explains the Tigra TwinTop's concept: "We decided to offer the Tigra as a sporty two-seater that looks good, both open and closed. Eliminating the tiny rear seats customary in this class enabled us to use a special retractable roof system. This in turn is the key to the Tigra's dynamic, sleek design and the largest loading space in its class."

The concept is already a success: a jury crowned the Tigra TwinTop "Cabrio of the Year 2004" at its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The Tigra TwinTop's generous interior offers optimum space for two passengers. In addition to the trunk's large loading capacity, the Tigra has a 70-liter compartment with a luggage net behind its seats, ideal for bags or jackets. The trunk has 250 liters of cargo space when the top is down, still offering plenty of room. When closed, the trunk's loading capacity increases to 440 liters. Together with the 70-liter interior compartment this adds up to 500 liters of loading space – the largest in its class.

The key to the Tigra's large loading capacity and dynamic and sleek design is the car's state-of-the-art, electro-hydraulically powered, folding roof mechanism that opens and closes comfortably at the touch of a button.

Transforming the Tigra TwinTop from coupé to cabrio is effortless: pull the handbrake, turn on the ignition, release both roof latches placed on the left and the right of the window frame and push the roof button. Within 18 seconds the refined interaction between four hydraulic cylinders, five electric motors, 18 contact sensors and the clever folding mechanism automatically folds together the steel roof, which then disappears under the trunk lid. An acoustic signal confirms that the roof has retracted properly – the journey can now begin.

The rear part of the retractable roof (the c-pillar and rear window) disappears nearly vertically into the trunk, while the front part folds itself horizontally on top of the rear element – a specialty of the Tigra TwinTop's folding kinematics. Retractable rooftops in this vehicle class usually place both roof parts horizontally on top of each other and thus take away a substantial amount of overall height in the trunk. The TwinTop's ingenious solution enables a well-proportioned trunk lid as well as a large loading area offering full luggage compartment height – even when the top is down.

An adjustable luggage compartment partition has been vertically installed to prevent objects in the trunk from getting in the way of the folded roof parts while opening the roof. When this partition stands upright, the entire loading capacity (440 Liters) is available.

Just like the roof, the trunk lid can be opened and closed electro-hydraulically at the touch of a button. The folding kinematics have been arranged in such a way that the trunk lid opens in two directions: tilted to the back when opening or closing the roof and tilted to the front when loading or unloading. Highly sophisticated sensors ensure that one function cannot be activated as long as the other one has not been completed.

The Opel Tigra TwinTop, which will go on sale in late summer, is built by the renowned coachbuilder Groupe Henri Heuliez S.A in Cerizay (France).