Daimo B
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Registered: 20th Mar 00
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Vauxhall has spilled the beans... the Tigra is set to roar again as the Luton company takes its biggest step yet to adding a massive helping of fun to its sensible image.
This is the first picture of the company's long-awaited Corsa Cabriolet, a metal-roofed coupé roadster aimed at rivals such as the Ford Streetka and forthcoming MINI Open. Due on sale in 2004, the baby convertible is the first of three Vauxhall cabriolets due to break cover in the next 12 months - along with the Astra C+C and replacement VX220.
The front-wheel-drive newcomer, which aims to recreate the sporty charm of the 1994 Tigra, will be based on the current Corsa platform. The unveiling comes nearly six months after Auto Express first revealed plans for the open-top supermini in Issue 704. In the same issue we also correctly predicted that French company Heuliez would be involved in producing its SLK-style metal folding roof.
Originally responsible for building Peugeot's 206, Heuliez claims that the controversy over the build quality of the drop-top 206 is unlikely to affect the Vauxhall. It says lessons learned during its partnership with Peugeot meant that quality concerns were a thing of the past, although it will not build the roof for the new 307 CC.
Borrowing styling cues from the funky Frogster concept, which was unveiled at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Vauxhall's baby soft-top will sport the company's new family headlamps, slabby sides and curved rump.
It's the first Tigra to have a folding roof since the original Tigra Roadster concept was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1993. Based on the previous-generation Tigra, this concept drew huge acclaim, but spiralling costs kept it out of production.
Things will be different this time round, as our spies have revealed the roadster shown here is only months from sale. Its varied engine range will include 1.4 and 1.8-litre normally aspirated motors, as well as a new 160bhp 1.6-litre turbo unit. Twinport variable intake control - which results in fuel savings of around six per cent - will be fitted to all models except the turbo, while Vauxhall insiders also hint that a diesel version could be on the agenda.
The power of the performance flagship model will be fed through a six-speed manual gearbox, while the entry-level editions will offer a choice between five-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Although not designed as Luton's ultimate driving machine (that will be the next VX220), the Corsa Cabriolet is expected to be an exciting car to own. To build on the sporting heritage created by the current VX220, Astra and Zafira GSi, the firm will rely on the expertise of Lotus, which builds the VX, to fine-tune the chassis and handling.
Opel's Performance Centre will also have a role in tuning the car, particularly the ABS and traction-control systems. Unlike the VX, which was built by Lotus, the newcomer will be produced in-house to safeguard quality control.
To keep prices low, the new car will be strictly a two-seater. Entry-level models could cost only £11,000, making it far cheaper than the VX220.
And why did vaux never bring this out  2.0 16v, and it would be a peach 
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Icy
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Registered: 31st Jan 01
Location: Edinburgh Drives: Mk3 Golf Gti
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cool its confirmed now
concepts been floatin about for while
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carcraziechick
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Registered: 4th Jan 04
Location: sunny cheshire :D
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i quite like tigras...
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diddon
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Registered: 23rd Apr 02
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the tigra engine is going in the corsa gsi
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Daimo B
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Registered: 20th Mar 00
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Hence meaning the Corsa GSi MUST be coming out soon if they are putting the engine in the Tigra.
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diddon
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Registered: 23rd Apr 02
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it'll be out september time
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Tom
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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Don't like the look, but sure it'll grow on me as did the corsa c, hopefully it'll do well, glad they're putting the 1.6t in there 
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carcraziechick
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Registered: 4th Jan 04
Location: sunny cheshire :D
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the 1.4 tigras are rather slow for what they are....i looked at one replacing the nova,but it was purple :S
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mav
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
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quite like that corsa roadster thing............
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M2RTY
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Registered: 25th May 01
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yes very nice indeed, bet it looks wank with the roof up tho as most do (206 etc)
on my possible to buy list once uni is done
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stubbsy
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Registered: 5th Jun 01
Location: stoke-on-trent
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saw a c20 let tigra the other night, completely standard exterior too. really liked it.
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Adam-D
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Registered: 11th May 02
Location: Cheshire
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i like it
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Gambit
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Registered: 5th Jun 00
Location: Common Sense HQ
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not too keen on it, but it might grow on me!
front end looks like a mazda
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Jason Iles
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Bristol
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They had some good actual pics in Auto Trader a while back and it looks different to the artist impression, but still very nice 
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Rainesie
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Luton
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They can fuck off refering to it as "The Luton Company"
GM made damn sure it isn't a Luton company anymore, affected loads of people including my Dad.
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Karen
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Registered: 9th Jul 03
Location: Edinburgh
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I'll stick 2 the old tigra
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GIBBS
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Registered: 22nd Feb 01
Location: Kent, Jap Car Importer :)
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that tigra's horrid
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ben h
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Registered: 26th Jul 03
Location: hertfordshire, cheshunt
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[Edited on 07-01-2004 by ben h]
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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Thats looks cool.
Novas look better 
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ben h
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Registered: 26th Jul 03
Location: hertfordshire, cheshunt
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i think so too
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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Rear looks very high IMHO...
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sfxer
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Registered: 23rd Aug 00
Location: devon, england
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about time vaux released somthing like this, could look ok with some select mods!
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