New Vauxhall Tigra Exclusiv Two Seater Coupe Cabriolet
Vauxhall first unveiled the Tigra back in 1994 and it certainly caused a storm with its brash unique styling guaranteed to turn heads. The Tigra became a very successful car in the UK for customer who wanted a small yet distinctive car and this new two-seater model just goes one step further - turning more heads than ever.
So if you want a two-seater coupe cabriolet to blend into insignificance - look elsewhere for this car is a showstopper.
The beauty of the Tigra is it looks great with either the roof open or closed, something that Vauxhall have perfected over the years and is reflected in say the Astra Twin top. The exterior looks accentuates the Tigra’s sleek body while the prominent headlights in an eye catching clear glass with cylindrical lamps in a 3D design at the front and wrap around lights to the rear, create a real classy act and this just gets better in 20 seconds thanks to a state of the art electro hydraulically powered roof that opens and closes at the touch of a button.
It unveils an equally striking interior of red leather seats as my test model came in the Exclusiv Red trim that also includes unique 17-inch alloy wheels and metallic paint as standard. These seats contrast beautifully with the centre console and metallic strips in the doors along with chrome ringed instrument panel with black dials. On board toys include height adjustable heated sports seats along with height adjustable steering wheel for optimum driving position, electric windows, heated and electric door mirrors, air conditioning, while your favourite CD blasts from the excellent four speakers of the 6 CD -interchanger with remote controls on the steering wheel.
Now storage is always a problem in coupe convertible not just from finding space for them but you don’t want too much on display for fear of being robbed. The Tigra scores quite well here having a lockable glove box with integrated cup holders, 70 litres of storage with a useful luggage net behind the seats whereby my handbag snuggled in very nicely. But where the Tigra excels is in the boot area that is normally compromised to fit the electric folding roof. Not so here thanks to a very clever design that gives the Tigra 440 litres of storage with the roof up and 250 when down which is class leading and will certainly appease all you shop alcoholics out there.
‘How does this work’? I hear you cry. Well the rear part of the retractable roof disappears almost vertically into the boot while the front part folds itself horizontally on top. Normally all the roof parts are stored horizontally on top of each other thereby encroaching on space. When opening the roof there is a partition that has to be released and put into a new position in order for the roof to successfully open. So make sure after shopping you have moved this partition otherwise you will be sitting there with egg on your face.
Now we embark on the invigorating open top motoring and the 1.4 litre petrol engine powering the Tigra is rather sluggish I will have to admit and absolutely hates hill. I am sure this is a cunning disguise not to get our hair too ruffled by keeping our speed down and oh yes those invaluable points on our licence. Still she could have been a bit gutsier in acceleration taking 12 seconds to reach 62mph and having a top speed of 112mph.
However this reflects back into the excellent fuel consumption of 46.3 mpg on a combined cycle and further savings with CO2 emission down at146. The ride and handling was pretty impressive thanks to Vauxhall’s Dynamic Safety Chassis which has been enhanced for the Tigra and offers good driving dynamics helped further by the front suspension that has been lowered by 5mm and the rear by 20mm. The Tigra comes with a five speed manual transmission and excellent responsive power steering that will glide you through the country lanes as well as the parking bays.
In case you misjudge the bend for any reason the latest generation of ABS system along with ESP and disc brakes all around, will provide a high degree of a safety and assurance in addition to a two stage brake booster with brake assist function that disproportionably reinforces brake pressure in the event of emergency braking and helps to reduce the braking distance.
That takes care of the car, how about the occupants? Well they have driver, passenger and side airbags, lap and shoulder seatbelts with pretensioners and belt force limiters, height adjustable head restraints and the patented Pedal Release System. The Tigra also boasts a robust cabin whereby the passenger cell features deformation zones on the front, sides and rear that transforms impact energy through controlled deformation in the event of a collision. The A- pillars are reinforced with high strength steer and the funky wave shaped aluminium bar is anchored to a stable transverse beam located in front of the luggage compartment.
This is very reassuring, as while cabriolets are just the best things to drive ever, you do feel vulnerable in them with the fear of rolling over in the foremost of your thoughts. I fell for this car hook line and sinker; it was such fun to drive, looks absolutely great with or without a top and I loved the red leather seats but really appreciated the fact they were heated for our bizarre weather conditions. The best news will have to be affordability with this particular model standing in at a very respectable £15,195 on the road. Further cost savings are found in long maintenance intervals of 20,000 miles, six year paint perforation warranty on the Tigra body and there year manufactures guarantee on the entire vehicle along with an insurance group of 10.
Now that’s what I call value for money and worth every penny to feel and experience the thrills of open top motoring.
FemaleFirst Jackie Violet
New Vauxhall Tigra Exclusiv Two Seater Coupe Cabriolet
Vauxhall first unveiled the Tigra back in 1994 and it certainly caused a storm with its brash unique styling guaranteed to turn heads. The Tigra became a very successful car in the UK for customer who wanted a small yet distinctive car and this new two-seater model just goes one step further - turning more heads than ever.
So if you want a two-seater coupe cabriolet to blend into insignificance - look elsewhere for this car is a showstopper.
The beauty of the Tigra is it looks great with either the roof open or closed, something that Vauxhall have perfected over the years and is reflected in say the Astra Twin top. The exterior looks accentuates the Tigra’s sleek body while the prominent headlights in an eye catching clear glass with cylindrical lamps in a 3D design at the front and wrap around lights to the rear, create a real classy act and this just gets better in 20 seconds thanks to a state of the art electro hydraulically powered roof that opens and closes at the touch of a button.
It unveils an equally striking interior of red leather seats as my test model came in the Exclusiv Red trim that also includes unique 17-inch alloy wheels and metallic paint as standard. These seats contrast beautifully with the centre console and metallic strips in the doors along with chrome ringed instrument panel with black dials. On board toys include height adjustable heated sports seats along with height adjustable steering wheel for optimum driving position, electric windows, heated and electric door mirrors, air conditioning, while your favourite CD blasts from the excellent four speakers of the 6 CD -interchanger with remote controls on the steering wheel.
Now storage is always a problem in coupe convertible not just from finding space for them but you don’t want too much on display for fear of being robbed. The Tigra scores quite well here having a lockable glove box with integrated cup holders, 70 litres of storage with a useful luggage net behind the seats whereby my handbag snuggled in very nicely. But where the Tigra excels is in the boot area that is normally compromised to fit the electric folding roof. Not so here thanks to a very clever design that gives the Tigra 440 litres of storage with the roof up and 250 when down which is class leading and will certainly appease all you shop alcoholics out there.
‘How does this work’? I hear you cry. Well the rear part of the retractable roof disappears almost vertically into the boot while the front part folds itself horizontally on top. Normally all the roof parts are stored horizontally on top of each other thereby encroaching on space. When opening the roof there is a partition that has to be released and put into a new position in order for the roof to successfully open. So make sure after shopping you have moved this partition otherwise you will be sitting there with egg on your face.