Opel Ascona | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Opel (General Motors) |
Production | 1970–1988 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Large family car (D) |
Related | Holden Camira |
Chronology | |
Successor | Opel Vectra |
Ascona A | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Opel 1900 (USA) |
Production | 1970–1975 |
Assembly | Bochum, Germany |
Body and chassis | |
Body style |
2-door saloon 4-door saloon 3-door estate |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 95.75 in (2,432 mm) |
Length | 164.5 in (4,178 mm) |
Width | 64.375 in (1,635 mm) |
Height | 54.5 in (1,384 mm) |
Ascona B | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Chevrolet Ascona (South Africa) |
Production | 1975–1981 |
Assembly |
Bochum, Germany Antwerp, Belgium Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2/4-door saloon |
Related |
Opel OSV 40 Vauxhall Cavalier |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,518 mm (99.1 in) |
Length | 4,321 mm (170.1 in) |
Width | 1,670 mm (66 in) |
Height | 1,380 mm (54 in) |
Curb weight | 1,050 kg (2,310 lb) (approx) |
Ascona C | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Chevrolet Monza (South America) Vauxhall Cavalier Mk II |
Production | 1981–1988 |
Assembly |
Antwerp, Belgium Bochum, Germany Luton, United Kingdom Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door fastback/hatchback |
Layout | FF layout |
Platform | GM J platform |
Related |
Buick Skyhawk Cadillac Cimarron Chevrolet Cavalier Isuzu Aska Oldsmobile Firenza Holden Camira Pontiac J2000 Vauxhall Cavalier |
Powertrain | |
Transmission | 4/5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,574 mm (101.3 in) |
Length | 4,366 mm (171.9 in)(sedan) 4,264 mm (167.9 in) (hatcback) |
Width | 1,668 mm (65.7 in) |
Height | 1,395 mm (54.9 in) (sedan) 1,385 mm (54.5 in) (hatcback) |
Curb weight | 920–1,090 kg (2,028–2,403 lb) |
The Opel Ascona was a large family car (D-segment in Europe) produced by the German automaker Opel from 1970 to 1988. It was produced in three separate generations from 1970 to 1988, beginning with rear-wheel-drive and ending up as a front-wheel drive J-car derivative. In motorsport, the Ascona 400 rally car driven by Walter Röhrl won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in the 1982 season.
The Ascona took its name from the lakeside resort of that name in Ticino, Switzerland, and already in the 1950s a special edition of the Opel Rekord P1 was sold as an Opel Ascona in Switzerland, where the name was again used in 1968 for a locally adapted version of the Opel Kadett B into which the manufacturers had persuaded a 1.7-litre engine borrowed from the larger Rekord model of the time. The Opel Ascona A launched in 1970 and sold across Europe was, however, the first mainstream Opel model to carry the name.
The Ascona was introduced in September 1970 and ended production in August 1988, to be replaced by the Opel Vectra A.
In the fall of 1970, Opel presented its completely new vehicle range in Rüsselsheim (internal project code 1.450). The Opel Manta coupé was launched on September 9, followed by the Opel Ascona on October 28 in two and four-door sedan forms, plus a three-door station wagon, called the Caravan or Voyage. These models were positioned between the existing Opel Kadett and the Opel Rekord.