In sewing, a seam is the join where two or more layers of fabric , leather , or other materials are held together with stitches . Prior to the invention of the sewing machine , all sewing was done by hand. Seams in modern mass-produced household textiles, sporting goods , and ready-to-wear clothing are sewn by computerized machines, while home shoemaking , dressmaking , quilting , crafts , haute couture and tailoring may use a combination of hand and machine sewing.
72-450: The Opel Cascada is a four-passenger fabric-roof convertible , manufactured and marketed by Opel across a single generation for model years 2013-2019, prioritizing year-round touring comfort over sportiness. Nearly identical badge engineered variants were marketed globally using the Cascada nameplate under four General Motors brands: Opel , Vauxhall , Holden and Buick — and
144-413: A French seam , the raw edges of the fabric are fully enclosed for a neat finish. The seam is first sewn with wrong sides together at 1 ⁄ 4 -inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance, then the seam allowances are trimmed to 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.3 cm) and pressed. The project is then flipped over, and a second seam is sewn with 1 ⁄ 4 -inch seam allowance with right sides together, enclosing
216-447: A convertible top. Often the driver is separated from the rear passengers with a partition, as per a limousine . In the second half of the 20th century, landaulets were used by public figures (such as heads of state) in formal processions. They are now rarely used, for fear of terrorist attacks. Victoria-Cabriolet: reminiscent of the victoria carriage style , a three-position convertible. No rear side windows and equipped with
288-410: A drop shoulder . Princess seams in the front or back run from the shoulder or armscye to the hem at the side-back or side-front. Princess seams shape the garment to the body's curves and eliminate the need for darting at the bust, waist, and shoulder. An inseam is the seam from the bottom crotch to the lower ankle that binds the length of the inner trouser leg. The inseam length determines
360-410: A faux flat felled seam , two pieces of fabric are sewn with wrong sides together, usually at 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm). One side of the seam allowance is trimmed to 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.3 cm), followed by folding the 1 ⁄ 2 -inch side in half and pressing down, then edge stitching. These seams have historically been used in shirts for men. A true flat felled seam is produced on
432-416: A serger , which trims the seam allowance as it stitches. Plain seams may also be pressed open, with each seam allowance separately secured with an overlock stitch. Traditional home sewing techniques for finishing plain seams include trimming with pinking shears , oversewing with a zig-zag stitch, and hand or machine overcasting . A bound seam has each of the raw edges of its seam allowances enclosed in
504-557: A 2.0-litre CDTI diesel. These were offered with six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes. The Buick Cascada debuted at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in January 2015, and went on sale in the US in January 2016 — as the brand's first factory convertible since the 1991 Buick Reatta , and first two-door model since the 1999 Buick Riviera . More than 600 changes were necessary to meet U.S. safety and comfort requirements. The Buick
576-673: A broad range of adjustment, with a powered, pneumatic lumbar support, a 60 mm (2.4 in) seat cushion extender and a long, 280 mm (11.0 in) fore/aft travel movement. Where equipped with leather, the Cascada interior uses the Bayer Cool Leather System , which uses specific dyes and pigments to reflect solar infrared; improve thermal comfort, lower the leather surface temperatures up to 20-30°C less and improve shrinkage properties. Regional differences include ISOFIX points standard both Opel, Vauxhall and Holden models while
648-649: A combined total of 48,500 produced and the final Cascada manufactured for the US market. The Cascada derives its name from the Spanish word for waterfall . Engineered and styled in Germany, manufactured in Poland (with its 200-hp 1.6 litre engine produced in Hungary and its 6-speed automatic transmission imported from Mexico), the Cascada was marketed globally under four General Motors brands: The Opel Cascada debuted in late 2012 and
720-785: A control located between the two front seats. The top includes the automated operation of an articulating rigid tonneau cover that fully conceals the top when lowered — and uses a heated glass rear window flush with the roof fabric. The frameless windows lower slightly on opening the doors or operating the convertible top. The cloth-faced top itself is double-layered for thermal and acoustic insulation, with an available triple-layered premium top featuring heavier layers and an additional polyester fleece layer for improved thermal and acoustic insulation. Offered in black, tan, brown and burgundy (marketed respectively as Ebony, Sahara, Sweet Mocha and Malbec), availability varies by model year and trim level. Tested through 15,000 cycles, top operation requires
792-657: A convertible body style in its 1982 lines that was based on the K-Car . These models were the LeBaron , produced under Chrysler, and the 400 , manufactured under Dodge . Ford reintroduced a convertible Mustang for 1983, while American Motors Corporation (AMC) added a convertible version of the Renault Alliance in 1984. In 1989, Mazda released the first generation Mazda MX-5 (called "Miata" in North America), which has become
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#1733093289285864-414: A double needle flat felled machine, and they are most often used for the inseam, yoke, and crotch seam of jeans. A seam finish is a treatment that secures and neatens the raw edges of a plain seam to prevent raveling, by sewing over the raw edges or enclosing them in some sort of binding . On mass-produced clothing, the seam allowances of plain seams are usually finished with an overlock stitch using
936-490: A heating duct to the neck area of the seat, which is often called an "Air Scarf". Examples of cars with this feature include Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class , Mercedes-Benz SL-Class , and Audi A5 / S5 . Modern safety features specifically for convertibles include: Convertibles have offered numerous iterations that fall between the first mechanically simple fabric tops to complex retractable roofs made from hard materials: Roadster: A roadster (also called spider or spyder )
1008-531: A lower stack height offer a smoother silhouette for the car with the top down while concealed side rails allow room for three passengers in the back seat such as on the 1967 Rambler Rebel convertible. Rigid removable hardtops, many of which can be stored in a car's trunk/boot, have been available at least since the 1950s. These usually provide greater weatherproofing, soundproofing, and durability compared to fabric-based tops; some are available with integrated rear-window defrosters and windscreens. Examples include
1080-406: A neat finish. A Hong Kong seam or Hong Kong finish is a home sewing term for a type of bound seam in which each raw edge of the seam allowance is separately encased in a fabric binding. In couture sewing or tailoring , the binding is usually a bias -cut strip of lightweight lining fabric; in home sewing, commercial bias tape is often used. In a Hong Kong finish, a bias strip of fabric
1152-491: A soft top that can be raised partway, leaving the area above the front seats folded back. This body style had a short period of popularity, mainly in the 1930s. Other names include Cabriolet/Coupé Milord (or just Milord), Calash (from Calèche ), Folding Head DHC, three-position Drop-head Coupé, or Cabriolet toit de 3 positions . Seam (sewing)#Type In clothing construction, seams are classified by their type (plain, lapped, abutted, or French seams ) and position in
1224-482: A solution. Rear windows are often part of the roof assembly. Traditionally, the rear window in a soft-top was made from plastic; however, more recently some convertibles have used glass for the rear window. A windblocker or wind deflector minimizes noise and rushing air reaching the occupants. According to the engineer responsible for the 2008 Chrysler Sebring , its windblocker reduces wind noise by approximately 11 to 12 dB . Several convertibles are available with
1296-407: A strip of fabric, lace or net 'binding' that has been folded in half lengthwise. An example of binding is double-fold bias tape . The binding's fold is wrapped around the raw edge of the seam allowance and is stitched, through all layers, catching underside of the binding in stitching. Bound seams are often used on lightweight fabrics including silk and chiffon and on unlined garments to produce
1368-414: A top layer made of PVC, which has a specific structure depending on the vehicle model, and a lower layer made of fabric (usually cotton). The collapsible textile roof section over an articulated folding frame may include linings such as a sound-deadening layer and/or an interior cosmetic lining, to hide the frame. The folded convertible mechanism with the top is called the stack. Designs that fold down to
1440-417: Is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary across eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required. A potential drawback of convertibles is their reduced structural rigidity (requiring significant engineering and modification to counteract
1512-429: Is a U-shaped, doubled-walled profile attached to trailing links via a ’magnetic-arc’ welding process — which uses magnetic forces to drive the components together for welding while allowing the beam’s thickness and attachment angles to be varied according to different engine and vehicle weights. The Watts link centers the car’s rear axle during turns and provides increased lateral stiffness during turns, to help keep
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#17330932892851584-422: Is an open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially, an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles. Cabrio coach: A cabrio coach (also called semi-convertible ) has a retractable textile roof, similar to a traditional convertible. The difference is that a convertible often has
1656-462: Is cut to the width of the seam allowance plus 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm). The bias strip is placed on top of the seam allowance, right sides together, and stitched 1 ⁄ 8 inch (0.3 cm) from raw edges. The bias strip is then folded over the raw edge and around to the underside and stitched in place. In clothing construction, seams are identified by their position in the finished garment. A center front seam runs vertically down
1728-442: Is individually tested in specialized water test booths at the end of the production line, each booth using 124 individual nozzles subjecting the car to 1.9 gallons of water per minute for ten minutes, equal to 1.23 inches of rain per minute. In the event of imminent rollover, pyrotechnically-activated, spring-loaded rollover protection bars — connected to the vehicles airbag system — deploy behind rear seats, raising 14" to
1800-565: Is rare. The term cabriolet originated from a carriage cabriolet : "a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons"; however, the term is also used to describe other convertibles. In the United Kingdom, the historical term for a two-door convertible is drophead coupé, and a four-door convertible was called an all-weather tourer . Most of the early automobiles were open-air vehicles without any roof or sides. As car engines became more powerful by
1872-413: Is the most common type of machine-sewn seam. It joins two pieces of fabric together face-to-face by sewing through both pieces, leaving a seam allowance with raw edges inside the work. The seam allowance usually requires some sort of seam finish, usually an overlock in ready to wear or bias tape in couture sewing, to prevent raveling. Either piping or cording may be inserted into a plain seam. In
1944-454: The B-pillar , C-pillar and other bodywork removed. However, the cabrio-coach retains all bodywork to the top of the door frames and just replaces the roof skin with a retractable fabric panel. An advantage of a cabrio coach is that retaining more of the car's original structure means that structural rigidity is higher (or the vehicle weight is lower) than traditional cabriolets. An example of
2016-468: The Ford Thunderbird (1st-generation and 11th-generation), Mercedes SL (2nd-generation and 3rd-generation), Porsche Boxster , Jeep Wrangler , Ford Mustang Cobra (1995 Only), and Mazda MX-5 . During the 1950s and 1960s, detachable hard-material roofs were offered for various convertible sports cars and roadsters , including the 1955–1957 Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Corvette , as well as
2088-647: The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Peugeot presented a concept four-door retractable hardtop convertible, the Peugeot 407 Macarena in 2006. Produced by French coachbuilding specialist Heuliez , the Macarena's top can be folded in 60 seconds, with a steel reinforcing beam behind the front seats incorporating LCD screens for the rear passengers into the crossmember. Off-road: Several off-road vehicles have been produced with removable soft tops. Examples include
2160-521: The Jeep Wrangler , Suzuki Vitara , Suzuki Jimny , Ford Bronco , Land Rover Defender , Mercedes-Benz G-Class as well as early models of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender . Typically, the soft tops attach to the roll cage or to the installation points on the vehicle's body. Landaulet: A landaulet (also known as landaulette ) is where the rear passengers are covered by
2232-617: The Nissan Figaro (1991), the Jaguar XJ-S C (1983) as well as the 1957 Fiat 500 and its 2007 Fiat 500 successor. The 1984 Heuliez-designed Citroën Visa Décapotable used elements of a fixed-profile convertible. Four-door: Most convertibles have two doors. However, four-door convertibles have been mass-produced. Examples include the 1940-41 Cadillac Series 62 , 1931 Chrysler Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton and 1961-67 Lincoln Continental . Current production four-door convertibles include
Opel Cascada - Misplaced Pages Continue
2304-699: The Opel Cabrio nameplate in Spain. The 2+2 convertible was engineered at Opel's International Technical Engineering Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany , and was styled under the direction of Mark Adams , head of Opel design, at Opel's Rüsselsheim Design Center — with Andrew Dyson (exterior) and Elizabeth Wetzel (interior). After debuting at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show , the brand variants were manufactured in Gliwice, Poland , up until assembly ended on 28 June 2019 — with
2376-470: The Packard Caribbean , Oldsmobile 98 , and Imperial by Chrysler. Automakers often included a convertible body style as an available body style in a model range. Convertibles in the U.S. market peaked in sales around 1965, and fell in popularity over the next five years. Optional air conditioning was gradually becoming more popular, and the availability of sunroofs and T-tops limited the appeal of
2448-574: The Targa top versions of the AMC Concord and Eagle "Sundancer" as well as the Toyota Celica "Sunchaser" as specialty models. American Sunroof Company (ASC), which was responsible for popularizing the sunroof option for regular body styles, converted a Buick Riviera into a full convertible that compelled General Motors to market it as part of the 1982 Buick models. Chrysler Corporation also introduced
2520-399: The 1963–1971 Mercedes-Benz W113 series of two-seaters. Because the convertible top mechanism is itself expensive, the hard roof was customarily offered as an additional, extra-cost option. On early Thunderbirds (and Corvettes through 1967), buyers could choose between a detachable hardtop and a folding canvas top at no additional cost, but paid extra for both. The metal-framed " Carson top "
2592-507: The Cascada on 1 May 2017. All Cascada variants were developed during the period when General Motors had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and its restructuring commenced. As the Cascada neared the end of its production, Opel was sold to Groupe PSA (2017), and the convertible segment experienced a sharp decline globally. In February 2019, GM confirmed it would end marketing the Cascada, after Groupe PSA confirmed it would not continue future production — noting also low sales, especially in
2664-523: The Holden Cascada also has top tether mounts. Excluding Holden all Buick, Opel and Vauxhall (Elite trim from 2016) Cascadas include GM's OnStar System as of 2016 as GM expanded the service into Europe. Cargo capacity is 380 litres (13.4 cu ft) with the top raised and 280 litres (9.9 cu ft) with the top stowed. To allow for longer cargo, each side of the 50:50 split rear seatbacks could be lowered by their own control, while standing at
2736-642: The Opel, Buick, Vauxhall and Holden badge engineered variants, with shared standard equipment including electric park brake, sport seats, French stitching on the instrument panel, DAB Radio , auto headlights and wipers, cruise control and 7.0" Intellilink Infotainment System. Available ergonomic seats for the driver and front passenger were certified by the Aktion Gesunder Rücken (AGR, "Campaign for Healthier Backs"), an independent panel of back experts. The AGR accredited front seats offered six-way movement and
2808-515: The U.S. automakers discontinued the body style from their lineups. American Motors stopped making convertibles after the 1968 model year, Chrysler after 1971, Ford after 1973, and most divisions of General Motors after 1975. Cadillac held out until 1976, when they made about 14,000. The last 200 had a red, white, and blue motif and a dashboard plaque. The very last was offered to the Smithsonian Institution, whose trustees turned it down as it
2880-653: The United States at that time. These roadsters included the MG Midget and Triumph Roadster . The convertible design was incorporated into the mass market unibody by Hudson in 1948. United States automakers manufactured a broad range of convertible models during the 1950s and 1960s – from economical compact-sized models such as the Rambler American and the Studebaker Lark , to the more expensive models, such as
2952-525: The United States. Production of the Buick Cascada ended in the second quarter of 2019, on June 28. The Cascada uses GM's Delta II platform shared with its compact front-wheel drive cars and small crossover SUVs, including the Opel Astra J , with which it shares much of its mechanical componentry as well as much of its instrument panel. Cascada specifications, trim and equipment levels vary slightly between
Opel Cascada - Misplaced Pages Continue
3024-541: The best-selling convertible with over 1 million cars sold. Also in 1989, Toyota released the Toyota Soarer Aerocabin, which uses an electrically operated retractable hardtop roof. A total of 500 were produced. Models dedicated to the convertible body style include the Mazda MX-5 , Porsche Boxster , and Opel Cascada . A "soft top" is made from a flexible textile material: Other materials are also used in
3096-501: The body of the Cascada was 43% stiffer than the previous generation Astra H TwinTop, and worked in tandem with the HiPer Strut suspension layout. The Cascada was designed from the outset as a convertible, with its top module developed and manufactured by Magna Car Top Systems (Magna CTS) . After first manually deploying a trunk-mounted cargo-divider, the soft top can be electro-hydraulically raised or lowered at speeds up to 50kmh/31mph by
3168-407: The cabrio coach is the 2003-10 C3 Pluriel , which has a roof with five possible configurations. Fixed-profile: In contrast to convertibles where the entire bodywork above the beltline (doors, roof, side pillars, side bodywork) is replaced with a folding or retractable roof, the fixed profile convertible retains portions of fixed bodywork including the doors, side pillars, and side elements of
3240-420: The convertible top. By 1955, the most popular materials were latex and butyl rubber fabrics that each accounted for around 35% of the convertible top's weight, with others included vinyl (12%), jute (8%), along with rayon and acrylic fibers (Orlon), amounting to about 1% each in the compositions. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material was used for many convertible tops. The material consists of two layers:
3312-445: The driver has a fixed roof and the passenger compartment has a folding roof. Less expensive cars, such as the runabouts , sporting roadsters , or sturdy touring cars , remained either completely open air or were fitted with a rudimentary folding top and detachable clear side curtains. In the 1920s, when steel bodies began to be mass-produced, closed cars became available to the average buyer, and fully open cars began to disappear from
3384-407: The end of the 19th century, folding textile or leather roofs (as had been used on victoria or landau carriages) began to appear on cars. Examples of early cars with roofs include the phaeton (a two-seat car with a temporary roof), the brougham or a coupé de ville , having an enclosed passenger compartment at the rear, while the driver sat in front either in the open, or the landaulet , where
3456-435: The finished garment (center back seam, inseam, side seam). Seams are finished with a variety of techniques to prevent raveling of raw fabric edges and to neaten the inside of garments. The most common standard for seams is ASTM International ASTM D6193-16(2020) This standard also covers various types of stitches All basics seams used in clothing construction are variants on four basic types of seams: A plain seam
3528-441: The front of a garment. A center back seam or back seam runs vertically down the center-back of a garment. It can be used to create anatomical shaping to the back portion of a garment particularly through the waist area and hips. It can also be used for styling and functional purposes involving pleats , vents, flare toward the hem or for back closures such as buttoned plackets or zippers . A side seam runs vertically down
3600-479: The height of the windshield. When the rear seats are unoccupied, a large foldable windbreaker can be manually mounted behind the front seats, anchored into recesses in the rear side trim. The upper section of the windbreaker can be raised vertically to deflect wind, while the horizontal section remains fixed. With rear passengers aboard, a smaller windbreaker can be mounted between the rear head-rests to reduce drafts. Each windbreakers comes in its own bag, storable in
3672-462: The key be in accessory or on position and requires the driver to hold the top switch until a chime signals completion of the lowering (17 second) or raising (19 second) cycle. When stationary, the roof can be opened and closed via an optional remote control button on the key fob. As an option, side windows can be raised, lowered and locked via a single four-window switch. The top was engineered to be weatherproof under extreme conditions. Each Cascada
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#17330932892853744-554: The lateral links from the wheels are bolted. The Cascada in all its variants primarily used the turbocharged 1.6 litre four cylinder Medium Gasoline Engine with Spark Ignition Direct Injection technology, which reduces fuel consumption. In the Cascada, it achieves a 0 to 60 mph time in the 8 to 9 second range. The only available engine in the Buick Cascada was the 200 PS (147 kW; 197 hp) turbocharged 1.6 litre four cylinder with Spark Ignition Direct Injection technology and variable valve timing . The Holden Cascada
3816-542: The length of the inner pant leg. In the UK this is usually known as the inside-leg measurement (for trousers fit). When making an outward-curved seam, the material will have reduced bulk and lie flat if notches are cut into the seam allowance. Alternatively, when making an inward-curved seam, clips are cut into the seam allowance to help the seam lie flat with reduced bulk in the fabric. Once seam allowances are pinned or basted , they are often pressed flat with an iron before sewing
3888-491: The mainstream market. By the mid 1930s, the remaining small number of convertibles sold were high-priced luxury models. In 1939, Plymouth introduced the first mechanically operated convertible roof powered by two vacuum cylinders. Demand for convertibles increased as a result of American soldiers in France and the United Kingdom during World War II familiarizing themselves with small roadster cars, which were not available in
3960-437: The open body style. Noise, leaks, and repairs associated with fabric tops also contributed to issues that many customers had. The popularity of convertibles was reduced by the increased travel speeds on roads (resulting in more wind and noise for occupants) and the emergence of more comprehensive vehicle crash safety standards in the United States. The market share of convertibles fell to two or three percent of total sales and
4032-460: The open rear trunk — via an electro-magnetic system, marketed as Flexfold . Because the taillights are entirely located on the trunk lid, a second set of tail lights inside the trunk remain visible when the lid is raised, complying with (e.g.) European safety regulations. Front seats have automatic shoulder-belt presenters, where the outboard seatbelt buckle is mounted on an electrically-powered telescopic arm, which extends forward, "presenting"
4104-503: The raw edges of the original seam. In a flat or abutted seam , two pieces of fabric are joined edge-to edge with no overlap and sewn with hand or machine stitching that encloses the raw edges. Antique or old German seam is the 19th century name for a hand-sewn flat seam that joins two pieces of fabric at their selvages . This type of construction is found in traditional linen garments such as shirts and chemises , and in hand-made sheets pieced from narrow loom widths of linen. In
4176-450: The rear suspension aligned with the front suspension. On straightaways, the Watts link allows the suspension to freely travel vertically while continuing to locate the suspension laterally. The wattslink is carried on a small cross-member attached to the underside of the car, just behind the rear wheel center line. It comprises a short, pivoting center link with a ball joint at each end, to which
4248-424: The road. The design reduces unwanted steering system disturbances over bumps and on rough roads and allows the Cascada to employ 20" tires. The rear suspension, for packaging efficiency and lower cost compared to a fully independent suspsension, uses a semi-independent twist beam (or torsion beam) rear suspension with a Watts linkage , marketed as a compound crank system with Watts Z-link . The torsion beam itself
4320-446: The roof — while a center fabric portion slides back and accordions at the rear. As an example, Citroën 's 1948 Citroën 2CV featured rigid bodysides and two doors on each side, along with a sunroof that rolled back on itself and extended to the rear bumper in place of a separate trunk lid. Other fixed-profile convertibles include the 1957 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile , 1957 Vespa 400 , 1950 Nash Rambler Landau Convertible Coupe,
4392-399: The seat rearward. As the driver or passenger seat moves back and senses the knees of a rear occupant, it stops and returns the seat forward approximately an inch. Structurally, the passenger cell primarily uses high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. Built into the doors at the beltline, are diagonally running ultra-strong steel struts and reinforcements. The A-pillars on each sides of
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#17330932892854464-413: The seatbelt to driver or front passenger — triggered when the door is closed and the ignition is switched on. The arm retracts when the seatbelt is fastened. A system marketed as Easy Entry is activated by manually releasing the front seat back and tilting it forward. This electronically moves the front seats forward to facilitate access to the 2+2 rear seating, which is moved back again by tilting
4536-651: The side effects of almost completely removing a car's roof). The majority of convertible roofs are of a folding construction framework with the actual top made from cloth or other fabric. Other types of convertible roofs include retractable hardtops (often constructed from metal or plastic) and detachable hardtops (where a metal or plastic roof is manually removed and often stored in the trunk ). Other terms for convertibles include cabriolet, cabrio, drop top, drophead coupé, open two-seater, open top, rag top, soft top, spider, and spyder, although companies use many of these terms interchangeably. Thus, nomenclatural consistency
4608-406: The side of a garment. A side-back seam runs from the armscye to the waist, and fits the garment to the curve below the shoulder blades. Side-back seams may be used instead of, or in combination with, side and center back seams. A shoulder seam runs from the neckline to the armscye, usually at the highest point of the shoulder. A shoulder seam which extends beyond the shoulder point is called
4680-458: The trunk. The Cascada uses suspension systems similar to its Delta II platform siblings, the Cadillac ELR and Opel Astra GTC . Front suspension, marketed as HiPer Strut , reduces the kingpin inclination angle and shortens the kingpin offset compared to a MacPherson strut design — helping to prevent torque steer ; increase front axle grip during cornering and optimize tire contact with
4752-798: The vehicle when not in use, requiring a garage or other storage facility. Some open cars continue to offer it as an option. For example, the Mazda MX-5 has an accessory hardtop, which is compulsory for some auto racing series. A retractable hardtop — also known as "coupé convertible" or "coupé cabriolet" — is a car with an automatically operated, self-storing hardtop (as opposed to the textile-based roof used by traditional convertibles). The benefits of improved climate control and security are traded off against increased mechanical complexity, cost, weight, and often reduced luggage capacity. Folding textile convertible tops often fail to completely hide their internal mechanism or can expose their vulnerable underside to sun exposure and fading. A tonneau cover provides
4824-409: The windshield are high-strength press hardening steels , which are surrounded by hot-rolled and then cold-bent, oval-shaped steel tubes. The design also uses reinforced rocker panels with increased cross section; underbody reinforcements including X-braces, V-braces and additional brackets; and a reinforced “torsion box” bulkhead behind the rear seats that incorporates the pop-up roll bars. Opel claimed
4896-417: Was a popular addition for the 1930s Ford convertibles or roadsters because it turned these models into an almost instant hardtop. The design mimicked a convertible top, but lacking the bulky folding mechanisms enabled the removable hardtop to have a much lower and more rakish profile. Improvements in canvas tops have rendered the detachable hard roof less common in part because the top cannot be stored inside
4968-867: Was available in three trim levels: 1SV, Premium and Sport Touring — and with one engine, the 200 hp (149 kW) 1.6 liter inline-four engine. GM did not market it in Canada. The Holden Cascada went on sale in Oceania in April 2015 as the successor to Holden's Astra TwinTop , discontinued in 2009. At launch, the Holden variant was offered with only the 1.6L petrol engine and a six speed automatic. Two trim levels were available which are base and launch edition. The Launch edition offered twenty inch alloys, nappa leather sport seats, ventilated front seats, adaptive bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. Holden ended sales of
5040-546: Was launched on 20 April 2013, offering two four cylinder petrol engines, 1.4L or 1.6L — and a 2.0L diesel. These were offered with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. The Vauxhall Cascada launched in the UK in March 2013 with a choice of 140PS 1.4-litre and 170PS 1.6-litre turbo petrols. This was followed by a 1.6-litre Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine producing 200PS from October 2013. The line-up also included
5112-547: Was not at that moment a historic artifact, "Though it might well be in three generations ... or at the Tricentennial." After the last Cadillac Eldorado convertible was made in 1976, the only factory convertibles sold in the United States were imported. Making convertibles on the assembly line was both expensive and time-consuming, thus not worth the problems needed to sell the limited number of cars. Specialized coachbuilders were contracted to make dealer-available cars such as
5184-436: Was only available with the 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) version. Other engines include two 1.4 L Family 0 petrol, with 120 PS (88 kW) and 140 PS (103 kW), both with 200 Nm (220 Nm with overboost) torque; and a 2.0 L CDTI diesel with 165 PS (121 kW) and 380 N⋅m (280 lbf⋅ft) torque. Convertible A convertible or cabriolet ( / ˌ k æ b r i oʊ ˈ l eɪ / )
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