Opel Kadett E
The Opel Kadett E was introduced in August 1984 as the sixth generation of the Opel Kadett, and was voted the 1985 European Car of the Year. As with its predecessor, it was sold as the Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom. This model was also developed into a more conventional three-box design with a boot, badged as the Vauxhall Belmont in the United Kingdom, launched at Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985. There was an estate car called the "Caravan", available with either three or five doors. In South Africa, the Kadett notchback was sold as the Opel Monza, along with a convertible. This replaced the Opel Ascona.
Design
The car was noted for its advanced aerodynamics and distinctive "teardrop" shape—mirroring the trend in the mid 1980s for swooping aerodynamic styling—with the front end styling taken directly from the Opel Tech 1 concept car of 1981, although some styling cues from the Kadett D were retained for continuity such as its 'Kamm tail' and oversized C-pillar extraction vent. The hatchback had a ; the less efficiently shaped three-box sedan still lost very little of the aerodynamics with.A convertible version was also available, for the first time in 1987, built by Bertone of Torino, Italy, bringing it to line with competitors, such as the Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf. For the 1988 model, capacities were raised from 1.3 to 1.4 litres. In the fall of 1986 a new 1,998 cc engine replaced the 1.8 hitherto used on the GSi and Vauxhall Astra GTE in many markets, although the uncatalyzed 1.8 continued to be built for some places until the end of production in 1991. In 1988, a 16-valve twin-cam version was developed for a high-performance GSi/GTE model, yielding in non-catalyzed form, six less horsepower with a catalytic converter fitted. While criticized for a lack of refinement, the GSi 16V was also lauded as the most powerful car available in its class at the time. Aside from the "16V" badging, it could be told from an eight-valve GSi by its twin rectangular exhaust pipes.
The Kadett E was a grey import in the United Kingdom, but not popular compared to its badge engineered sister, the Vauxhall Astra Mk II. It was never officially sold in Britain, and by 1989, General Motors was only marketing the Vauxhall brand in the United Kingdom, although Astras assembled at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant were exported to the rest of Europe badged as Opel Kadetts. There was also a van version with a raised roof, called the Opel Kadett Combo in Europe, and the Bedford Astramax in the United Kingdom.
Other markets
South Africa
In the early 1990s, South African Kadett GSi 16v's were further upgraded based on their success in production car racing and 500 special units were built as road cars for homologation purposes. This was a minimum requirement for entry into the Stannic Group N races. They went against BMW's 325iS. They featured more aggressive 276-degree camshafts made by Schrick with 2 different settings for timing overlap, revised intake and exhaust modifications, Irmscher spring kit, modified engine management system by Promotec, a limited-slip differential developed by Andre Verwey, F20 short ratio transmission and special Aluett 7Jx15-inch ET35 alloy wheels, they were nicknamed the "Superboss" and held the world record for the most torque per litre for a naturally aspirated production car until being beaten by the Ferrari 458 in 2009.Chevrolet Kadett
In Brazil, the Kadett E succeeded some versions of the Chevrolet Chevette and was introduced as the Chevrolet Kadett, with the estate version called the Chevrolet Ipanema. The latter had three doors until the 1993 model year when five doors became mandatory. The hatchback was only available with three doors, and the saloon was never offered. Brazilian production of the hatchback commenced in April 1989, with the Ipanema being added in September. The original Opel Kadett E had been introduced late in 1984, and after it had received a facelift for 1989 the old style was adopted for Brazil. While the Ipanema clearly succeeded the Chevette-based Marajó estate, production of the Chevette and Kadett overlapped by several years; the newer model was placed above the old one in Chevrolet's lineup. While Chevrolet entertained the possibility of a pickup version of the Kadett E, it never materialized.Originally the Kadett was available with a 1.8 or a 2.0 liter engine, shared with the Ascona-based Chevrolet Monza. The 1.8 has and the 2.0 . The original versions were SL, SL/E, and GS, with the GS sporting 14 inch alloys and body-coloured bumpers. With a Cx of 0.30, the GS was the most aerodynamic car yet built in Brazil at this time. Along with some minor changes to the gearing and tires in June 1990, the 2.0 was introduced in a petrol version — which was downgraded to. It is likely that the claimed power was understated, but for tax reasons it was beneficial for Brazilian manufacturers to stay under the 100 horsepower mark at the time.
In September 1991, the German Kadett was replaced by the Opel Astra, but it continued on in Brazil. When catalytic converters became required, the engines were updated with fuel injection in 1992, and all gained a few horsepower. This was also when the 2.0 GSi was added to the lineup, recognizable by a roof-mounted antenna, spoilers, alloys, and clear turn signals in front. For 1993, an automatic option was added and in April 1993, a more practical five-door Ipanema wagon was added to the lineup. The Ipanema also became available with the ethanol-fueled 2-litre engine.
Between 1991 and 1994 the Cabriolet was also marketed. The body-in-raw was shipped to Bertone in Italy to be turned into a convertible, then returned to Brazil to be finished — a six-month process. The Conversivel was only available with the same 2.0-litre multipoint electronic injection engine with which was installed in the GSi. In 1990, as a tie-in with the Italia '90 World Cup, the "Kadett Turim" was offered. The Ipanema was also sold in three special editions: the Wave, Sol, and Flair. These were offered in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
In 1994, the equipment levels SL and SL/E were changed to GL and GLS, in line with other new Brazilian Chevrolet products. In April 1994, for the 1995 model year, the car was updated with a new dashboard and the power window controls were moved from between the seats to the doors. The 1995 GLS and GSi were actually discontinued in 1994, as a lowered import tariff enabled Chevrolet to begin importing Belgian-built Astras. Tariffs again jumped in February 1995, and thus a Kadett 2.0 Sport was introduced as the Astra was no longer offered.