95-948: The Vauxhall Chevette is a supermini car that was manufactured by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1975 to 1984. It was Vauxhall's version of the " T-Car " small-car family from Vauxhall's parent General Motors (GM), and based primarily on the Opel Kadett C . The family also included the Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Gemini in Australia, the Chevrolet Chevette in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina, and in
190-671: A Getrag five-speed. Chevrolet Vega alloy wheels (similar in appearance to the Avon wheels used on the droopsnoot Firenza) were used, as well as a newly developed glass-reinforced plastic air dam. The result was a very fast and well handling, if rather unrefined, road car. Like the Droopsnoot Firenza, the HS was available only in silver, with red highlighting and a bright red, black and tartan interior; though (partly to help sell unsold vehicles) some cars were repainted in other colours, such
285-512: A "Kadett Spezial" could also specify a four-door "Limousine" (sedan/saloon) bodied car, priced at 2,350 ℛ︁ℳ︁ as against 2,150 ℛ︁ℳ︁ for a "Spezial Cabrio-Limousine" and 2,100 ℛ︁ℳ︁ for a two-door "Spezial Limousine". The "Kadett KJ38" was intended to fill the market segment of the Opel P4 , but the KJ38, priced at 1,800 ℛ︁ℳ︁ ,
380-461: A "family look" alongside the larger Vauxhall Cavalier version of the Opel Ascona B. Mechanical changes included the introduction of Bosch distributors, revised heater ducting, and a simplified throttle linkage. It also received new wheel designs, revised C-pillar vent covers, and revamped interior trim with redesigned front seats to increase rear knee room marginally. However, it was effectively
475-472: A 7.3 to 1 compression ratio. As part of making the Chevanne as car-like as possible, it was also available with a three-speed automatic transmission. The automatic also included a heavy-duty battery and front suspension, better carpeting, and a higher compression engine (8.7 to 1) with 42 kW (57.1 PS; 56.3 hp). A similar T-Car variant existed in Australia, the Holden Gemini van, which utilized
570-549: A dimensions on par or slightly larger than traditional B-segment cars, and often are built on the same platform as B-segment hatchbacks or saloons. B-segment SUVs are usually excluded by analysts from traditional B-segment car sales. 22 percent of SUV global sales were contributed by B-segment SUVs in 2019. One of the first mass-market electric B-segment cars in Europe was the Renault Zoe , released in 2012. Global sales of
665-563: A far more powerful Chevette variant by fitting the 2.3 litre slant-four engine, using a 16-valve cylinder head which Vauxhall was developing - though the rally cars used the Lotus 16-valve head until a rule change by the FIA banned them in 1978. Fitted with two Stromberg carburettors the engine developed 135 bhp. Suspension and rear axle were from the Opel Kadett C GT/E and the gearbox was
760-638: A formal car classification term, eventually being adopted in European Commission classification as the B-segment. The 1990 Renault Clio and 1983 Fiat Uno were significant models in the supermini or the B-segment, being the recipients of the European Car of the Year award. The Clio replaced the long-running Renault 5, although the latter remained in production until 1996. In 1993,
855-602: A global sales of 910,839 units that year, in which 54 percent was contributed by its European sales. It took the world number one spot from the Toyota Corolla at 906,953 sales. Safety features have improved for the cars in the segment. In 1995, both petrol and diesel B-segment vehicles had only around 40 percent of the listed safety options installed (side impact bars, driver/passenger airbag, side airbag, ABS , electronic braking system, stability control), whereas by 2010 they were averaging over 90 percent. This represents
950-415: A length of approximately 3.7–4.2 m (146–165 in), and may vary depending on the body styles, markets, and era. In some cases, the same car may be differently positioned depending on the market. The Euro NCAP vehicle class called "Supermini" also includes smaller A-segment cars alongside B-segment cars. In Britain, the term "supermini" is more widely used for B-segment hatchbacks. The term
1045-494: A modified front grill identified an upgrade. The 1,074cc Opel 23 PS (17 kW) engine and the 2,337 mm (92.0 in) wheelbase were unchanged, with few differences between the cars for 1937 and those for 1938. The manufacturer now offered two versions of the Kadett, designated the "Kadett KJ38 and the "Kadett K38" the latter also being sold as the "Kadett Spezial". Mechanically and in terms of published performance there
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#17327831456531140-669: A more expensive offering. Examples include the Ford Fiesta ST , Hyundai i20 N , Peugeot 208 GTi , Suzuki Swift Sport , Toyota GR Yaris , Volkswagen Polo GTI , among others. B-segment MPV (also called mini MPV or B-MPV) are taller and/or longer derivatives of B-segment hatchbacks with an emphasis in interior space and practicality. Examples are the Citroën C3 Picasso , Fiat 500L , and Ford B-Max . B-segment crossovers or SUVs (also called subcompact crossover SUV, small SUV, or B-SUV ) are crossovers/SUVs that has
1235-525: A rally version of the Chevette in conjunction with Blydenstein Racing, which ran Dealer Team Vauxhall , the nearest equivalent to a 'works' (manufacturer run) competition team that GM policy would allow. In order to compete in international rallying, the car had to be homologated ; for Group 4 , the class the HS was to compete in, this meant building 400 production vehicles for public sale. Vauxhall created
1330-504: A significant improvement in vehicle safety over the period, despite petrol and diesel B-segment vehicles averaging an inflation-adjusted price increase of 6 percent and 15 percent respectively. Studies from the European Union and JATO has found that the average maximum power output of B-segment vehicles has increased by 40 percent between 1995 and 2010, while the average overall vehicle weight only increased by around 20 percent in
1425-460: A similar product until the following year (their similar-sized offerings all having conventional rear boots). Sales began on 1 May 1975, from a price of £1,593. The Chevette was sold in direct competition with its Opel sister until the latter was superseded in 1979 by which time moves were already being made to merge both the Vauxhall and Opel ranges and marketing operations. From 1975 until 1978
1520-757: The A0-class in China, and the supermini category for B-segment hatchbacks in Great Britain. Category:Subcompact cars ( 306 ) Opel Kadett The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel from 1936 until 1940 and then from 1962 until 1991 (the Cabrio continued until 1993), when it was succeeded by the Opel Astra . Originally,
1615-539: The Austin Maxi and Chrysler Alpine . The Chevette's 1.3-litre engine and relatively small bodyshell allowed for good performance. The Chevette had light steering , clutch , and gear change, as well as good visibility, and was spacious inside. The Chevette's success was probably due to its versatility, which compared well with larger cars such as the Ford Escort . It was available in three-door hatchback for
1710-814: The GM T platform Vauxhall Chevette estate . Unlike the Chevette it had a flat rear floor, no rear seats and panels in place of the side windows. It was introduced in September 1976. Intended as a replacement for the Bedford HA , the Chevanne was replaced by the Bedford Astravan before the HA was cancelled. It was fitted with the same 1,256 cc inline-four as the Chevette (and the Bedford HA), although here it produced 39.3 kW (53.4 PS; 52.7 hp) with
1805-666: The Nissan Micra (K11) , became the first Japanese car company to be receive the European Car of the Year award. In 1999, the Toyota Yaris received the European Car of the Year award, and was noted for its high roof which allowed for improved interior space. Another notable model is the Opel Corsa , which was the best-selling car in the world in the year 1998 thanks to its extensive international presence. It recorded
1900-567: The Volkswagen company. Production was interrupted in 1940 by World War II. The new Kadett followed the innovative Opel Olympia in adopting a chassis-less unibody construction, suggesting that, like the Vauxhall 10 introduced in 1937 by Opel's English sister-company , the Opel Kadett was designed for high-volume, low-cost production. For 1937 the Kadett was offered as a small and unpretentious two door "Limousine" (sedan/saloon) or, at
1995-753: The successor model introduced a month later following the summer shut-down, in August. The two-seat Opel GT was heavily based on Kadett B components, its body made by a French contractor, Brissonneau & Lotz , at their Creil factory. The Kadett C appeared in August 1973 and was Opel's version of the General Motors' "T-Car" . It was the last small Opel to feature rear-wheel drive, and remained in production at Opel's Bochum plant until July 1979, by which time Opel had produced 1,701,076. Of these, 52% had been exported outside West Germany, most of them to markets in other parts of western Europe. The Kadett C
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#17327831456532090-468: The 1,256-cc overhead valve (OHV) engine from the Viva HC instead of the Kadett's 1,196-cc engines, which were produced by Opel. The Kadett's double wishbone front suspension, rear-wheel drive, and rear suspension with panhard rod , torque tube , and coil-sprung live axle , were carried over unaltered. Inside, the two cars differed only in terms of their dashboard and switchgear; the Chevette stuck to
2185-509: The 1986 launch of the MKII-based Belmont. For the first time since 1965, there was no coupé-bodied Kadett in the range: the previous Kadett C coupé was indirectly replaced by the three-door 1.3 SR sports model. Technologically, the Kadett D was part of a major investment for Opel (and General Motors as a whole) in a new front-wheel drive architecture, with an all-new family of engines and transmissions which would later be applied in
2280-758: The 2-door version of the Kadett to add. Still, a number of Kadetts had been captured as trophies by the Red Army and were available for study and reverse-engineering. This project was conducted by design bureaus formed as Soviet-German joint ventures under the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD). There were 11 of them in total. One in Berlin reverse-engineered the engine and transmission. Another in Schwarzenberg worked on
2375-442: The 2.3-liter "international" engine for single events. These were special edition Chevettes made by Star Custom Vehicles, Station Road, Ampthill. They came with black and silver paint, red graphics, a plaque inside the door stating styles by Farina, sport steering wheel, flared arches and low-profile wheels. Blackwatch was written on the nose of the car and on the bottom of each door. Also produced by Star Custom Vehicles, based on
2470-508: The Astra in 1980, the Chevette line-up was gradually slimmed down in terms of both trim options and body styles. By the time of the Nova's launch in 1983 only the four-door saloon and the three-door estate versions (in two trim levels) remained on sale until the end of production. Although the Chevette was essentially a rebadged Opel Kadett C with revised front-end styling (detailed below), it used
2565-478: The British and Japanese right-hand drive tradition of having the indicator stalk switch on the right side of the steering column, with wipers on the left; while the Kadett used a single stalk system (typical of many 1970s German cars) on the left of the steering column to control turn signals, headlamps and wipers. The Chevette also had a much more angular instrument binnacle, although the instrument cluster itself
2660-717: The Chevanne's rear panels. Supermini The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars between the A-segment and C-segment , and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 20 percent of total car sales in 2020 according to JATO Dynamics . B-segment cars include hatchback, saloon , estate , coupe / convertible , MPV , and crossover / SUV body styles. The European segments are not based on size or weight criteria. In practice, B-segment cars have been described as having
2755-404: The Chevette L hatchback specification, with black, silver and orchid livery, colour impregnated front air dam, flexi rear spoiler, alloy wheels with locking option, head restraints, black four-spoke sport steering wheel, centre console, burled walnut fascia, hinged glove box and door capping, removable tinted glass sun hatch, and two-wave band radio / stereo cassette player with door speakers. Both
2850-588: The Chevette as well as the Isuzu Gemini, while neighbouring Australia had only the Isuzu Gemini -based Holden Gemini . The Vauxhall 1,256 OHV (from the Viva and Magnum) was the standard engine unit for all New Zealand Chevette models. Most models were of GL specification and all had metric instrumentation. A lower trim Chevanne commercial fleet model was also offered, however, unlike the European models, it used
2945-518: The Chevette finally finished in 1984. A total of 415,000 Chevettes were sold in Britain. The Chevette was also sold in Austria, where it was also offered with the option of a low output version of the 1,256 engine (49.5 bhp). The range included two- and four-door L saloon and estate, GL three-door hatch, GLS four-door saloon and three-door hatch. The local factory AYMESA produced a version of
Vauxhall Chevette - Misplaced Pages Continue
3040-519: The Chevette soon to be obsolete, Opel were able to force the cancellation of the HSR rally programme in favour of the Manta 400. A 2.6-litre engine for Clubsport rallying and a 300 hp (224 kW), turbocharged derivative were never fully developed, thanks to the budget cuts. A few examples of the 220 hp (164 kW) 2.6-litre engine were built, with Blydenstein offering the engine for hire to replace
3135-804: The Chevette starting in 1978. This version was called the AYMESA Cóndor. It had a glass fibre (fibreglass or glass reinforced plastic) body and a 1,500 cc engine with the higher compression cylinder head from GM Brazil to compensate for the Andean altitudes. The Chevette was also sold in France but it did not sell well against the Peugeots and Renaults of the time. The Chevette was the last Vauxhall sold in France. On 6 December 1979, Vauxhall announced that they were withdrawing from 11 major European countries where Vauxhall and Opel models were sold together. This
3230-533: The Chevette was the UK's best-selling hatchback, as UK branded rivals failed to respond to the challenge of the imported Peugeot 104 , Fiat 127 , and Renault 5 until the arrival of Ford's Fiesta at the end of 1976. Chrysler UK did not launch its Chrysler Sunbeam until 1977, while only in 1980 did British Leyland come up with the Austin Metro . The Chevette also managed to outsell larger hatchbacks, including
3325-467: The Chevette was the only Vauxhall-badged car to be sold in markets such as Mauritius and New Zealand; successor models assembled in the UK for sale in mainland Europe, such as the Astra, have been badged as Opels. A van version, based on the estate and called the Bedford Chevanne , was also built, and badged as part of GM's Bedford commercial vehicles marque . Following the introduction of
3420-439: The Kadett C to give German buyers the option of rear-wheel drive following the Kadett D's introduction; the Chevette was unusual as it still featured rear-wheel drive , while most of its competitors were now driven by the front wheels. A further 12,332 Chevettes were sold through Opel dealers in Germany from October 1980, although they never actually carried Opel or Vauxhall branding, being badged simply as "Chevette". By this time,
3515-479: The Kadett producing 55 PS (40 kW) and a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) was also offered on entry-level models from launch. The larger Family II engine debuted in 1600 cc form and was offered after Frankfurt 1981, followed by an 1800 cc version introduced for the Kadett GSE/Astra GTE model. The Kadett D was also equipped with a 1600 cc diesel engine, an option which
3610-548: The Kadett was Opel's smallest model; however, as it grew in size with each generation (ultimately competing in the European C-segment ), the Opel Corsa became GM/Opel's entry-level model. The first Opel car to carry the Kadett name was presented to the public in December 1936 by Opel's commercial-technical director, Heinrich Nordhoff , who would in later decades become known for his leadership role in building up
3705-425: The Kadett, Astra , for the replacement car for Europe which debuted that year. Only South Africa kept the Kadett name until the 1999 (Astra/Kadett F), whereafter all models took the Astra name. However, under Opel's internal naming convention, successive generations of the Astra platform are treated as a logical continuation of the Kadett lineage, hence the original 1991 Astra was designated Astra F in relation to
3800-620: The Moscow small car plant "without any changes to the design". The implementation of the plan was far from smooth. The Rüsselsheim plant had been deeply involved in the Nazi war effort, producing aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe, and consequently has been heavily damaged by the Allied air raids. Very little was left to be salvaged – mostly incoherent drawings and plans, with several stamping dies for
3895-632: The Moskvitch from its Opel prototype, including hood emblems and hubcaps with a large "M" (for "Moskvitch"). However, the stamping dies and most of the tooling had to be produced in the USSR. Production started on 4 December 1946. The Moskvitch 400/420 continued to be made in Moscow with some minor changes until 1956, when it was replaced by the Moskvitch 402 . The latter was an all-new design apart from
Vauxhall Chevette - Misplaced Pages Continue
3990-530: The New Zealand market had initially been sold as an Isuzu in the mid-1970s and then been dropped before being reintroduced. The Chevette was the last British-sourced GM product to be assembled in New Zealand. The Chevette was also sold in Sweden. It entered the market for 1976, originally only as a hatchback so as not to compete directly with the larger Viva. The range ended up a little differently from that of
4085-650: The Opel Rüsselsheim car plant in the American occupation zone as part of the war reparations agreed by the victorious powers , to compensate for the loss of the production lines for the domestic KIM-10 -52 in the siege of Moscow . Faced with a wide range of German "small litrage" models to choose from, Soviet planners wanted a car that closely followed the general type of the KIM – a 4-door sedan with an all-metal body and 4-stroke engine. They, therefore, rejected both
4180-545: The S-car project and merged its styling studies with the existing T-car programme - thus the Chevette would be derived from the Opel Kadett C. The car was first launched in Brazil in 1973 as a slightly restyled Kadett with a hatchback added to the model range. This hatchback was launched in the U.S. and Britain in 1975 with restyled front ends. Initial production was at Vauxhall's Luton, Bedfordshire, factory, then Chevette assembly
4275-656: The U.S. and Canada it was also rebadged as the Pontiac Acadian/Pontiac T1000 . The Chevette, as its name implies, was intended to be a small (baby) Chevrolet. At the same time as the Chevette project was being considered in America, Vauxhall Motors publicised a new design project, provisionally referred to as the Baby R, later designated as the S-car by GM. However, to save costs GM management shelved
4370-420: The UK version looked radically different from the Opel Kadett and was accepted by the motoring public as a completely new car; when the saloon, estate car, and van variants appeared and the hatchback was added to the Kadett lineup the common lineage became apparent. The Chevette was one of the first British-built hatchbacks of this size, the first arguably being the Austin A40 Countryman; Ford did not respond with
4465-444: The UK with the two-door saloon and three-door estate only available in L spec and the hatch and four-door saloon only available in GLS spec - no E or GL models were offered, although the GL was originally planned. In Uruguay, the Viva-based Grumett had been marketed since 1962. This was a 2+2 coupé utility based on the Viva HC, with imported metal doors and locally made fibreglass front and rear ends. A similarly constructed version of
4560-429: The United Kingdom, Opels and Vauxhalls were initially sold through separate marketing operations, with overlapping lineups that competed directly with each other. By 1982 this anomaly had been sorted out and the Opel lineup was limited to the well-equipped five-door Berlina (1.3S or 1.6S) and the sporty 1.6 SR, leaving most of the market to the Vauxhall-badged cars. One interesting version which first appeared in mid-1982
4655-453: The Vauxhall Chevette was created to replace the original Grumett. However, this featured the 1.4-litre engine and mechanical underpinnings of the Brazilian Chevrolet Chevette. This was succeeded by a version which featured the Brazilian Chevette bodywork, although this time it was also available as an estate. In 1976, at the instigation of new chairman Bob Price, Vauxhall decided to increase their profile in international rallying. They developed
4750-412: The Zoe achieved the 50,000 unit milestone in June 2016, and 200,000 units by March 2020. Other manufacturers followed suit; Groupe PSA introduced the Peugeot e-208 and Opel Corsa-e in 2019, while Honda followed with the low-volume Honda e , and Mini with their Mini Electric . The B-segment is considered as the European equivalent to the subcompact category widely known in North America,
4845-427: The above special editions were created by Rob Darcus of Star Custom Vehicles, who began developing special trim versions of standard models to help sell more vehicles when he was district manager for Vauxhall in London. He and Vauxhall dealer Hamilton Motors set up the Star Custom Vehicles facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, to carry out specialised paint work on Chevette 'dealer specials' (cars restyled and re-trimmed for
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#17327831456534940-468: The basis of the Daewoo LeMans (later known as the Daewoo Cielo , Racer and Nexia ) in South Korea , Nexia being the hatchback version), which was sold in the United States and New Zealand as the Pontiac LeMans , and in Canada (initially) as the Passport Optima. The Nexia was produced until 2016 at the UzDaewoo plant in Asaka, Uzbekistan . In 1991, GM Europe decided to standardise model names across its two brands, and Opel adopted Vauxhall's name for
5035-448: The beginning of a phase-out in favour of the newer Astra, Vauxhall's version of the front-wheel drive Kadett D, which was launched in March 1980, though it was not produced in Britain until November 1981. The Vauxhall Nova (the rebadged version of the Spanish built Opel Corsa ) became the entry-level model in the Vauxhall range when it was launched in April 1983, although the Chevette continued alongside it for another year. Production of
5130-399: The black HS-X designed by David Harley of Mamos Roundabout Garage - Greenford. The HS became a successful rally car, chalking up notable wins for drivers such as Pentti Airikkala , Jimmy McRae and Tony Pond . It was a challenge to the most successful rally car of the time, the Ford Escort , winning the British Open Rally Championship for drivers in 1979 and for manufacturers in 1981. It
5225-437: The car had been launched, and which continued to be fitted on the "Spezial". The base car instead reverted to traditional rigid axle based suspension similar to that fitted on the old Opel P4 . The base car was available only as a two-door "Limousine" (sedan/saloon). Customers looking for a soft-top "Cabrio-limousine" would need to specify a "Kadett Spezial". For the first time Kadett buyers, provided they were prepared to choose
5320-438: The car went on sale in the United Kingdom, some five months before the Vauxhall Astra Mark 1, the British version, was launched in March 1980. The cars were designed as three- or five-door hatchbacks and estates or station wagons . There were also two- and four-door sedans (saloons) featuring separate boots/trunks, which shared the silhouettes of the hatchbacks: in the United Kingdom, the saloon versions were soon withdrawn, until
5415-410: The cars. An additional base E model was introduced to the range in 1980, aimed at fleets and budget-minded buyers, using the four-door bodyshell. This car was incredibly spartan – fitted with plain wheels and vinyl seats – and lacked reversing lamps, hazard flashers, radio and many gauges. Production of the New Zealand Chevette ceased in June 1981, when it was replaced by the Holden Gemini , which for
5510-592: The country in 2020. The term supermini, which precedes the B-segment term, emerged in the UK in the 1970s, as car manufacturers sought a new design to surpass the influential Mini , launched in 1959, and journalists attempted to categorise such a vehicle. The car which is widely regarded as the first modern supermini is the Autobianchi A112 , launched in 1969. It was later followed by the Fiat 127 , Renault 5 , VW Polo and Honda Civic , which are similar in concept and size. These supermini or B-segment cars were considered to feature better comfort and convenience, with
5605-403: The dealer network and not available as a standard trim from the manufacturer). Initially cars were supplied to the London dealers that Rob Darcus was responsible for; following interest from Vauxhall, the vehicles were supplied nationally. This special edition was produced in silver to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. The Bedford Chevanne was a small commercial vehicle based on
5700-407: The early months of the war : by the time production ended in May 1940, following the intensification of World War II , 106,608 of these Opel Kadetts were produced on the assembly line at Opel's Rüsselsheim plant, which had been the first major car plant in Germany to apply the assembly-line techniques pioneered by Henry Ford . After the Second World War, the Soviet Union requested the tooling from
5795-416: The engine, for which Moskvitch continued to use the Kadett side-valve engine until 1958, when it was replaced with a domestically designed OHV engine. The Kadett was reintroduced in 1962, with deliveries beginning on 2 October, a little more than 22 years after the original model was discontinued in May 1940. The new car (designated the Kadett A ) was a small family car like its predecessor, although it
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#17327831456535890-523: The estate bodyshell - complete with side windows - and was badged as a Vauxhall, rather than as a Bedford. In 1979 the New Zealand Chevette had a mechanical update not fitted to the European models, Holden -developed Radial Tuned Suspension and wider tyres, giving the car superior handling over its rivals. At the beginning of 1980 the Chevette received the facelift which included flush mounted headlamps and various new interior appointments, including extra air vents and different seats, giving more legroom in
5985-411: The huge loss of workforce this would cause, representations were made that resulted in the decision to continue production of existing models alongside the new. This meant that a new name would have to be found for Vauxhall's version of the new Opel Kadett, so in March 1980, the Vauxhall Astra was born, replacing the Viva in the Vauxhall range, while the Chevette remained on sale until 1984. At this time,
6080-481: The larger Ascona C and the smaller Corsa A in 1981, and 1982, respectively. It was also the first application of the Family I engine, with a single overhead camshaft , aluminium-alloy cylinder head , hydraulic valve lifters, with capacities of 1297 cc (producing 60 PS and 75 PS) and had a transaxle design that allowed the clutch to be replaced without removing the transmission unit. A carry-over 1196 cc Opel OHV engine from previous generations of
6175-408: The license. The General Motors version, which had been further developed by Opel's North American parent, was intended to provide a soft ride, but there was some criticism that handling and road-holding were compromised, especially when the system was applied to small lightweight cars such as the Kadett. By the end of 1937 33,402 of these first-generation Kadetts had been produced. From December 1937
6270-420: The nose while large engine sizes would have square lights on the nose. The Kadett E (sold as the Vauxhall Astra Mark 2 in the United Kingdom) was introduced in August 1984, and was voted the 1985 European Car of the Year . The 1984 model was also developed into a more conventional three-box design with a boot (trunk), badged as the Vauxhall Belmont in the United Kingdom, launched at Frankfurt 1985. There
6365-409: The planned mothballing of most of the Ellesmere Port plant went ahead as originally planned. Meanwhile, General Motors would develop a new entry-level model to be sold in Europe under the Vauxhall and Opel marques, and would build a factory in Zaragoza , Spain , for the production of this new car. This longevity led to the Chevette being exported to Germany after 1979, following the discontinuation of
6460-426: The purpose-built factory in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, under a government initiative to bring employment to the area. More conventional two- and four-door saloons, and three-door estate variants (essentially the Kadett C with Vauxhall front bodywork and engines) were also offered from June 1976. The two-door coupé version of the Kadett C was the only version of the Opel car not to have a Chevette equivalent. The Viva
6555-422: The rear, where extra suspension links were fitted), and other minor changes. Group 4 evolution required a production run of 50 cars incorporating the new modifications; these were made by rebuilding unsold HSs and by modifying customers' vehicles. However, the merger of the Vauxhall and Opel marketing departments resulted in Dealer Team Vauxhall and Dealer Opel Team (DOT) joining to form GM Dealer Sport (GMDS); with
6650-414: The rear-engined, two-door KdF-Wagen (future VW Beetle) and the two-stroke powered, front-wheel-drive, wooden-bodied DKW F8 , built by the Auto Union Chemnitz plant in the Soviet occupation zone. The closest analog of the KIM to be found was the 4-door Kadett K38. On 26 August 1945, the State Defense Committee published Order No. 9905, which prescribed the start of production of the 4-door Kadett on
6745-416: The safety and surefootedness of the Mini's front-wheel drive/transverse engine package. That meant the addition of a hatchback and folding rear seats. The oil crisis in the 1970s was also argued to increase supermini market share. In 1976, Ford launched the Ford Fiesta which became popular. The segment began to be more popular in the 1980s. By the mid-1980s, the term supermini had become established as
6840-425: The same list price of 2,100 ℛ︁ℳ︁ , as a soft top "Cabrio-Limousine". The body resembled that of the existing larger Opel Olympia and its silhouette reflected the "streamlining" tendencies of the time. The 1,074 cc side-valve engine came from the 1935 Opel P4 and came with the same listed maximum power output of 23 PS (17 kW) at 3,400 rpm. The wheelbase, at 234 cm (92 in),
6935-470: The same period. Fuel consumption has decreased by around 20 percent, and power-to-weight ratio has increased by 15 percent. Hatchback is the most popular body style for the segment. While the majority is equipped with five doors, many European-oriented hatchbacks was offered with both three-door and five-door versions, with 31 percent of European customers opting for three-door B-segment hatchbacks by 2007. The share has decreased to 13 percent in 2016 due to
7030-554: The shift of market preference which is moving towards prioritizing usability and practicality. As the result, by late 2010s, a number of manufacturers had stopped offering three-door versions of its B-segment hatchback models in Europe. Other body styles currently available in the segment in Europe are saloon (example: Dacia Logan ), estate (example: Dacia Logan MCV and Škoda Fabia Combi ), and coupe/convertible (example: Mini Cooper Cabrio/Convertible ). Performance-oriented versions of B-segment hatchbacks were developed and sold as
7125-402: The single driver, saloon models that suited families, an estate car for the service fleets, and the Chevanne van version for utility purposes. The original hatchback was launched in the UK using Vauxhall's slogan and musical jingle, which capitalised on its practicality and widespread appeal: "It's whatever you want it to be! - A sporty coupe, a family saloon, a handy estate...". It was made at
7220-541: The steel body. The wooden-bodied station wagon was developed in Chemnitz . The vast majority of the personnel of these design bureaus were German specialists and craftsmen hired by the Military Administration. These design bureaus not only prepared the necessary blueprints and documentation, but also provided the wooden master model for the body. They even developed the new trim pieces which distinguished
7315-628: 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. This generation was built and sold as the Chevrolet Kadett in Brazil, while the station wagon was called the Chevrolet Ipanema . The Kadett E formed
7410-587: Was a station wagon called the "Caravan" in mainland Europe, available with either three or five doors, as well as a convertible built by Bertone in Italy (from 1987). 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. The car was noted for its advanced aerodynamics and distinctive "teardrop" shape - mirroring
7505-534: Was also reproduced Kadett D after 1984 in Jakarta , only for local market general buyers and taxi fleets until around 1995. It was later replaced by Opel Optima (Astra F) sedan . Only available as a 5-door hatchback, with carburetted 1298 cc GM Family 1 engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The Opel Kadett D was also built in South Africa by General Motors South African (Pty) Ltd. The South African range
7600-491: Was also successful in other national rally championships, such as Belgium's. To keep the rally car competitive into the 1980s an evolution version, the Chevette HSR, was developed which was successful for several more years. The modified cars featured glass reinforced plastic (fibreglass) front and rear wings, spoiler, bonnet and tailgate (giving the HSR the nickname 'Plastic Fantastic'), revised suspension (particularly at
7695-549: Was developed in the 1970s as an informal categorisation, and by 1977 was used regularly by the British newspaper The Times . By the mid-1980s, it had widespread use in Britain. In Germany, the term "small cars" ( German : Kleinwagen ) has been endorsed by the Federal Motor Transport Authority ( Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt [ de ] , KBA) equivalent to the B-segment. The segment accounts for 15.1 percent of total car registrations in
7790-515: Was directly from the Kadett (though with imperial rather than metric scales). The Chevette's front end featured a more aerodynamic-looking nose than the Kadett, based loosely on the design of the "droopsnoot" Firenza , itself said to be inspired by the Pontiac Firebird, a sister GM product. In contrast the Kadett had a more conventional, flat-fronted design. In 1980, the Chevette underwent a facelift with flush fitting headlights, giving it
7885-645: Was discontinued in 1979, with the Opel Kadett D entering production in the same year. This car was intended also to be produced in the US and UK, as the second-generation Chevette, but due to various industrial issues at the time, GM decided to shelve most of the Ellesmere Port plant, retaining only the assembly shop to build the new car. These would be assembled from knock-down kits, although they were initially imported fully built-up from Opel's plant in Bochum . Due to
7980-538: Was first presented at the Brussels Motor Show in 1982. Another frugal model, mostly sold in Italy, was the 1.0 liter model with 50 PS (37 kW). This range of engines was also used for later models of the Corsa/Nova , and the mid-sized Cavalier/Ascona . From May 1981, the 1.3 was also available with a three-speed automatic. The automatic was made available to the diesel in September 1982. In
8075-417: Was little to differentiate the two, but the "Spezial" had a chrome stripe below the window line and extra external body trim in other areas such as on the front grill. The interior of the "Spezial" was also better equipped. To the extent that the 300 Mark saving for buyers of the car reflected reduced production costs, the major difference was that the more basic "KJ38" lost the synchromous springing with which
8170-593: Was made up of four-door fastback sedans, five-door hatchbacks, and a five-door estate model called the Voyage. The engines used are Opel's 1.2 -litre overhead valve inline-four (L models only), or the OHC 1.3-litre (GL, GLS, and Voyage). Power is 60 PS (44 kW) and 75 PS (55 kW) respectively. Later a 1.6 L was added and also a 1.8 L in the GTE performance model. Small engine sizes with round lights on
8265-505: Was mirrored in Europe by its British derivative - the Vauxhall Chevette . For the first time the Opel Kadett and its Vauxhall equivalent were now very clearly the same car, and marked the gradual convergence of Opel and Vauxhall models, which would be completed with the later Kadett D. The Kadett D was introduced in the middle of August 1979, with deliveries on the home market beginning early in September 1979. In November 1979,
8360-610: Was more expensive than the P4 and its reduced specification left it with the image of a car for poor people ( ..Image des Arme-Leute-Autos.. ) at a time when economic growth in Germany was finally fostering a less minimalist approach to car buying. The "Kadett K38 Spezial" fared better in the market place: in 1938 and again in 1939 it was Germany's top-selling small car. By May 1941 the company had produced 17,871 "Kadett KJ38"s and 56,335 "Kadett K38 Spezial"s. Competitive pricing led to commercial success, and Kadetts continued to be produced during
8455-605: Was moved to the Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire to allow production of the larger Cavalier and Carlton models to be moved to Luton from Opel plants in Belgium and Germany. The UK version of the vehicle was intended to fit into the Vauxhall range below the Viva , and was initially presented only in its hatchback version, a style that became very popular during the 1970s. With its Pontiac-inspired 'shovel nose' and inset headlamps,
8550-630: Was now available in two-door saloon , three-door estate ("Car-A-Van") and coupé versions. The Kadett B was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in late summer 1965, The Kadett B was larger all-round than the Kadett A: 5% longer both overall and in terms of the wheelbase, 7% wider and 9% heavier (unladen weight), albeit 10 mm (0.39 in) lower in basic standard "Limousine" (sedan/saloon) form. Production ended in July 1973, with
8645-592: Was offered, fitted with a high roof (necessitating a unique and much taller windshield) and a sliding right-hand door, RHD , and the automatic transmission. This version was converted by Karosseriefabrik Voll (in German) in Würzburg , Germany. Voll also made a postal version of the later Kadett E. The Kadett D was also sold as the IDA Kadett and assembled Kikinda , Yugoslavia . In Indonesia , PT. Garmak Motor
8740-512: Was right between the little P4 and the larger Olympia. The "11234" nomenclature stands for the engine's displacement in deciliters (11) followed by the wheelbase in centimeters (234). The brakes were now controlled using a hydraulic mechanism. The suspension featured synchronous springing , a suspension configuration already seen on the manufacturer's larger models and based on the Dubonnet system for which General Motors in France had purchased
8835-403: Was sold without Vauxhall badging through Opel dealers with a 1256 cc 53 PS N and a 57 PS S automatic. The only Vauxhall badging to remain was on the hub caps and steering wheel. The Chevette was assembled by General Motors New Zealand between 1976 and 1981. All body styles that were available in the UK were sold. The first models built were three-door hatchbacks. New Zealand had
8930-485: Was the Kadett Pirsch , (for deer stalking , a stealthy form of hunting). In non-German-speaking countries it was generally marketed as the "Kadett Off Road." This was a station wagon with rustic trim, fitted with a limited-slip differential , reinforced suspension and more suitable tires, increased ground clearance, a skid plate , and shortened front fenders. In Sweden, a special postal Kadett ("Opel Kadett Post")
9025-411: Was to be completed by the end of 1981. Despite announcing its withdrawal from continental Europe, Vauxhall said it would export Chevettes to West Germany . At the time Opel had already started selling the Kadett D / Astra Mk1, but it was felt that there was still a market for the previous rear-wheel drive model, as a low-cost option and for buyers resistant to front-wheel drive. Accordingly, the Chevette
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