SPOT.
Photo of a Opel Tigra

Opel Tigra

From 2+2 coupé to two-seat TwinTop: a second life with an 18-second disappearing roof.12

Researched November 9, 2026 from 19 sources

At a glance

0100200
68–123 hpPower
01020
9.4–15.5 s0–100 km/h
07501,500
980–1,278 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.11011

Engine
A: 1.4/1.6 L 16V I4; TwinTop: 1.4/1.8 L petrol I4, 1.3 L CDTi diesel1
Layout
Both generations: front-engine, front-wheel drive1
Gearbox
5-speed manual; A 1.4: 4-speed auto; TwinTop 1.4: 5-speed Easytronic124
Built at
A: Opel Zaragoza, Spain; TwinTop: Heuliez Cerizay, France1
Units built
A: 256,392; TwinTop: 90,87413

The story

To court younger buyers, Opel put Corsa hardware beneath a 2+2 coupé in 1994. After a break, Tigra returned in 2004 as the two-seat TwinTop with a folding hardtop. UK cars wore Vauxhall badges.13

1993: Coupé, Roadster and Scamp at Frankfurt19931994: The 2+2 coupé enters production19941997: Chassis overhaul for the coupé19971998: Chevrolet Tigra lands in Brazil19982004: TwinTop wins Cabriolet of the Year20042005: Holden Tigra reaches Australia20052006: Easytronic joins the 1.4 TwinTop20062008: Illusion puts canvas over steel20082009: TwinTop production ends2009 Tigra coupe concept: 1993Tigra A (A): 1994–2000ATigra TwinTop (B): 2004–2009B 1995200020052010201520202025
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones1413
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1993Tigra coupe concept
1994–2000Tigra A (A)
2004–2009Tigra TwinTop (B)
1993Coupé, Roadster and Scamp at Frankfurt
1994The 2+2 coupé enters production
1997Chassis overhaul for the coupé
1998Chevrolet Tigra lands in Brazil
2004TwinTop wins Cabriolet of the Year
2005Holden Tigra reaches Australia
2006Easytronic joins the 1.4 TwinTop
2008Illusion puts canvas over steel
2009TwinTop production ends
  1. 1993

    Coupé, Roadster and Scamp at Frankfurt

    Tigra coupé and Roadster concepts share the Frankfurt stage with the Corsa-based Scamp pickup.13

  2. 1994

    The 2+2 coupé enters production

    The Corsa B-based 2+2 coupé starts production at Opel's Zaragoza plant in Spain.14

  3. 1997

    Chassis overhaul for the coupé

    Revised springs, dampers, stabilizers and steering give the coupé better stability and comfort.5

  4. 1998

    Chevrolet Tigra lands in Brazil

    Brazil gets the 99 hp Chevrolet Tigra 1.6 for tax reasons; imports end in early 1999. Chevrolet badges also appear in Argentina and Mexico.1

  5. 2004

    TwinTop wins Cabriolet of the Year

    The two-seat TwinTop revives Tigra at Geneva, with an 18-second folding steel roof and 440/250 L of luggage space roof up/down.16

  6. 2005

    Holden Tigra reaches Australia

    Australia gets the French-built roadster as the Holden Tigra, offered only with a 1.8 L engine and five-speed manual.178

  7. 2006

    Easytronic joins the 1.4 TwinTop

    Vauxhall adds the Easytronic clutchless manual to the 1.4 L TwinTop in November.19

  8. 2008

    Illusion puts canvas over steel

    The Illusion wraps its retractable steel roof in Bordeaux red canvas, giving the TwinTop a fabric-roof look.2

  9. 2009

    TwinTop production ends

    TwinTop production finishes in May after 90,874 cars.1

Every generation

  • Opel Corsa B
    B
  • Tigra A
    A1994–2000
  • Tigra TwinTop
    B2004–2009

Power over the years

From 89 hp to 123 hp in 10 years.

050100150 199419961998200020022004 hp 1994 · 89 hp · Tigra A 1.41994 · 105 hp · Tigra A 1.61998 · 99 hp · Brazil Chevrolet Tigra 1.62004 · 68 hp · TwinTop 1.3 CDTi (UK)2004 · 89 hp · TwinTop 1.4 Twinport2004 · 123 hp · TwinTop 1.8 123 hp TwinTop 1.8 89 hp Tigra A 1.4
1910
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
199489Tigra A 1.4
1994105Tigra A 1.6
199899Brazil Chevrolet Tigra 1.6
200468TwinTop 1.3 CDTi (UK)
200489TwinTop 1.4 Twinport
2004123TwinTop 1.8

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Tigra A 1.4

    1994–2000

    89 hp
  • Tigra A 1.6

    Standard

    Tigra A 1.6

    1994–2000

    105 hp

  • Standard

    Tigra Wave

    1998–2000

  • Standard

    Tigra TwinTop Sport

  • Special

    Tigra Color Line

    1996–1998

  • Special

    Vauxhall Tigra Chequers

  • Special

    Tigra Sports

    1998–2000

  • Limited

    Tigra Limited Edition

  • Limited

    Tigra Cinema Edition

    50 built

  • Limited

    Tigra MH-Edition

    1998

    105 hp

    10 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Original coupe: roof and beltline meet an angled center pillar, echoing Opel's lightning bolt.1
  • TwinTop: a two-seat roadster with two small aluminum roll hoops and a two-piece folding hardtop.16
  • TwinTop: look for the Heuliez coachbuilder emblem on a fender.110
  • TwinTop: the two-piece roof can contrast with the body in aluminum gray.6

Year by year

  1. 1996–1997

    Original coupe: revised plastic below the wipers for 1996; a round knob with a shiny center replaced the square leather gear knob for 1997.14

  2. 1998 model year

    Original coupe: a center LED brake light appeared in the rear hatch.514

  3. 1999 model year

    Original coupe: door handles became body-colored.5

  4. 2006

    UK TwinTop: January brought range-topping Exclusiv; November's Exclusive added red leather.19

  5. 2007–2008

    UK TwinTop: Exclusiv Red arrived in March 2007 with red leather and 17-inch alloys; Sport Rouge followed in April 2008.19

  6. 2006–2008

    TwinTop: Design Edition brought red leather and 17-inch bi-color alloys in 2006; Illusion added a canvas-covered steel roof in 2008.210

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Opel Tigra
    Tigra
    Photo of a Peugeot 206 CC
    Peugeot 206 CC

    Peugeot 206 CC

    The TwinTop has two seats and two small aluminum roll hoops; the Peugeot has four seats.611

  • Photo of a Opel Tigra
    Tigra
    Photo of a Renault Wind
    Renault Wind

    Renault Wind

    The Wind has very thick rear pillars and a roof that flips as one piece; the TwinTop uses a two-piece folding roof.13

  • Photo of a Opel Tigra
    Tigra
    Photo of a Ford StreetKa
    Ford StreetKa

    Ford StreetKa

    The StreetKa has a fabric soft top; the Tigra TwinTop folds away a steel hardtop.16

Against its rivals

  • Tigra vs Peugeot 206CC 1.6

    Power

    Tigra121 hp
    Peugeot 206CC 1.6107 hp
    7

  • Tigra vs Renault Wind 1.2 TCE

    0–100 km/h lower is better

    Tigra12.3 s
    Renault Wind 1.2 TCE10.5 s
    13

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Yvan Muller's '98 and '99 ice titles”
    • “Franziska van Almsick drove under New York”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 19 sources
  1. Opel Tigra - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Opel Tigra Faux soft-top | OneShift by Carousell oneshift.com
  3. Ich werde 30 – Opel Tigra | SwissClassics Revue swissclassics.com
  4. Opel Tigra – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  5. Tigra opel-niedersachsen.de
  6. OPEL TIGRA TWINTOP 1.8 (2004-) - ESSAI automobile-sportive.com
  7. Holden Tigra coupe-convertible Reviews | The Car | GoAuto goauto.com.au
  8. Holden Tigra 2005 Review - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
  9. Vauxhall Tigra (2004-2009) — New Car Net newcarnet.co.uk
  10. opel-infos.de opel-infos.de
  11. Czy warto kupić: używany Opel Tigra TwinTop (od 2004 do 2009) • AutoCentrum.pl autocentrum.pl
  12. opel-infos.de opel-infos.de
  13. Opel Tigra Twintop 90 ch vs Renault Wind 100 ch : deux coupés-cabriolets funs et pas chers, dès 3 000/4 000 € caradisiac.com
  14. Opel Tigra - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  15. 1998 VAUXHALL TIGRA CHEQUERS | Sat 5th & Sun 6th April | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  16. Opel Tigra Trophée Andros - Un V6 sinon rien ! De l'essence dans mes veines delessencedansmesveines.com
  17. Opel Tigra V6: Klassiker des Tages - AUTO BILD KLASSIK autobild.de
  18. Vauxhall Tigra For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  19. „Diesen Tag werde ich nie vergessen“ - Opel POST opelpost.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • oneshift.com
  • swissclassics.com
  • de.wikipedia.org
  • opel-niedersachsen.de
  • automobile-sportive.com
  • goauto.com.au
  • carsales.com.au
  • newcarnet.co.uk
  • opel-infos.de
  • autocentrum.pl
  • caradisiac.com
  • it.wikipedia.org
  • angliacarauctions.co.uk

Photo credits

Other car files