Editing Opel Ascona (section)

=={{anchor|A|Ascona A|1970}} Ascona A (1970–1975)==
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Ascona A
| image = Opel Ascona 2 d Interlaken 1972.jpg
| assembly = Germany: [[Bochum]]
| production = 1970–1975
| body_style = 2/4-door [[Sedan (car)|saloon]]<br>3-door [[Station wagon|estate]]
| engine = {{ubl | 1196&nbsp;cc ''[[Opel OHV engine#1.2|12S]]'' [[Overhead valve|OHV]] [[Inline-four engine|I4]] | 1584&nbsp;cc [[Opel cam-in-head engine#1.6 litre I4|''16N/16S'']] [[Opel cam-in-head engine|CIH]] I4 | 1897&nbsp;cc [[Opel cam-in-head engine#1.9 litre I4|''19S'']] CIH I4 }}
| wheelbase = {{cvt|95.75|in|mm|0}}
| weight =
| length = {{cvt|164.5|in|mm|0}}
| width = {{cvt|64.375|in|mm|0}}
| height = {{cvt|54.5|in|mm|0}}
| transmission = {{ubl | 4-speed [[manual transmission|manual]] | 3-speed [[Automatic transmission|automatic]] }}
| layout = [[FR layout]]
| designer = [[Chuck Jordan (automobile designer)|Chuck Jordan]]
| aka = Opel 1900 ([[United States|USA]])
}}

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 (car)|saloon]] forms, plus a three-door [[station wagon|estate]] called the Caravan or Voyage. These models were positioned between the existing [[Opel Kadett]] and the [[Opel Rekord]], and unlike later Asconas — there was no [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]] sister model.

The Ascona was developed as a replacement to the Kadett, but late in the car's development Opel chose to instead develop a new, smaller Kadett and instead positioned the Ascona as a competitor to the successful [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] mid-sized [[Ford Taunus|Taunus]] range. The Opel Ascona A stayed in production until 1975. By that time, almost 692,000 vehicles of the first series had been produced.

The range featured petrol engines from 1.2&nbsp;L to 1.9&nbsp;L, with power between {{cvt|60| and |90|PS|kW|0}}. The 1.2&nbsp;L had an [[overhead valve]] (OHV) head, while the 1.6&nbsp;L and 1.9&nbsp;L featured the [[Opel cam-in-head engine]] (CIH). The CIH was a compromise effort, with the camshaft mounted next to the valves rather than above them. All used a single barrel [[carburetor]]. Even with this simple design, the Ascona 1.9 SR had a successful career in motorsports, with [[Walter Röhrl]] winning the [[European Rally Championship]] in 1974. Tuner [[Steinmetz Opel Tuning|Steinmetz]] developed a special version of the Ascona SR, with two single-barrel Solex carburettors, raising power to {{cvt|125|PS|kW|0}}.

{{gallery | height = 125
|File:Opel Ascona A 1974.jpg|Opel Ascona (1973–1975)
|File:Opel_Ascona_A_1974_3.jpg|Rear view
|File:Opel Ascona A 4-door at Schaffen-Diest in 2014.JPG|Opel Ascona A 4-door saloon
|File:Opel_Ascona_A_Kombi_rear_20080621.jpg|Opel Ascona Caravan (1973–1975)
}}

;Engines
*''1.2 S'' – 1,196&nbsp;cc, {{cvt|60|PS|kW|0}}
*''1.6 N'' – 1,584&nbsp;cc, {{cvt|60|–|68|PS|kW|0}}
*''1.6 S'' – 1,584&nbsp;cc, {{cvt|75|–|80|PS|kW|0}}
*''1.9 S'' – 1,897&nbsp;cc, {{cvt|88|–|90|PS|kW|0}}

===Opel 1900 (US)===
From 1971 to 1975, the 1.9-litre Ascona was exported to the United States as the "Opel 1900" and marketed at Buick-Opel dealerships. Originally two- and four-door saloons were offered, the former dropped after model year 1973. For 1974, rubber-clad impact bumpers were added in response to federal regulations. All Opels sold in the US in 1975 were equipped with [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Bosch]] L-[[Jetronic]] [[fuel injection]], not available on the European versions, to comply with stricter US emissions requirements. The compression ratio was dropped to 7.6:1, enabling the car to run on 91-octane unleaded gasoline but also lowering maximum power to {{cvt|75|hp|kW PS|0}} at 4800&nbsp;rpm.<ref name=RT75>{{cite journal | journal = Road & Track's Road Test Annual & Buyer's Guide 1975 | issue = January 1975 | title = R&T Buyer's Guide | editor-first = Ron | editor-last = Wakefield | url = https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pages0038.jpg | page = 113 }}</ref>

Due to the unfavorable [[Deutsche Mark]] to US dollar exchange rate, all Opels in Buick showrooms were replaced by the Japanese-built [[Isuzu Gemini]]s wearing Opel badges after 1975.

{{Clear}}