
Click above for a gallery of the Vauxhall Tigra Sport Rogue
Mock tops: they're not just for Cadillacs anymore. Heck, now they're not even for non-convertibles anymore. Across the pond, Vauxhall has found an answer to a question no one has asked -- or at least a question no one should be asking. That question is, "how do we appeal to customers who want the look of a soft top on their hardtop convertible."
Our answer: Those customers are insane -- pay them no mind. Their answer: Give the droptop a mock top...even though it's not technically "mock". This, in a nutshell, is rationale behind the Vauxhall Tigra Sport Rouge, whose folding metal roof is covered in red fabric, combining the look of a soft top with the weight and diminished cargo capacity that come with a retractable hardtop. Brilliant. The least they could have done was insert fake bows under the fabric to really drive home the theme. I mean, that treatment looked completely awesome on the four-door Buick Regal grandpa speciaI I saw in the supermarket parking lot the other day.
[Source: Vauxhall]
PRESS RELEASE:
NEW TIGRA GAINS MATERIAL COVERAGE
Tigra Sport Rouge – Hot and Exciting
* New-look fabric roof
* From £15,705
* Available to order now
Hot off the catwalk the stylish Sport Rouge is the latest edition to the Tigra range featuring a dynamic new change to the drop top roof.
The new Sport Rouge replaces the Sport model, and features a whole host of standard equipment from only £15,705. Perhaps the most eye-catching feature is its roof which is now covered in a stylish Bordeaux Red coloured fabric. Designed to appeal to those who love the look of a fabric soft top but who also want the convenience, security and safety of a hard top, the Sport Rouge offers the best of both worlds. As with all Tigras, the new-look roof can be raised or lowered in just 20 seconds.
This edition is available in four body colours - Metro Blue, Star Silver, Flame Red or Black Sapphire - and comes as standard with central locking, electrically adjustable door mirrors, CD player and steering wheel mounted controls. Also standard are 16" alloy wheels, an aux-in MP3 player jack and Sports seats.
If that's not enough you can upgrade to a choice of 17 inch alloy wheels, a full leather pack and rear parking sensors, or even a stylish VXR pack to make your car really stand out from the crowd.
Offered with a choice of three engines – the nippy 1.4 litre and 1.8 litre petrols, and the economical 1.3 diesel – prices range from £15,705 to £17,195.
Order from Retailers now. The perfect way to banish those winter blues.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
psu48187 @ Apr 26th 2008 2:07PM
Talk about red headed step child..
HotRodzNKustoms @ Apr 26th 2008 2:37PM
I'd take a Saturn Tigra with the 1.3 diesel for a daily driver for $15k
Aprime @ Apr 26th 2008 2:51PM
I'm sure you will.
Aprime @ Apr 26th 2008 2:51PM
*would, blah.
zamafir @ Apr 26th 2008 2:52PM
So the look of a soft top with the weight of a hard top, in short the worst of both worlds? It would appear the X6 is already having wide sweeping impact on the rest of the automotive industry as other automakers strive to build trophies to the worst of both worlds in an effort to usurp bmw. fantastic.
JD @ Apr 26th 2008 3:07PM
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I thought part of the appeal of a hardtop convertible was the fact that when the roof is up it looks like a normal coupe. This seems like a bad idea from the get go, but I guess it at least doesn't add too much weight to the hardtop package. Still, strange.
zamafir @ Apr 26th 2008 3:18PM
yup, I'm looking forward to clarkson's review.
3seriesisking @ Apr 26th 2008 4:04PM
Zamafir. We get it, you hate the X6. But did it really need a comment in this post?
MJL @ Apr 26th 2008 4:43PM
Just writing in to encourage you to continue saying horrible things about the X6 as frequently as possible.
And as for this idea, I thought that at least half the point of a convertible hardtop was that it looked better – is there really a consensus out there that soft tops look good their roofs up?
SPG @ Apr 26th 2008 3:13PM
Love the car, hate the idea of a "mock top".
Frigging crazy.
1337 @ Apr 26th 2008 10:17PM
In its defense, retractable hardtops are generally quieter than soft tops, even well padded ones. However, putting cloth over a metal top doesn't quite justify the name "Rogue." Not that Nissan's Sentra wagon is much more of an...erm...rogue.
Paul H. @ Apr 26th 2008 3:19PM
Wow, a new take on the hideous "Castor Avenue" top, as we call them in Philly.
apu @ Apr 26th 2008 3:21PM
April 1 was almost a month ago.
Jeff Banks @ Apr 26th 2008 3:21PM
Nice looking car if it was actually a convertible.
Quattrofan @ Apr 26th 2008 3:35PM
You know if it wasn't for this photo, I'd say read the article....
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/vauxhall-tigra-sport-rogue/774107/
1337 @ Apr 26th 2008 10:18PM
hahaha owned.
Jeff Banks @ Apr 26th 2008 11:56PM
woops, my bad
Derek @ Apr 27th 2008 8:34AM
"I thought that at least half the point of a convertible hardtop was that it looked better – is there really a consensus out there that soft tops look good their roofs up?"
Most retractable hardtops don't look that great with their top up either. IMO, the reason for this is that cars are like women. It's not that they look bad with the top up, it's just that they are so much better with the top down. ;)
TriShield @ Apr 26th 2008 5:22PM
OMG BRING IT OVER AS A SATURN NOW SILLY GM
So we can all complain about how much we don't like it when it gets here.
1337 @ Apr 26th 2008 10:18PM
Sheesh, and we all thought the Sky was bad.