next time I won’t quickly try to push something out so I wouldn’t be ashamed that this thread had 1 post made during 5 months lol
Through the 60s and 70s, Kadett had been a brand focusing on cheaper commuter cars. After the Sisten Motoring Company had sold their stakes in 1978, Kadett started a plan to change and improve their brand image, especially in the US where the Club subcompact was seen as an alternative to taking the bus.
Kadett Beat Mk. I
from 1986 to 1992
Development of the 1st generation Beat started in 1983 as a replacement for the Concord and intended to be a world car. Special care was taken to make sure this car would be seen as a proper competitor to other contemporary cars in its class. The Beat was designed by Michael Buckingham, with input from Kadett of Europe and Kadett of America.
The Kadett Beat was officially launched in 1986 in Korea, the US and Europe with Australia and New Zealand following in 1987. The car was a hit, quickly becoming the brands best selling car in America. The Beat would stay behind the Mk. II Club in terms of sales in Europe however, launched earlier in 1983. Unlike the Concord, critics were fond of the new car with special notes taken of the interior and handling characteristics.
At launch, 3- and 5-door versions were available. The Sport Coupe liftback was added to the range in 1987, available exclusively with the 1.8l inline-4. The base model 3-door featured a 1.2 liter engine, the mid-trim using a 1.6 and the highest end model having the 1.8.
The Sport Coupe was launched to give a flare of style and sportiness to the Beat name.
In 1988, Kadett launched the GTS sport version. After seeing the popularity of hot hatches throughout the 80s, the executives at Kadett of Europe quickly assembled a team which would be tasked with turning the Beat into a worthy competitor to the likes of the Contendiente Enemigo and Žnoprešk Zest. The team used the top-of-the-line 1.8 I4 engine as a basis, but tuned it for more power. The suspension was stiffened up for better handling and ABS was equipped as standard. With good* reviews from reviewers, the Beat GTS went on sale in early 1988 exclusively as a 3-door model. The GTS was heavily marketed in the US, as an attempt to make give the Beat name a sporty and upmarket feeling. Despite high projections, the GTS did not sell as well as Kadett had been hoping for. 80,000 units were produced until 1992 when the Mk. II Beat was introduced. Today, units of the original Beat GTS are greatly sought after unlike the Mk. II models. The original model also started the GTS model name, which has been used on every Beat model since and has, on occasions also been used on other Kadett models.
“The Beat GTS is not a speed demon or a pocket rocket, but despite the somewhat sluggishly big engine and the old-fashioned underpinnings – a solid rear axle for example – the GTS is responsive and stable on the road.”
Completely unrelated quote from The Exhaust Note magazine.
All in all, around 3,300,000 units of the Mk. I Beat were produced. Even if the GTS wasn’t a big success, the Beat still became the first success for Kadett in the US and helped shape the entire brand there. The Beat Mk. II was launched in 1992.