Opel/Vauxhall News: Why Hello Opel/Vauxhall Astra OPC/VXR

[William Maley]

GM's European Division, Opel have released pictures of the uncloaked Astra OPC (Vauxhall Astra VXR for the UK).

The three-door OPC takes the body of the new Astra GTC and adds some new bits to give it a more aggressive look. A new front bumper, diffuser-esque rear, twin tailpipes, and a black-tipped spoiler. Twenty inch wheels hiding a big set of Brembo brakes complete the look.

Under the hood is a 2.0L direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder producing 280 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. Power goes through a six speed manual to the front wheels. To help counter torque and understeerp, the Astra OPC is fitted with GM's HiPerStrut front suspension and a mechanical limited slip differential. Also, the Astra OPC has the FlexRide system which changes the throttle, steering and standard-fit FlexRide adaptive dampers.

Opel says the Astra OPC has a top speed of 155 MPH.

The Astra OPC will go on sale next year.

Press Release is below

The new OPC – the most powerful Astra ever

2011-11-04

• High performance version of Astra GTC: 2.0 liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine
  
• 206 kW/280 hp, 400 Nm, top speed of 250 km/h
  
• Exclusive high performance chassis with limited slip differential and Brembo-brakes
  
• Powerful OPC design emphasizes pure passion and sporty interior
  

Rüsselsheim. The new Opel Astra GTC is being given a sharper edge: the crowning glory of the new sporty compact coupé will come in summer 2012 in the shape of the high performance OPC (Opel Performance Center) variant. The Astra OPC is powered by a 2.0 liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine. The performance figures: 206 kW/280 hp of power and maximum torque of 400 Nm. This power house ensures that the Astra OPC can reach a top speed of 250 km/h. Never before has an Astra been so fast.

The whole chassis of the sports car is designed to deliver power, without comprise. In line with the finest OPC traditions, the car was put through its paces and polished on the Northern Loop (“Nordschleife”) of the Nürburgring race track in Germany under the supervision of the Opel brand ambassador Joachim (“Jockel”) Winkelhock. It is geared especially towards lateral dynamics and superb handling qualities. The high tech front-wheel suspension, HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) of the Astra GTC helps to achieve this. . In addition to the HiPerStrut feature, the OPC also enjoys all the benefits of the fully-adaptive FlexRide chassis control system. The FlexRide chassis lets the driver sharpen the characteristic shock absorber line, the steering and the gas pedal responsiveness. He can do that at the touch of a “Sport” and “OPC” button. However, the OPC model goes one major step further: it has been fitted with a limited slip differential on the front axle. This gives the OPC even more stability and better handling, in other words the car has more grip when exiting bends at high speeds – even in wet conditions. “We have devised a great package that will convince even the most experienced sports drivers – not just on the Nürburgring,” the motorsport legend, Winkelhock , explains. The high performance brake system made by the prestigious manufacturer, Brembo, ensures good deceleration stats and maximum stability, even in moments of intense pressure.

The exclusive body work of the Astra OPC is an expression of pure passion for power and speed. The Astra GTC with its racy edge has so far been the most emotional expression of Opel’s design language but the OPC version flexes its muscles. The OPC is given extra sportiness with a set of specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two exhaust tail pipes in a trapeze shape. In the inside, the compact sports car has performance seats, a flat OPC sports leather steering wheel and special instruments.

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[Carguy]

EVIL little Buick in the making!---((YES PLEASE!))

[Drew Dowdell]

To the 4-cylinder doubters, look at those power numbers. Northstar like HP and Torque at a lower RPM than the actual Northstar itself.

[A Horse With No Name]

Would be a sweet little car...let's hope CAFE doesn't kill its arival before it gets here.

[dwightlooi]

To the 4-cylinder doubters, look at those power numbers. Northstar like HP and Torque at a lower RPM than the actual Northstar itself.

Cruze SS anyone?

But honestly, sport compact or not, US cars probably need the choice of an Automatic to reach full volume potential. This is very doable -- the 6T75 6-speed automatic will handle 300 lb-ft and is a ready fit for this motor -- so it's just a matter of doing it.

BTW, for anyone who is not familiar with it, a Hiperstrut is a MacPherson strut with a steering hub and wheel carrier added such that the wheel is steered along an independent axis going through the center point of the wheel, instead of the axis of the shock absorbing strut itself. This is important because the steering axis being offset from the center of the wheel is a major contributing factor to torque steer -- when power is applied to the front wheels and one wheel has less traction than the other, the fact that the force axis is offset from the steering axis will cause the wheel to want to steer itself inwards. With Hiperstruts this does not happen with the wheels pointed straight ahead. You'll get some torque steer when the wheel is not pointed straight ahead due to caster causing the contact patch to shift from the axial line, but that cannot be helped.

Edited November 5, 2011 by dwightlooi

[hyperv6]

The key here is to price this car under $28,000 dollars and I agree with an Auto.

My 2.0 with only a few more HP and Torque gets great MPG and works fine with the old 4 speed auto. It will only get better mpg and work even better witht he new Auto. GM just could not fit it in the old Delta without major floor pan mods. The old Auto is my weak spot since they had to pull a little power at the shift points like they did in my GTP.

On the new Strut again the old one GM has pretty well under control as it was a great improvment over any of my 3800 SC Pontiacs. The new HyperStrut will ony improve on what they have already done. My old SSEI would head for the ditch when you jumped on it and my present SS just has a little tug once in a while just to let you know it is FWD but It does not take a firm grip to keep it all where you want to go.

I expect with this car they will slot it in in OPC mode as a Buick GS model petty much as seen here with only a different grill. I also expect it may get a different name here and in China. I also expect to see this as a Holden and Vauxhuall.

I would guess this will come in around 3000-3100 pounds and be a solid 13 second car with a 0-60 in the low 5's at the very least.

Price this right and it will the star at Buick.

[regfootball]

i think the Regal GS will do well and I expect any Verano GS and Buick Astra coupe GSX to do well. BUICK NEEDS THIS 3 DOOR!!!!!! for no other reason than to draw younger buyers. entry for the future of the brand.

[Robert Hall]

The hatch body has some very interesting character lines...I really like the line that goes from the taillights and wraps around the door handles...like the bright strip at the top of the side windows also.

[ocnblu]

*Looks for "hidden" rear door handles*

Buick Verano GSX, I like the sound of that. Just be sure to tack on a waterfall and ventiports. It's a good looking car and should be sold here. I'm digging the colour, too.

The looks are trendy, if we're honest. The Golf continues in its evolution, but is not trendy, it is an icon of identifiable style. One reason why it remains at the top of the heap, saleswise. Can this Opel cut into that fortification with this fleeting beauty? Time will tell.

And on the N* v. Eco Turbo power output question: these two motors will handle their horsepower in vastly different ways. The N* does it no sweat, no bother. The Eco does it in frenetic fashion. Appropriate for a small, sporty hatchback... totally NOT appropriate for a luxury sedan.

Edited November 6, 2011 by ocnblu

[hyperv6]

The truth is the Eco Turbo is a very calm high power plant that has a flat torque cure and V8 like bottom end most versions have max torque from around 2100 RPM and holds it to 5300 RPM . High revs are not needed to keep the engine rolling along.

On the NorthStars in our family that I have driven it has V8 power but you need to pull some RPM to really get to the sweet spot. Having many miles with both I find the frenetic fashion to be more true on the N Star. That is not a bad thing just different as the sound of a high rev pull in a V8 sounds good.

I too love the body lines on this car. Just imagine a sedan or coupe with lines that look as good as this. I think the Buick grill will look better on this car than the Opel as the grill is the only weak area. But I would leave the JC Whitney ports off. Sometimes a MFG can out live their traditions. When you have a beautiful styled car that needs no add ons why F it up. It's like the Veyron, Nice car but they should have moved on with the grill as it just does not work.

Edited November 6, 2011 by hyperv6

[A Horse With No Name]

If Gm wants to win my business from VW or Honda or Volvo or MINI for my next car...they need this thing here. Hopefully before next summer, when I plan to replace the Wife's ex bee or (gasp) the Miata.

[ocnblu]

I knew that flourish around the door handle reminded me of something...

Edited November 6, 2011 by ocnblu

[regfootball]

i despise the ventiports on the new Regal, why they put them on, and take of the side turn signal repeaters, is beyond me.

if they put ventiports on this thing, they all should be fired.

[Drew Dowdell]

*Looks for "hidden" rear door handles*

Buick Verano GSX, I like the sound of that. Just be sure to tack on a waterfall and ventiports. It's a good looking car and should be sold here. I'm digging the colour, too.

The looks are trendy, if we're honest. The Golf continues in its evolution, but is not trendy, it is an icon of identifiable style. One reason why it remains at the top of the heap, saleswise. Can this Opel cut into that fortification with this fleeting beauty? Time will tell.

And on the N* v. Eco Turbo power output question: these two motors will handle their horsepower in vastly different ways. The N* does it no sweat, no bother. The Eco does it in frenetic fashion. Appropriate for a small, sporty hatchback... totally NOT appropriate for a luxury sedan.

The Turbo-Eco has more torque available at a lower RPM across the entire powerband when compared to a Northstar.... so, you're right, they handle the power output differently. The Turbo-Eco does it in a calmer manner.

[ocnblu]

Please. An understressed DOHC V8 compared to an overboosted DOHC I4? You've got to be kidding me.

[hyperv6]

Please. An understressed DOHC V8 compared to an overboosted DOHC I4? You've got to be kidding me.

He ain't kidding! As someone who drives both often I can say he is on the money.

The 2.0 Turbo is an engine you can't judge till you have driven one. I used to think the same way and had to learn I prejudged it wrong after my first drive of one. In fact my 2.0 Turbo has as a better torque band and than any GM engine I have ever owned. That includes all the BBC and SBC engines I have owned. It is as flat as a table top.

The N Star can run well but it lacks the bottom end in any version I have driven. I have not driven the SC version so I can not comment on that one.

In fact the 2.0 makes my GTP Series III feel much less powerful sinc it has a much narrower torque band and needs RPM to get anywhere.

I have wished since owning this engine they would get it back into a RWD and it looks to be the case in the ATS. GM needs to market the hell out of these engines as even the GM faithfull dis them just because of what they think and not what they know. GM really has one of the best 4's in the world and few people know it.

Note too the engine is not overboosted 20 PSI is just the new norm as the engine even at this level is not even close to the limits and it would take little to pass even those points up. GM has enough faith in it for 5 years 100,000 miles and I have already many pass that up with no issues.

They don't even leak oil like the N Star.

Edited November 6, 2011 by hyperv6

[hyperv6]

i despise the ventiports on the new Regal, why they put them on, and take of the side turn signal repeaters, is beyond me.

if they put ventiports on this thing, they all should be fired.

Wow a vote down? Someone really has a love for them.

We got a kick out of old guy the other day who had a newer caddy and he had the gangster white walls and 3 stick on vent ports per side. He was livin large! LOL!

I have to support your statment here. Styling of this car stands on it own and the body flows to the point it needs no props. I would even leave the name off the side of the car as it will not be mistaken for a Focus.

The ports had their day and like continental kits they had their time and still have their place on collector cars. They really mean little today with 4 cylinder engines and add nothing to the car. Most people that will have an interest in this car not only don't care about Vent ports but more than not really never cared about Buick in the past anyways. They need new buyers and customers who are not Buick people.

[ocnblu]

I've driven several high-powered Eco turbos, in Cobalts and HHR SS'.