NEW Opel Astra J OPC – Most Powerful Astra Ever
· Sporty
high performance version of Astra GTC with two liter turbo engine
·
206
kW/280 hp, 400 Nm and top speed of 250 km/h
·
Exclusive
performance chassis with limited slip differential and Brembo brakes
·
Lightweight
high-performance bucket seats with prestigious “AGR” health seal.
The new Opel Astra J GTC is being given a sharper
edge: at the Geneva motor show on March 6, 2012, its high performance OPC
version (Opel Performance Center) has its world premiere.
From spring 2012, the new car crowns Opel’s the racy compact coupé offer. The
Astra OPC is powered by a 2.0 liter Direct Injection turbo gasoline engine,
with 206 kW/280 hp output 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 turbocharged four-cylinder engine ensures
that the Astra OPC is now the most powerful member of Opel’s compact segment.
Both the induction tract and the exhaust system were optimized to get the most
out of the engine. The high-performance chassis was also adapted to the power
plant. 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. All OPC cars are tested in the “Green Hell” – the
nickname given by the British racing driver Jackie Stewart to this part of the
track. Not just driving dynamics are pushed to the limit on the world famous
race track. No OPC model can be sold to the customer without first passing a
10,000 kilometer endurance test on the Nürburgring. That is equivalent to
180,000 kilometers of driving in normal conditions. Under these extreme
conditions the durability of new components can be guaranteed.
High Performance:
FlexRide chassis, HiPerStruts and Brembo brakes
The Astra OPC chassis is geared especially towards lateral dynamics and
superb handling qualities. The high tech front-wheel suspension, HiPerStruts
(High Performance Struts) of the Astra GTC is the decisive ingredient.
The standard mode puts the vehicle in a high comfort setting, while the
special sport mode adds a notable extra in agility. The OPC setting places
drivers in a third dimension: steering is more direct, the gas pedal speaks
clearly and the chassis turns on to maximum handling.
Aggressive Design: High Performance Astra Flexes Its Muscles
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. 20” forged alloy wheels are
available and give the Astra OPC a bold appearance.
High-tech Weight Saving Material in Seats
The interior of the
new Astra has the typical OPC features such as a leather flat-bottom sports
steering wheel with a 360 millimeter diameter and a sporty dashboard. The
driver and his co-pilot will be able to benefit from a new high-performance
bucket seat with stateof-the art technology that makes its debut in the
compact sports coupe segment. The new front seats increase the sporty and
dynamic driving experience while providing a lower seating position and
enhanced side support.
OPC engineers used an organic injection molded sheet
in the performance seat shell, resulting in a weight saving of 45 percent
compared to a conventional shell. The sheet is filled with a composite material
of polyamide and fiber glass. The new high performance seat boasts up to 18
different settings. In addition, pneumatically adjustable cushions are
available for the flanks of the performance seat. They fit around every body
shape and give support from the side at the push of a button. Customers can
choose from a fabric/morrocana combination and two other leather covers.
Opel is the first car manufacturer to offer high-performance
seats certified by the independent healthy back experts, AGR (“Aktion Gesunder
Rücken e.V.”), starting in 2003 with the Signum. The AGR only approves seats
with its quality seal that meet its high ergonomic standards. In order to be
honored with the AGR seal, the seat has to fulfill a list of ten criteria. They
include four-way lordosis support and that the seatback contours adapt exactly
to the natural curvature of the spine. The new Astra OPC continues this
tradition and brings the only AGR certified seat to the compact sports coupé segment.
The Opel Performance Center (OPC), responsible for
the sporty accents in the Opel model line-up since 1999, is a decisive element
in the brand’s profile. It embodies a high level of emotionality and passion
for striking design, top-class technology and extraordinary driving dynamics.
The vehicles with “OPC” in the model name are positioned as the emotional
spearheads of the respective model lines. Current OPC models include the Corsa,
141 kW/192 hp (154 kW/210 hp as Nürburgring-Edition) as well as the Insignia
OPC, which is available as a four or five-door sedan and Sports Tourer. The 2.8
liter V6 turbo gasoline engine (239 kW/325 hp) is the most powerful Opel
production engine in history. For the “Unlimited” version of the Insignia OPC,
maximum speed goes up to 270 km/h (depending on trim and transmission variant).
11. June 2012 UPDATE: Autoexpress UK wrote: ...this is the best VXR model that Vauxhall has ever produced – and a genuine contender for a place at the top of this class.
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