!NEW! AutoRAI Amsterdam: Opel ADAM ROCKS S Rocks the Show

• Eye-catcher: World premiere for sporty Opel mini-crossover
• Novelties: Opel OnStar, KARL and Corsa OPC celebrate Dutch debut
• In fast lane: Opel gains market shares in the Netherlands and all of Europe

Dutch debut: Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group, presented the new ADAM ROCKS S during Opel’s press conference at the AutoRAI in Amsterdam.

Show time for the Opel ADAM ROCKS S at the International Amsterdam Motor Show (AutoRAI, public days from April 17 to 26): Opel’s sporty mini-crossover made its world premiere at the show’s opening today. The Rüsselsheim automaker also presented a host of other national premieres, led by the new mobility and service assistant Opel OnStar as well as the new Opel KARL and Corsa OPC models.

“All these new and innovative products once again show that Opel plays a leading role in trendsetting technologies and attractive models at affordable prices,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales and Aftersales of the Opel Group, during the press conference at the Opel stand (Hall 1, stand 01.200). “We want to reinforce Opel as an emotional, approachable and German brand – the ADAM ROCKS S is the best example of an emotional car that embodies state-of-the-art technological innovations and German engineering quality.”

Cute was yesterday – Today is Opel ADAM ROCKS S

Proud moment: Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group, with the latest addition to the ADAM family – Opel ADAM ROCKS S.

At 3.75 meters long with a masculine appearance and 110 kW/150 hp ECOTEC engine, the new ADAM ROCKS S is particularly appealing to customers who want to combine sporty driving and adventure with chic design in an off-road look. The engine delivers 220 Nm torque and is mated to a short ratio six-speed gearbox. The mini-crossover covers the sprint to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, and needs just 7.9 seconds to accelerate from 80 to 120 km/h. Top speed is 210 km/h. Driving fun is ensured by the 15 mm lower performance sports chassis, the direct, sporty steering and the high-performance braking system including ESP that can be deactivated. Yet Opel’s sporty new small car makes do with a mere 5.9 liters fuel per 100 km and emits just 139 g/km CO2 in the combined cycle.

Irresistible: 150 hp, 220 Nm of torque and a performance chassis.

Bold: Extended rear bumper cut-out with a visible exhaust tailpipe and a rear spoiler planted on the roof.

Opel also introduced another top athlete in Amsterdam. The new Corsa OPC impresses with its powerful turbocharged engine that pumps out 152 kW/207 hp and develops up to 280 Nm torque. The sporty top-of-the-line Corsa accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (7.5 l/100 km and 174 g/km CO2 in the combined cycle).

Full of character – Opel KARL

“A car full of character that appeals to both heart and mind – ideal for price-conscious customers who want to combine everyday suitability with comfort and modern technologies.” This is how Peter Christian Küspert introduced the new Opel KARL at its premiere in Amsterdam. Smart shoppers can hardly get more car for their money: City mode for the power steering, heated steering wheel and assistance systems such as Park Assist, Cruise Control with speed limiter, cornering light function and Lane Departure Warning make Opel technologies from upper vehicle classes affordable for everyone in the small car segment. “Or as we say, high-tech for everyone!” summarized Küspert, describing the new model’s benefits in a nutshell. “With KARL, ADAM and Corsa, we now have the strongest small car offer in our history and the youngest portfolio on the market.”

The Opel Vice President of Sales and Aftersales also introduced the new mobility and service assistant Opel OnStar to the Dutch public. “Opel OnStar will turn your car into a powerful, mobile WiFi hotspot. But not only that: Opel OnStar is more than entertainment. It is always there in an emergency and can save lives,” said Küspert. With its market launch in Europe from August, Opel takes the next step forward in vehicle connectivity and reinforces its leadership position in groundbreaking technology solutions.

These are steps that customers appreciate. Peter Christian Küspert: “We are now the fourth-largest automobile manufacturer for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the Netherlands. We were able to increase our market share here in the passenger car segment to 5.77 percent and in the commercial vehicle segment to 7.6 percent. These numbers correspond to Opel’s positive performance in all of Europe last year as well as the first quarter of 2015.”  

!NEW! 15 Years of OPC Models: The Opel Sports Cars for the Road

• Start of an era: Opel Astra OPC with 118 kW/160 hp ready for the race track
• Turbo debut 2001: turbocharged Opel Zafira OPC fastest compact van in the world
• Lap records: OPC models are developed and set the pace on the Nürburgring
• OPC flagships today: Opel Astra with limited slip differential and Opel Insignia OPC with all-wheel drive

Debut 1999: Opel sounds in a new era with the first OPC model, an Opel Astra G with 118kW/160 hp, and bids farewell to the GSi abbreviation. 

At Opel exceptional athletes receive an abbreviation – OPC. Exactly 15 years ago, the first production model from the Opel Performance Center hit the roads. Since that day, Opel has combined its knowhow for motorsport outings with the development of performance cars for the road, guaranteeing a regular technology transfer between the world of motorsports and serial production.

“The Opel Performance Center provides our performance-hungry clients with vehicles that are irresistibly dynamic, have a sporty look and are very different from the large production models, without making any comprises on everyday usability. Our OPC models stand for outstanding performance and pure passion,” explained Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann.

The unmistakable OPC design: “Convey the performance”

Opel Astra OPC: Specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two fully integrated exhaust tail pipes in a trapezoid shape

“An OPC model must immediately be recognizable as such,” said Mark Adams, Opel’s Vice President for Design. Opel Astra OPC, for example, is keen to display its perfectly toned body with specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two fully integrated exhaust tail pipes in a trapezoid shape ensuring it has the specific OPC appearance. Moreover, for the Opel Insignia OPC the designers created an archaic sabertooth appearance for the voluminous air intakes. All OPC models follow the requirements set out by Mark Adams. “Every detail and every line must convey the performance of the vehicle.”

Opel Insignia OPC: Designers created an archaic sabertooth appearance for the voluminous air intakes

The new foundation for motorsports: OPC instead of GSI

Opel Astra F GSi: 2.0 16V 110 kW/150 hp

When the Astra G replaced the Astra F in 1998, the Opel bestseller increased quality, efficiency and spaciousness but Opel motorsport legend and OPC co-founder Volker Strycek remembers a flaw. “The car was a long way away from being suitable for motorsports. As there were no plans for a GSI version, both a competitive powertrain and a corresponding chassis were missing. So we sat down – inside only one year we developed and tested our debut model, the Opel Astra OPC 1,” explained Strycek. Numerous Opel OPC models followed and could hit the normal roads, in some cases immediately after setting new lap records on the Nürburgring.

Currently, the sporting OPC flagship is the 239 kW/325 hp Insignia OPC but the Astra OPC with 206 kW/280 hp is hot on its heels: With its compact dimensions and a more radical overall set-up the powerful Astra is almost as fast as its big brother is.

1999: Opel Astra OPC with 118 kW/160 hp leaves its mark

Based on the 100 kW/136 hp, 2.0-liter ECOTEC, the newly created OPC team built a free-revving and responsive engine that was completely different to the frugal base model. The engine befits from forged pistons, sharper camshafts, larger intake and exhaust channels along with an exhaust manifold system and optimized engine management, thus resulting in 118 kW/160 hp. An additional oil cooler and an adapted coolant thermostat ensured the correct temperature in every situation.

Opel Astra G OPC: 2.0-liter engine befits from forged pistons, sharper camshafts, larger intake and exhaust channels along with an exhaust manifold system and optimized engine management, thus resulting in 118 kW/160 hp

The chassis obviously also needed some refinement to match the increased performance of the engine, with Opel wanting the performance to be reflected in the drive characteristics and the handling. The car’s center of gravity was lowered by two centimeters, Bilstein dampers, larger brake discs behind 17-inch BBS rims, newly designed wishbones and a more direct steering were all incorporated. Furthermore, the Opel OPC stood out with an aerodynamics package and Recaro bucket seats. To this day, the Astra G OPC remains a very popular racing car that continues to win in the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine class.

Opel Astra G OPC: 17-inch BBS rims, Bilstein dampers, larger brake discs behind, 1999

Volker Strycek was responsible for 2,500 Sport-Astra, necessary for homologation, produced in series. However, the enthusiasm was much bigger. Even before hitting the market the motorsport fans went mad for the Astra OPC. As a result, the number was increased to 3,000 and these had sold out after only four months.

2001: Turbocharged performance plateau

Opel Zafira A OPC 2.0 Turbo with 141 kW/192 hp, 2001

The confidence of the OPC crew grew with the sporting and commercial success and the next project targeted something very special. The team set its sights on making the fastest compact van in the world. The debut of the Opel Zafira OPC also saw the introduction of turbocharging. From this moment on, all further models created in the Opel Performance Center were also equipped with the efficient turbo technology.

2002: Opel Astra G OPC: 2.0 Turbo with 147 kW/200 hp and Xenon headlights as option

Opel Astra G OPC Caravan: 2.0 Turbo with 147 kW/200 hp - New version from 2002

The performance of the 2.0-liter engines gradually grew from 141kW/192 hp in the first generation Opel Zafira OPC to 147 kW/200 hp in the second generation Opel Astra OPC, and then from 177 kW/240 hp to the 206 kW/280 hp available in the current Opel Astra OPC. The torque also grew with the performance. The first generation 2.0 liter turbo engine had 250 Nm whereas the latest has a breathtaking 400 Nm.

Record hunting: At home on the Nürburgring

Opel Astra H OPC: 2.0 Turbo with 177 kW/240 hp, 2005 

Opel Zafira B OPC: 2.0 Turbo with 177 kW/240 hp, 2005

The OPC models have proven just how good they are on an annual basis and they regularly break the lap record on the 20.8 kilometer long Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The second generation Opel Astra OPC set a new class record of 8:35:94 minutes in 2005. The following year the Opel Zafira OPC set a new record for compact vans (8:54:38 minutes) which is still valid today. And the Opel Corsa OPC set new standards in the small car segment in 2007, when a pure serial-production car completed the course in just 8:47:99 minutes.

Opel Corsa D OPC: 1.6 Turbo with 141 kW/192 hp, 2007

In addition to the record-breaking runs, all OPC vehicles ‘suffer’ vigorous endurance tests through the “Green hell”, which is classed as the most demanding racetrack in the world. The legendary Nordschleife is traditional Opel territory. The cars with the Blitz have been put through extreme tests there since the 1960s. Currently, Opel has a cooperation agreement with Nürburgring Ltd and furthermore established its own test center in the direct vicinity of the course as early as 2006.

Nürburgring Edition: Nomen est Omen

Opel Astra H OPC Nürburgring Edition: 2.0 Turbo with 177 kW/240 hp, 2008

To date the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker has produced two special “Nürburgring” editions, the Opel Astra OPC in 2008 and the Opel Corsa OPC in 2011. The Astra H in the special racing trim had the same performance as the Astra OPC but a special, spectacular livery. In 2011, the Nürburgring Edition Corsa OPC boasted an additional 14 kW/18 hp for a total of 210 hp delivered by its 1.6 turbo engine and a limited slip differential compared to the “normal” Corsa OPC which made it a more radical and efficient rocket.

Opel Corsa D OPC Nürburgring Edition: 1.6 Turbo with 155 kW/210 hp, 2011

Compact class athlete: Current Opel Astra OPC with impressive performance

Opel Astra J OPC: 2.0 Turbo with 206 kW/280 hp, 2012 

Opel Astra OPC has been the top-level model in the compact class since the summer of 2012. A two-litre turbo with 206 kW/280 hp and 400 Nm torque give it outstanding propulsion. The athletic Astra accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds flat and has a top speed of 250 km/h – faster than any previous Astra. It was fine-tuned on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Its HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) front suspension and   mechanical limited slip differential guarantee outstanding road holding and best possible traction when accelerating out of tight corners, even in the wet. Elsewhere, OPC drivers can rely on a Brembo high performance brake system if they need to reduce speed quickly.

Opel Astra J OPC: Brembo high performance brake system

Opel Insignia OPC: All-wheel drive with Touring Car genes

Fastest Opel: The ‘Unlimited-Version’ of the 239 kW/325 hp Insignia OPC (2011) reaches a maximum speed of 270 km/h – it is faster than any other Opel

Opel Insignia OPC is the flagship. Its turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 engine produces 239 kW/325 hp and sends 435 Nm torque to all four wheels. In order to guarantee that the power reaches the road in the best possible way, the OPC team developed an all-wheel drive based on the German Touring Car Championship experiences gathered with the Opel Calibra (International Touring Car Championship winner in 1996). With this powerful engine at its disposal, Opel Insignia OPC accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds (Sports Tourer 6.3 seconds) and achieves a maximum, electronically limited speed of 250 km/h. However, the Insignia can go even faster. The manual Unlimited-Version reaches up to 270 km/h (Sports Tourer 265 km/h).

New Opel Insignia OPC (2013): The ultimate Opel powerhouse.

The OPC highlight of the first 15 years:

• 2013: Further development of the Opel Insignia OPC with enhanced chassis
• 2012: Astra (J) OPC with 206 kW/280 hp 2.0 liter Turbo
• 2011: Opel Corsa (D) „Nürburgring Edition“ with 155 kW/210 hp
• 2009: Market launch Opel Insignia OPC Limousine and Insignia OPC Sports Tourer (2.8 liter V6 turbo with 239 kW/325 hp)
• 2009: Market launch Opel Astra (H) OPC Race Camp Edition
• 2008: IDS Plus 2 chassis as standard for Opel Astra (H) OPC
• 2008: Limited special edition Opel Astra (H) OPC „Nürburgring Edition“
• 2007: Opel Corsa (D) OPC sets small car lap record of 8:47:99 minutes on the Nürburgring Nordschleife
• 2007: Market launch of the Opel Corsa (D) OPC (1.6 liter Turbo with 141 kW/192 hp)
• 2006: Opel Zafira (B) OPC sets van lap record of 8:54:38 minutes on the Nürburgring Nordschleife
• 2006: Introduction of the Opel Meriva OPC (1.6-liter-turbo with 132 kW/180 hp)
• 2005: Opel Astra (H) OPC sets compact class lap record of 8:35:94 minutes on the Nürburgring Nordschleife
• 2005: Market launch of the Opel Vectra (C) OPC and Vectra Caravan OPC (2.8 liter V6 turbo with 188 kW/255 hp)
• 2005: Second generation of the Opel Zafira (B) OPC (2.0 liter turbo, 177 kW/240 hp)
• 2005: Market launch of the Opel Astra (H) OPC (2.0 liter turbo with 177 kW/240 hp)
• 2005: 20,000 OPC vehicles sold throughout Europe in only five years
• 2002: Market launch of the second Opel Astra (G) OPC-Generation (2.0 liter turbo with 147 kW/200 hp, three-door and Caravan variants)
• 2001: Introduction of the Opel Zafira (A) OPC (2.0 liter turbo with 141 kW/192 hp)
• 1999: Market launch of the Opel Astra (G) OPC (2.0 liter naturally aspirated engine with 118 kW/160 hp)