AIMS: Opel past, present, future
Opel will appeal to both modern and historic car fans at the Australian motor show, with vehicles from 2013 and 1905German car maker Opel hopes hands-on experiences will convince Australian motorists of its legitimacy, as the GM-owned company confirms its Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) exhibit will showcase past, present and future vehicles, most notably the fire-breathing Astra OPC hot hatch.
The hi-po hatch will be on sale in Australia from early 2013, ensuring the display car at the motor show will be the first time potential buyers and admirers can closely inspect the car, inside and out. Generating 206kW/400Nm, the Astra OPC is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds flat.
Opel will be keen to attract show-goers to its AIMS display, having only recently launched in Australia, but the company is far from young, celebrating its 150th birthday this year. A man named Adam Opel founded the company in Russelsheim in 1862, initially building sewing machines and bicycles in the late 19th century.
To commemorate its century and a half of operation, Opel has shipped in one of the company's historic cars, the Opel Darracq built in 1905, direct from its historic car collection in Germany, ostensibly the Astra OPC's great, great, great grandfather. The Darracq links Opel's early history with Alfa Romeo, just as an aside.
Opel reckons the Astra OPC is the "the most powerful hot hatch available in its segment" and is fitted with Brembo brakes, adjustable FlexRide suspension system, and an aerodynamic bodykit. Naturally it will be Opel's crowd-pleaser at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour.
Other Astra models taking pride of place on the Opel display at the Sydney show include the less extreme Opel Astra GTC Sport coupe and five-door hatch, which are powered by smaller turbo petrol 1.6-litre engines outputting 132kW/230Nm, and the Astra Select 2.0-litre diesel Sports Tourer wagon.
The German car company is confident its presence at AIMS will reignite Australian's love affair with the Astra, which was previously a popular vehicle when it wore Holden badges in previous decades. It is currently Opel's top selling car locally.
The Corsa Colour Edition (badged as a Holden Barina in a former life) will attraction attention with its bright Flaming Yellow paintjob, black roof and glossy 17-inch black alloy wheel.
Mid-sized car, Insignia, may also warrant a closer inspection from show goers, the Dark Mahogany family sedan having already bagged a bevy of international awards. Powered by 2.0-litre turbo petrol and turbodiesel engines, the mid-sized car sits on big 19-inch alloy wheels - seemingly a motor show pre-requisite.
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