Opel Astra OPC: Hottest Astra ever for Oz

Opel Australia has announced the cracking new Astra OPC coupe will top its newly released passenger car line-up here early in 2013.

The German GM brand’s hottest model outputs 206kW/400Nm and will join the three- and five-door Corsa hatchback, the Astra hatch, Sports Tourer wagon and GTC coupe, and the Insignia sedan and Sports Tourer launched Down Under last month.

Although it is officially Australia’s first Opel Performance Centre (OPC) model, the Astra OPC is the successor for the HSV VXR and was first revealed in Europe last November, following the new Astra GTC coupe’s reveal there in June 2011.

The Astra OPC doesn’t match the world’s most powerful front-wheel drive cars like Ford’s discontinued Focus RS (224kW), but it will be the most powerful model in a small hot-hatch segment most recently joined by this week’s new manual-only Ford Focus ST, which costs from $38,290 and offers 184kW and 360Nm.

Competing against vehicles like Renault’s upgraded 195kW Megane RS265 (priced from $42,640) and the 188kW Volkswagen Scirocco R (from $47,490), the Astra OPC is a two-door ‘coupe’ rather than a five-door hatch – albeit with a roof-hinged tailgate instead of a boot.

Nevertheless, the Astra OPC will also be a direct rival from established front-wheel drive hot-hatches like the 155kW VW Golf GTI (from $38,990 as a three-door) and 190kW Mazda3 MPS (from $39,490).

It will also compete with all-wheel drives like Subaru’s 195kW WRX (from $39,990) and Mitsubishi’s SST auto-only 177kW Lancer Ralliart (from $44,490), both of which are also available as sedans, and VW’s 188kW Golf R (from $49,990).

In fact, Opel says the Astra OPC can lap Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife road circuit in just eight minutes and 35 seconds, which is within half a minute of the record-breaking 8:08 time set more recently by the Megane RS265. Honda says it is aiming to beat that time with its next-generation Civic Type R due by 2015.

Needless to say, the Astra OPC will provide a level of performance beyond Holden’s mechanically similar Cruze SRi, which is priced from just $25,990 and powered by the same 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine as the standard Astra GTC coupe (from $28,990), as well as the Astra Sports Hatch (from $33,490) and GTC Sport (from $34,990), both of which are powered by a 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbo four.

Pricing will not be announced until closer to launch but, like the GTC Sport, Opel Australia’s inaugural OPC model (OPC versions of the smaller Corsa and larger Insignia are yet to be confirmed for Australia) will be a manual-only affair.

The Astra OPC’s 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine will, however, channel no less than 206kW and some 400Nm of torque to its front wheels via the standard GTC’s standard HiPerStrut front suspension set-up and a unique limited-slip differential that creates a locking effect with a ramp angle of 45 degrees under acceleration and 90 degrees under deceleration.

The result is claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in just 6.0 seconds and sharper, more responsive handling, thanks to Opel’s adaptive FlexRide damping system, which offers three selectable ride modes: Standard, Sport and OPC.

Fitted as standard with a Brembo brake package comprising cross-drilled and ventilated 355x32mm front discs, four-piston callipers and harder-compound brake pads, the Astra OPC also wears a unique sports body kit comprising more aggressive side skirts and front and rear bumpers, a roof spoiler and two trapezoidal exhaust outlets.

Inside, there’s a 10mm smaller-diameter flat-bottom OPC steering wheel, new front sports bucket seats, exclusive OPC ‘Cool Pearl’ stitching throughout the cabin, and a red backlit instrument panel.

Opel says the Astra OPC was developed on public roads and at the Nürburgring and Contidrom race tracks in Germany, as well as on ice and snow in Scandinavia and at the Idiada test track in Spain.

Like all OPC models, it underwent a gruelling 10,000km high-speed endurance test at the 20.8km Nordschleife, which is claimed to replicate 180,000km on the road.

OPC was established in 1999 and the Astra OPC has attracted about 15,000 customers in Europe in the past seven years.

“Australia has a long history of, and passion for, performance vehicles,” said Opel Australia Managing Director, Bill Mott.

“Since launch we’ve continually been asked if and when OPC is coming and we are very excited to confirm that the Astra OPC will be in Sydney next week and will be available in our showrooms next year.

“From early 2013 Australians will be able to experience what we think is the ultimate driver’s car. The Astra OPC offers drivers unparalleled driving dynamics combined with sleek sporty coupe-like styling. It is a car that driving enthusiasts can comfortably commute in during the week and on weekends, enjoy on the track,” he said.