Opels Wit Blitz Astra OPC
The hot hatch segment is tougher than ever before and manufacturers are pushing the limits of design and technology. They need to squeeze the most amount of power out of a 2.0l turbo charged motor, which isn’t a difficult task, what is difficult though is getting that power onto the road. The Golf GTI has set the benchmark over the years facing off against some tough competition from Ford, Renault and Opel. They have all tried to dethrone the GTI without prevail, now though Opel has unleashed its most powerful production Astra produced to date and its got the GTI lined up for a head shot…
For starters the Astra OPC looks definitely looks the part. I maintain that it’s the best looking out of all the current hot hatches, it provides an expression of a passion for power and speed. The sporty profile of the vehicle is enhanced by the incorporation of a carefully sculpted aero treatment. Front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two fully integrated trapezoidal shaped exhaust tail pipes define the external shape of the Astra OPC with its base shape derived from the Astra GTC. Wheel rims are 20 inch forged alloy for an added statement of performance.
The driver’s cockpit is defined by the flat bottom steering wheel and light-weight performance type bucket seats. The steering wheel takes its styling cue directly from a motorsports environment and is ten millimeters in diameter smaller that the regular Astra wheel for a more precise, sporty and direct steering sensation. Thumb areas are sculpted into the steering wheel for optimized grip and visibility of the instruments.
Now to knock the GTI well off of its pedestal the OPC has been given a 206 kW turbocharged direct injection 2,0 litre engine with maximum torque of 400 Nm. This enables the Astra OPC to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 6 seconds with an electrically governed top speed of 250 km/h.
Opel’s OPC group has designed a high performance chassis package specifically targeted at optimized lateral dynamics and superb handling qualities to complement the 206 kW/400 Nm drive train of the new Astra OPC. The Astra doesn’t ride as soft as the GTI but then again, its performance focused. It’s designed to get around corners as fast as possible and it does. On a track or mountain pass, my money would be on the OPC. In a way, the OPC and Megane RS cup are very similar in their set up.
Now getting all of the OPCs power to the road requires some fancy mechanical wizardry. Opel have fitted a multi-plate limited slip differential which ensures that the maximum torque possible is transferred to the road with the minimum of traction loss and wheel spin. At the core of the limited slip differential is a series of clutch plates that engage under different load conditions, such as when the road surface varies, or when severe acceleration forces are encountered, to inhibit wheel spin.
Do I have some issues with the car, yes; for starters, you can’t snap change to second without grinding some gears and yes, the ride is slightly on the hard side, it’s also very low so catching on speed bumps is inevitable.
Does the GTI have to be afraid? Yes and no. The GTI appeals to a wider range of customers whereas the OPC is directed at the enthusiast.
That said though, I really do fancy the new OPC, it looks the every bit the part of a serious hot hatch. It’s loud, in your face and offers a very engaging driving experience. Opel have also improved on their quality throughout the range and the OPC is no different. If I had to take personal preference out of the equation then the new OPC would be at the top of my list, well, if I had around R430 000 that is.
