15 years of OPC – Opel sports cars for the road

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• Start of an era: Astra OPC with 118 kW ready for the race track


• Turbo debut 2001: turbocharged Zafira OPC is fastest MPV in the world


• Lap records: OPC models are developed and set the pace at the Nürburgring


• OPC flagships today: Astra OPC with limited-slip differential and Insignia OPC with al-wheel drive

28 JANUARY 2015 – Rüsselsheim.  In the 15 years since the first Opel received an OPC badge, the abbreviation, which is short for Opel Performance Centre, has come to represent excitement and passion for fans of the German brand. For each OPC model the company has built, Opel has combined its motorsport knowledge to develop dynamic high performance cars for the road using technology transferred from the world of motorsports.

“The Opel Performance Centre provides our performance-hungry clients with vehicles that are irresistibly dynamic, have a sporty look and are very different from the regular 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.

Unmistakable OPC design conveys performance

“An OPC model must immediately be recognisable as such,” said Mark Adams, Opel’;s Vice President for Design. The 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 2 fully-integrated exhaust tail pipes in a trapezoid shape ensuring it has the specific OPC appearance. Moreover, for the Insignia OPC the designers created an archaic sabretooth 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.”

A new foundation for motorsports: OPC instead of GSI

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 – within only one year we developed and tested our debut model, the Opel Astra OPC 1,” explained Strycek.

Numerous OPC models followed and could hit normal roads, in some cases immediately after setting new lap records on the Nürburgring.

Currently, the sporting OPC flagship is the 239 kW Insignia OPC but the Astra OPC with 206 kW 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.

1999: Opel Astra OPC with 118 kW leaves its mark

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

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 handling. The car’;s centre of gravity was lowered by 2 centimetres; Bilstein dampers, larger brake discs behind 17-inch BBS rims, newly designed wishbones and more direct steering were all incorporated. Furthermore, the original Opel Astra OPC stood out with an aerodynamics package and Recaro bucket seats. To this day, the Astra G OPC remains a very popular racing car which continues to win in the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine class.

Strycek was responsible for 2 500 ‘Sport-Astra’;, necessary for homologation and produced in series. However, the enthusiasm was much bigger. Even before hitting the market, 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 4 months.

2001: Turbocharged performance plateau

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 MPV in the world. The debut of the Zafira OPC also saw the introduction of turbocharging. From this moment on, all further models created in the Opel Performance Centre would be equipped with efficient turbo technology.

The performance of the 2.0-litre engines gradually grew from 141 kW in the first-generation Zafira OPC to 147 kW in the second-generation Astra OPC, and then from 176 kW to the 206 kW available in the current Opel Astra OPC. Torque outputs also grew with the performance. The first generation 2.0-litre turbo engine had 250 Nm whereas the latest has a breath-taking 400 Nm.

Record hunting: At home on the Nürburgring

Through the years, OPC models have proven just how good they are on an annual basis and they regularly break the lap record on the 20.8 kilometre long Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The second-generation Astra OPC set a new class record of 8:35:94 in 2005.

The following year, the Zafira OPC set a new record for compact MPVs (8:54:38) which is still valid today. The 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.

In addition to the record-breaking runs, all OPC vehicles undergo 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 logo 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 centre in the direct vicinity of the course as early as 2006.

Nürburgring Edition: Nomen est Omen

To date the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker has produced 2 special “Nürburgring” editions – the Astra OPC in 2008 and the Corsa OPC in 2011. The Astra H in special racing trim had the same performance as the Astra OPC but a special, spectacular livery. In 2011, the Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition boasted an additional 13 kW for a total of 154 kW delivered by its 1.6-litre turbo engine and a limited slip differential compared to the normal Corsa OPC which made it a more radical and efficient rocket.

Compact class athlete: Current Astra OPC with impressive performance

The Astra OPC has been the top-level model in the compact class since the summer of 2012. A 2-litre turbo with 206 kW and 400 Nm of torque give it outstanding propulsion. The athletic Astra accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6 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 when they need to reduce speed quickly.

Insignia OPC: All-wheel drive with Touring Car genes

The Opel Insignia OPC is the flagship. Its turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 engine produces 239 kW and sends 435 Nm of torque to all 4 wheels. In order to guarantee that the power reaches the road in the best possible way, the OPC team developed an all-wheel drive system based on German Touring Car Championship experiences gathered with the Calibra (International Touring Car Championship winner in 1996).

With this powerful engine at its disposal, the Insignia OPC accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6 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 speeds up to 270 km/h (Sports Tourer 265 km/h).

Highlights from the first 15 years of OPC

• 1999: Market launch of the Astra (G) OPC (2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine with 118 kW)


• 2001: Introduction of the Zafira (A) OPC (2.0-litre-turbo with 141 kW) 2002: Market launch of the second Astra (G) OPC (2.0-litre-turbo with 147 kW, 3-door and Caravan variants)


• 2005: 20 000 OPC vehicles sold throughout Europe in only 5 years


• 2005: Market launch of the Astra (H) OPC (2.0-litre-turbo with 177 kW)


• 2005: Second generation of the Zafira (B) OPC (2.0-litre-turbo, 177 kW)


• 2005: Market launch of the Vectra OPC and Vectra Caravan OPC (2.8-litre V6 turbo with 188 kW)


• 2005: Astra OPC sets compact class lap record of 8:35:94 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife


• 2006: Introduction of the Meriva OPC (1.6-litre-turbo with 132 kW)


• 2006: Zafira (B) OPC sets MPV lap record of 8:54:38 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife


• 2007: Market launch of the Corsa (D) OPC (1.6-litre-turbo with 141 kW)


• 2007: Corsa (D) OPC sets small car lap record of 8:47:99 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife


• 2008: Limited special edition Astra (H) OPC Nürburgring Edition


• 2008: IDS Plus 2 chassis as standard for Astra (H) OPC


• 2009: Market launch Astra (H) OPC Race Camp Edition


• 2009: Market launch Insignia OPC Limousine and Insignia OPC Sports Tourer (2.8-litre V6 turbo with 239 kW)


• 2011: Opel Corsa (D) Nürburgring Edition with 154 kW


• 2012: Astra (J) OPC with 206 kW 2.0-litre turbo


• 2013: Further development of the Insignia OPC with enhanced chassis

15 years of OPC – Opel sports cars for the road

Opel Corsa wins prestigious AUTOBEST 2015 award

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• “Best Buy Car of Europe for 2015″: Opel’;s new small car wins over expert jury


• First car in AUTOBEST history to win with consecutive model generations

26 JANUARY 2015 - Rüsselsheim. Just 3 months after its European launch, Opel has already received over 55 000 orders for the fifth generation Corsa. In addition to the enthusiastic reception from European buyers, the Corsa has been recognised by a panel of judges who have bestowed it with the AUTOBEST 2015 award.

At the large test finale in Belgrade, Serbia, the newcomer prevailed with a total of 994 points over similarly brand-new competitors including the Hyundai i20 (906 points), Skoda Fabia (871 points) and Citroën C4 Cactus (830 points) making it the first ever car in AUTOBEST history to win the prestigious award with consecutive model generations.

The AUTOBEST expert jury is made up of leading motoring journalists from 15 central and eastern European countries. Comprising around 300 million people, the award is extremely popular and highly respected in this market. Only cars with a compelling price-performance ratio can win this title, because next to classic vehicle characteristics, the jury also carefully considers maintenance costs, spare-parts distribution and dealers’; range of services.

Ultimately the best deal for the normal, average customer is victorious – and the Opel Corsa proved to be unbeatable. Dan Vardie, chairman of the AUTOBEST jury, stated: “The new Corsa proved to be a great small car. All the jury members noticed the arguments that made the new Opel `The Best Buy Car of Europe in 2015′. The new generation Corsa is a meaningful evolution of the Opel model that won AUTOBEST award 6 years ago.”

“We are convinced that the Corsa is the best new small car, and now the AUTOBEST jury has confirmed this,” commented Opel Group CEO, Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann. “We are very proud of this. The new-generation Corsa stands for the art of German engineering, emotional design and excellent value for money. Safety and assistance systems as well as new, state-of-the-art engines and transmissions are real technological highlights.”

The Corsa is one of Opel’;s most important models and accounts for around one-4th of the tradition-rich brand’;s total sales. In the 32 years since the first-generation Corsa was introduced to the market, over 12.4 million units of the small car have been sold. The 4th-generation alone, the Corsa D, sold around 3 million units between 2006 and 2014 and won the AUTOBEST award in 2007. The new Corsa is also a cornerstone of Opel’;s ongoing product offensive: to 2018, the brand will introduce 27 new cars and 17 new engines to the market.

The all-new Corsa reaches South African roads during the first quarter of 2015.

Opel Corsa wins prestigious AUTOBEST 2015 award

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

New Opel safety technology debuts in new ADAM in South Africa

05 DECEMBER 2014 - Opel has been awarded a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for forward-thinking vehicle technology. The award is only bestowed upon carmakers who make new safety technologies available which demonstrate a scientifically-proven benefit for consumers and society.

“The Reward is an extremely important accolade for Opel, as our brand moves into an exciting new era on a global level,” comments Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa, Christopher Cradock. “Most importantly, the new Opel ADAM, which is currently being launched to the local market, features the advanced safety system which earned us the reward.”

Opel’;s Side Blind Spot Alert system, which warns drivers about potential hazards in the vehicle’;s blind spot, was developed on the back of crash statistics – in Europe, 10 percent of all serious accidents, and 5 percent of traffic-related fatalities, are the result of accidents where the vehicle’;s blind spot inhibits safe driving.

Günther Schmall, Opel’;s Director of Vehicle Safety Integration, comments: “The Euro NCAP award is confirmation of our strategy to optimise the safety of our cars based on real-life traffic and collision scenarios. Internal studies show just how much the Side Blind Spot Alert increases overall safety. A high market penetration of the system throughout Europe could help reduce all accidents with minor and severe injuries by around one percent.”

In ADAM, Corsa, Astra, Cascada and Zafira Tourer in Europe, the Side Blind Spot Alert utilises 4 ultrasonic sensors to scan lateral traffic, while the Insignia features a radar-based system. The system scans wide areas around the vehicle, with sensors designed to detect objects on a collision course, triggering an amber-coloured optical warning light fitted to each side mirror. Extra-bright LED lighting means the warning symbol cannot be missed, even in bright sunlight.

In a recent survey, Opel Insignia owners were delighted with Side Blind Spot Alert, with 97.2 percent never switching the system off, 87 percent expressing that they were completely convinced by the functionality and 82 percent insisting that they would definitely order the electronic guardian again when buying a new car.

Side Blind Spot Alert works between 10 and 140 km/h in the new Opel ADAM, and is fitted as standard to the new ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM in South Africa.

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

New Opel safety technology debuts in new ADAM in South Africa

05 DECEMBER 2014 - Opel has been awarded a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for forward-thinking vehicle technology. The award is only bestowed upon carmakers who make new safety technologies available which demonstrate a scientifically-proven benefit for consumers and society.

“The Reward is an extremely important accolade for Opel, as our brand moves into an exciting new era on a global level,” comments Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa, Christopher Cradock. “Most importantly, the new Opel ADAM, which is currently being launched to the local market, features the advanced safety system which earned us the reward.”

Opel’;s Side Blind Spot Alert system, which warns drivers about potential hazards in the vehicle’;s blind spot, was developed on the back of crash statistics – in Europe, 10 percent of all serious accidents, and 5 percent of traffic-related fatalities, are the result of accidents where the vehicle’;s blind spot inhibits safe driving.

Günther Schmall, Opel’;s Director of Vehicle Safety Integration, comments: “The Euro NCAP award is confirmation of our strategy to optimise the safety of our cars based on real-life traffic and collision scenarios. Internal studies show just how much the Side Blind Spot Alert increases overall safety. A high market penetration of the system throughout Europe could help reduce all accidents with minor and severe injuries by around one percent.”

In ADAM, Corsa, Astra, Cascada and Zafira Tourer in Europe, the Side Blind Spot Alert utilises 4 ultrasonic sensors to scan lateral traffic, while the Insignia features a radar-based system. The system scans wide areas around the vehicle, with sensors designed to detect objects on a collision course, triggering an amber-coloured optical warning light fitted to each side mirror. Extra-bright LED lighting means the warning symbol cannot be missed, even in bright sunlight.

In a recent survey, Opel Insignia owners were delighted with Side Blind Spot Alert, with 97.2 percent never switching the system off, 87 percent expressing that they were completely convinced by the functionality and 82 percent insisting that they would definitely order the electronic guardian again when buying a new car.

Side Blind Spot Alert works between 10 and 140 km/h in the new Opel ADAM, and is fitted as standard to the new ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM in South Africa.

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

New Opel safety technology debuts in new ADAM in South Africa

05 DECEMBER 2014 - Opel has been awarded a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for forward-thinking vehicle technology. The award is only bestowed upon carmakers who make new safety technologies available which demonstrate a scientifically-proven benefit for consumers and society.

“The Reward is an extremely important accolade for Opel, as our brand moves into an exciting new era on a global level,” comments Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa, Christopher Cradock. “Most importantly, the new Opel ADAM, which is currently being launched to the local market, features the advanced safety system which earned us the reward.”

Opel’;s Side Blind Spot Alert system, which warns drivers about potential hazards in the vehicle’;s blind spot, was developed on the back of crash statistics – in Europe, 10 percent of all serious accidents, and 5 percent of traffic-related fatalities, are the result of accidents where the vehicle’;s blind spot inhibits safe driving.

Günther Schmall, Opel’;s Director of Vehicle Safety Integration, comments: “The Euro NCAP award is confirmation of our strategy to optimise the safety of our cars based on real-life traffic and collision scenarios. Internal studies show just how much the Side Blind Spot Alert increases overall safety. A high market penetration of the system throughout Europe could help reduce all accidents with minor and severe injuries by around one percent.”

In ADAM, Corsa, Astra, Cascada and Zafira Tourer in Europe, the Side Blind Spot Alert utilises 4 ultrasonic sensors to scan lateral traffic, while the Insignia features a radar-based system. The system scans wide areas around the vehicle, with sensors designed to detect objects on a collision course, triggering an amber-coloured optical warning light fitted to each side mirror. Extra-bright LED lighting means the warning symbol cannot be missed, even in bright sunlight.

In a recent survey, Opel Insignia owners were delighted with Side Blind Spot Alert, with 97.2 percent never switching the system off, 87 percent expressing that they were completely convinced by the functionality and 82 percent insisting that they would definitely order the electronic guardian again when buying a new car.

Side Blind Spot Alert works between 10 and 140 km/h in the new Opel ADAM, and is fitted as standard to the new ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM in South Africa.

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

New Opel safety technology debuts in new ADAM in South Africa

05 DECEMBER 2014 - Opel has been awarded a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for forward-thinking vehicle technology. The award is only bestowed upon carmakers who make new safety technologies available which demonstrate a scientifically-proven benefit for consumers and society.

“The Reward is an extremely important accolade for Opel, as our brand moves into an exciting new era on a global level,” comments Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa, Christopher Cradock. “Most importantly, the new Opel ADAM, which is currently being launched to the local market, features the advanced safety system which earned us the reward.”

Opel’;s Side Blind Spot Alert system, which warns drivers about potential hazards in the vehicle’;s blind spot, was developed on the back of crash statistics – in Europe, 10 percent of all serious accidents, and 5 percent of traffic-related fatalities, are the result of accidents where the vehicle’;s blind spot inhibits safe driving.

Günther Schmall, Opel’;s Director of Vehicle Safety Integration, comments: “The Euro NCAP award is confirmation of our strategy to optimise the safety of our cars based on real-life traffic and collision scenarios. Internal studies show just how much the Side Blind Spot Alert increases overall safety. A high market penetration of the system throughout Europe could help reduce all accidents with minor and severe injuries by around one percent.”

In ADAM, Corsa, Astra, Cascada and Zafira Tourer in Europe, the Side Blind Spot Alert utilises 4 ultrasonic sensors to scan lateral traffic, while the Insignia features a radar-based system. The system scans wide areas around the vehicle, with sensors designed to detect objects on a collision course, triggering an amber-coloured optical warning light fitted to each side mirror. Extra-bright LED lighting means the warning symbol cannot be missed, even in bright sunlight.

In a recent survey, Opel Insignia owners were delighted with Side Blind Spot Alert, with 97.2 percent never switching the system off, 87 percent expressing that they were completely convinced by the functionality and 82 percent insisting that they would definitely order the electronic guardian again when buying a new car.

Side Blind Spot Alert works between 10 and 140 km/h in the new Opel ADAM, and is fitted as standard to the new ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM in South Africa.

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

New Opel safety technology debuts in new ADAM in South Africa

05 DECEMBER 2014 - Opel has been awarded a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for forward-thinking vehicle technology. The award is only bestowed upon carmakers who make new safety technologies available which demonstrate a scientifically-proven benefit for consumers and society.

“The Reward is an extremely important accolade for Opel, as our brand moves into an exciting new era on a global level,” comments Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa, Christopher Cradock. “Most importantly, the new Opel ADAM, which is currently being launched to the local market, features the advanced safety system which earned us the reward.”

Opel’;s Side Blind Spot Alert system, which warns drivers about potential hazards in the vehicle’;s blind spot, was developed on the back of crash statistics – in Europe, 10 percent of all serious accidents, and 5 percent of traffic-related fatalities, are the result of accidents where the vehicle’;s blind spot inhibits safe driving.

Günther Schmall, Opel’;s Director of Vehicle Safety Integration, comments: “The Euro NCAP award is confirmation of our strategy to optimise the safety of our cars based on real-life traffic and collision scenarios. Internal studies show just how much the Side Blind Spot Alert increases overall safety. A high market penetration of the system throughout Europe could help reduce all accidents with minor and severe injuries by around one percent.”

In ADAM, Corsa, Astra, Cascada and Zafira Tourer in Europe, the Side Blind Spot Alert utilises 4 ultrasonic sensors to scan lateral traffic, while the Insignia features a radar-based system. The system scans wide areas around the vehicle, with sensors designed to detect objects on a collision course, triggering an amber-coloured optical warning light fitted to each side mirror. Extra-bright LED lighting means the warning symbol cannot be missed, even in bright sunlight.

In a recent survey, Opel Insignia owners were delighted with Side Blind Spot Alert, with 97.2 percent never switching the system off, 87 percent expressing that they were completely convinced by the functionality and 82 percent insisting that they would definitely order the electronic guardian again when buying a new car.

Side Blind Spot Alert works between 10 and 140 km/h in the new Opel ADAM, and is fitted as standard to the new ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM in South Africa.

Opel bags Euro NCAP Advanced reward

Opel Debuts New Corsa Hatchback in Paris, Nails Most Confusing Engine Lineup Ever Award

Mainstream automobile, hot entrance: This is the script Opel followed for the introduction of its new fifth-generation Corsa hatchback. The profitable subcompact Opel debuted with a small aid from German supermodel Claudia Schiffer at the 2014 Paris auto show. Oh, and the less blonde and even less leggy Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel’s CEO, also was there.

In Europe, the Corsa competes with automobiles like the Ford Fiesta, the Volkswagen Polo, the Renault Clio, and the Fiat Punto, the final of which shares its platform with the now-defunct 4th-generation Corsa. The little Opel will go on sale in other markets, too expect to see it in locations as diverse as Latin America and China, where it will be supplied below the Chevrolet and Buick monikers, also. At launch, the Corsa lineup will consist of 3- and 5-door physique styles, but a notchback version may possibly join these 2 choices later.

Unlike some of its competitors, the new Corsa can be fitted with a number of high-finish systems such as HID headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, speed-limit recognition, lane-departure warning, a panoramic sunroof, ambient cabin lighting, and an auxiliary heating method. That’s all effectively and great, but the car’s breadth of decision gets a little out of hand when it comes to powertrain options.

Opel offers the new Corsa with 2 naturally aspirated 4-cylinders (a 1.2-liter with 68 horsepower and a 5-speed manual and a 1.4-liter with 89 horsepower and a 5-speed manual, a 5-speed automated manual, or a 6-speed torque-converter-style automatic) and a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4 with 99 horsepower and a 6-speed manual and 2 turbocharged 1.-liter 3-cylinders with 89 and 114 horsepower that each come mated to a 6-speed manual. With us? Great, due to the fact there’s a lot more: Diesel-lovers can decide on between 2 1.3-liter 4s with 74 and 94 horsepower, both of which get a 5-speed manual. Oh, and there are positive to be larger-overall performance possibilities in the future.

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Layering on the option, Opel delivers 4 curiously named trim levels: Selection, Edition, Colour Edition, and Innovation. But wait, there’s more: The German-engineered Corsa also will be rebadged as a Vauxhall for the U.K. industry. The Brits get a lowered engine portfolio but an even much more creative set of trim-level designations: Life, Sting, Sting R, Design and style, Excite, SRi, SRi VX-Line, SE, and Restricted Edition.

If the Opel Corsa ever comes to the States as a Buick—no word on that as of now—we suspect the portfolio will be severely de-cluttered. If only to avoid salespeople and consumers alike from diving off the deep end.

Opel Debuts New Corsa Hatchback in Paris, Nails Most Confusing Engine Lineup Ever Award

Opel Debuts New Corsa Hatchback in Paris, Nails Most Confusing Engine Lineup Ever Award

Mainstream auto, hot entrance: This is the script Opel followed for the introduction of its new fifth-generation Corsa hatchback. The productive subcompact Opel debuted with a tiny assist from German supermodel Claudia Schiffer at the 2014 Paris auto show. Oh, and the less blonde and even less leggy Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel’s CEO, also was there.

In Europe, the Corsa competes with cars like the Ford Fiesta, the Volkswagen Polo, the Renault Clio, and the Fiat Punto, the final of which shares its platform with the now-defunct 4th-generation Corsa. The tiny Opel will go on sale in other markets, also count on to see it in locations as diverse as Latin America and China, exactly where it will be offered under the Chevrolet and Buick monikers, too. At launch, the Corsa lineup will consist of 3- and 5-door body styles, but a notchback version may possibly join these 2 choices later.

As opposed to some of its competitors, the new Corsa can be fitted with a quantity of high-finish systems such as HID headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, speed-limit recognition, lane-departure warning, a panoramic sunroof, ambient cabin lighting, and an auxiliary heating technique. That is all nicely and great, but the car’s breadth of decision gets a little out of hand when it comes to powertrain alternatives.

Opel gives the new Corsa with 2 naturally aspirated 4-cylinders (a 1.2-liter with 68 horsepower and a 5-speed manual and a 1.4-liter with 89 horsepower and a 5-speed manual, a 5-speed automated manual, or a 6-speed torque-converter-style automatic) and a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4 with 99 horsepower and a 6-speed manual and 2 turbocharged 1.-liter 3-cylinders with 89 and 114 horsepower that each come mated to a 6-speed manual. With us? Very good, simply because there’s a lot more: Diesel-lovers can choose in between 2 1.3-liter 4s with 74 and 94 horsepower, both of which get a 5-speed manual. Oh, and there are certain to be higher-overall performance choices in the future.

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Layering on the option, Opel offers 4 curiously named trim levels: Selection, Edition, Color Edition, and Innovation. But wait, there’s far more: The German-engineered Corsa also will be rebadged as a Vauxhall for the U.K. industry. The Brits get a reduced engine portfolio but an even much more inventive set of trim-level designations: Life, Sting, Sting R, Design, Excite, SRi, SRi VX-Line, SE, and Limited Edition.

If the Opel Corsa ever comes to the States as a Buick—no word on that as of now—we suspect the portfolio will be severely de-cluttered. If only to avert salespeople and customers alike from diving off the deep finish.

Opel Debuts New Corsa Hatchback in Paris, Nails Most Confusing Engine Lineup Ever Award

40 years of Opel Safety

• 40 years ago: Opel Safety Vehicle masters impact speed of 65 km/h


• Kadett C designated ‘OSV 40′: impact protection, on-board warning systems, safety seats


• Astra today: ultra-modern assistance systems with camera, radar and sensors

02 OCTOBER 2014 - Rüsselsheim. “Don’;t start without a seatbelt”, was the slogan of a campaign launched in Germany in 1974 to persuade drivers to wear seatbelts. 2 years later, wearing seatbelts became compulsory and in 1984 fines for not wearing them were introduced. Opel has been equipping all models with seatbelts as standard since 1973 and the following year, gave a visionary outlook into the safety technology of the future.

The Opel Safety Vehicle, a close-to-production research vehicle based on the Kadett C, mastered a frontal impact of 65 km/h and paved the way for the development of further safety features. The impact speed in miles per hour (40 mph) also gave the Kadett its name: OSV 40. The current Opel Astra demonstrates the evolution since those early days. The compact car is reaping the rewards of 40 years of development and features exemplary passenger safety and ultra-modern assistance systems.

OSV 40 – Opel Safety Vehicle masters impact speed of 65 km/h

Exactly 40 years ago, the Rüsselsheim-based company showed its idea of a safe compact car at the second International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles held in London. The engineers were handed a Kadett C, presented the previous year, and could let their imagination run wild when it came to safety.

Technicians were allowed to choose the name themselves and decided on OSV or Opel Safety Vehicle. The number 40 stands for the frontal impact speed in miles per hour that the OSV 40 was designed to resist. Despite the extended safety features, the vehicle was not permitted to weigh more than 1 000 kilograms.

Impact energy absorbed by polyurethane foam

The first thing an onlooker notices is how voluminous fenders are compared to modern fenders. The OSV 40 fenders were filled with polyurethane foam which gave them their absorbing capacity. Foam-filled side members which break in a controlled fashion at impact speeds above 8 km/h were used at the front.

The foam structure absorbed enough energy that frontal impacts below this speed only resulted in a small deformation – thus the predecessor of the “self-healing” fender was created. The engineers also filled the cavities of the sills and doors with polyurethane foam in order to create increased safety reserves for a side impact.

Reinforced roof rails and backrests of the front seats that were fixed to the roof via a belt construction, increased the stability of the passenger compartment considerably – while still allowing for seat adjustment. Furthermore, the windshield made from laminated glass was glued directly to the bodywork – also with the goal of increasing body stiffness in mind.

Interior also reflects a safety approach

Inside the car, all surfaces with which the passengers could come into contact in the event of an accident were cushioned with a 2-centimetre layer of polyurethane foam. The steering was fitted with an additional angled element in the lower steering column sector.

Safety also came first in the cockpit of the OSV 40. The central warning system made by Hella controlled eleven functions and showed possible errors by the associated warning lamps lighting up. 4 additional lights behind the rear window signalled emergency braking and also doubled as hazard lights. Due to their high positioning, they were easy to see for following road users. A split rear view mirror enabled a perfect view with the lower part reducing the blind spot to a minimum.

The front seats were widened to create a continuous boundary to the rear compartment. The side supports, especially in the shoulder area, prevented the driver and passenger colliding in case of a side impact. The minimalistic head rests of the front seats ensured that the driver had a good view to the rear. The belt construction restraint system for the heads of passengers in the rear also ensured safety and overview. The 4 seats of OSV 40 all had 3-point belts – the ones in the front even had an automatic seat belt tensioning system.

All crash tests passed with flying colours

The OSV 40 met all of the objectives during the crash tests: all 4 doors could still be opened without the help of tools after a frontal impact at 65 km/h with a solid obstacle. The front section of the car absorbed the energy so well that it was shortened by 50 cm due to the cold-drawing phase. The OSV 40 was equally impressive during a frontal collision with a pylon at 50 km/h, a rear impact, a side impact with a post, and during the rollover test at 48 km/h.

Opel Astra: state-of-the-art safety systems

The newest representative of Opel in the compact hatchback segment shows just how dynamic the development in 1974 continued. In addition to the structural strength that has come to be expected, the Opel Astra offers extensive passive safety features and a string of ultra-modern driver assistance systems which increase the safety and comfort for the drivers and passengers decisively.

Available in Europe, the second generation of the Opel Eye Front Camera is the foundation for the driver assistance systems. The engineers optimised the Lane Departure Warning and the Traffic Sign Recognition functions. The camera processes numerous levels of brightness and can even recognise dynamic LED signs. A further aid available in combination with the Opel Eye Front Camera is a distance indicator. It shows the driver the distance to a vehicle in front (in seconds).

Adaptive Cruise Control maintains distance from the vehicle ahead

Even safer and more comfortable, the radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) available in Europe helps the driver to maintain the selected speed while keeping a pre-set safety distance to the vehicle ahead. In addition to speed, the desired gap to the vehicle ahead can also be selected by the driver – with 3 options available: far, medium, or close. When ACC is activated, the radar constantly checks the distance up to a range of 150 metres ahead; the selected gap to the closest vehicle in the same lane is shown in the centre screen of the display.

In case the driver does not react to the audible and visual warnings by braking in a critical situation and the system calculates a potential impact, it may decelerate the car automatically in an extreme case. The Opel Astra is decelerated with help of a brake system that can look to the advantages of a latest-generation Anti-lock Braking System and an extended Electronic Stability Program (ESP Plus).

Adaptive Forward Lighting: perfect lighting for all conditions

Also available in Europe, the latest generation of safety lighting systems, Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) with bi-xenon headlamps, includes a large package of intelligent lighting functions such as: High Beam Light Assistant, Dynamic Curve Light, Static Cornering Light and adaptive lighting, which reacts automatically to the prevailing driving situation such as route profile (freeway, highway, city) and visibility (sun, fog, rain) and adjusts the headlamps accordingly. The arrow-like design of the LED daytime running lamps, which come as standard, give the Astra a distinctive appearance.

Extensive package for passive safety

Even if all of the systems for the active safety reach their limits, Astra drivers can trust in an extensive passive safety package. A total of 6 airbags come as standard. If a situation occurs in which an airbag or a belt tensioner is activated, the hazard warning lights come on and the doors are unlocked automatically. The Astra is also fitted with the Opel-patented Pedal Release System (PRS) which decouples the pedals in the event of a frontal collision, reducing the risk of injury to feet and lower legs considerably.

Opel OSV 40: Technical data

Length in mm	4 318
Width in mm	1 580
Height in mm	1 370
Front track in mm	1 330
Rear track in mm	1 301
Weight in kg	965
Displacement in cm3	1 196
Max. output in kW / at rpm	44 / 5 600
Max. torque in Nm / at rpm	95 / 3 400

40 years of Opel Safety

24 Hours of LeMons Colorado Vehicle Inspections: Opel Manta, Renault R5 Turbo, and an Airport-Tug Engine Donor

We’re back at northeastern Colorado’s Higher Plains Raceway for the fifth annual B.F.E. GP 24 Hours of LeMons, and we may possibly have the highest percentage of excellent race vehicles we’ve ever seen at one particular of our races. The quantity of teams could not be so high— just 42 teams have been willing to make the trek to this aptly-named occasion in the far reaches of rural Colorado— but the top quality is prime-notch. Let’s take a appear at some of the highlights from Friday’s inspections.

For the initial time ever, 2 Hyundais are competing head-to-head in a LeMons race. A proud day for Koreans!

In truth, each cars are 2002 Accents. We hope to see a Scoupe, XG, or Tiburon soon.

Numerous teams drove up from Texas, such as Wine-O Racing and their Toyota Solara. You’d feel that a 21st-century Toyota would be quite swift on the race track (compared to, say, an ’82 Datsun Maxima), but we’ve discovered (following many races) that such is not the case with the Wine-Os.

After I was heard on-camera referring to this automobile as “astonishingly sluggish” at the Sebring Race in July, the Wine-Os’ case for acquiring place into Class C (with the slowest, i.e., best LeMons vehicles) became significantly stronger. They’d began out in Class A, completed in the cellar, then “competed” in Class B, completed in the cellar, and importuned the LeMons Supreme Court to please put their damn-close to-new Toyota into Class C.

Considering that they had such excellent Colorado-themed finish plates on their decklid wing, the Wine-Os ultimately got Class C, although with a bit of a lap handicap. You will see the reason for the handicap in a moment.

Speaking of the things that make my property state particular, the BRIBED stencil for the 5th B.F.E. GP incorporated numerous Colorado icons: legal cannabis, beer, and Subarus.

Back to the fine Class C automobiles of this race, at extended last we’ve ultimately got one particular of the cars we most want to see in our race: an Opel Manta.

The Manta will be competing in Class C against the Grumpy Cat Racing 1950 Dodge pickup, complete with flathead Chrysler 6-cylinder engine, winner of the Index of Effluency at the Return of the LeMonites race in Utah a handful of months ago.

The Grumpy Cat’s 218-cubic-inch engine ran the Utah race with about zero oil pressure and an increasingly catastrophic oil blow-by issue. The team found a replacement engine (Chrysler flathead sixes are worth scrap value these days, much more or significantly less), but didn’t have the rebuild accomplished in time for this weekend’s race. Knowing that we have outlawed fire-hazard jug-and-hose blowby-recovery systems, they rigged up this innovative blow-by condenser technique. According to Grumpy Cat Racing logic, the fine oil particles getting spewed into the crankcase will be directed into this old automobile radiator atop the engine, where the oil will condense back into a liquid and flow back into the oil pan instead of being sprayed onto the track.

We expressed skepticism about this admirably ingenious but extremely janky rig, and so the Grumpy Cats managed to score a comprehensive, running engine-donor vehicle on the day just before the inspections: this early-50s ex-TWA airport tug, with Chrysler flathead 230 power and 17:1 differential gearing. Simply because it weighs about 3 tons (the “body” is produced from inch-thick cast iron), the scrap worth of the shell should make this spare engine free of charge. When the 218 gets black-flagged for smoking/spewing/exploding (as we feel specific it will), the Grumpy Cat crew simply yanks the 230, swaps it into the Dodge, and gets back on the track. No weak points in this strategy!

The fantastic thing about Class C in LeMons is that you can win it even if you do have to swap an engine, sometimes even if that engine is a couple states away. Even with that in thoughts, the Manta and the ’50 Dodge teams may possibly be worried about the Blue Flag Particular AMC Pacer wagon. This Pacer won the Index of Effluency trophy at the 2012 B.F.E. GP, where it was glacially slow, but now it has a secret weapon under the hood.

Yes, that’s a Jeep 4. straight-6 engine with an Eaton supercharger yanked off a junkyard-ubiquitous mid-90s GM 3800 V6. It is already searching like a excellent-yet-terrible concept, correct?

It gets even greater! Feeding this engine is a Hitachi SU carburetor, originally a single-half of the carb setup on a Datsun 240Z. So, a carburetor meant to offer fuel for 1200 CCs of naturally-aspirated engine displacement is now feeding 4000 CCs of blown engine.

At least there’s a homemade relief valve to spare the fuel/air-delivery system in case of backfire.

And, naturally, a Flavor Flav-size boost gauge, pulled off some large piece of stationary industrial-approach equipment.

The automobile that produced jaws drop the lowest, though, was the Sordick Racing Renault R5 Turbo replica. Based on a Le Car that was buried beneath tons of river silt in final year’s Colorado flooding and featuring livery in homage to the Calberson-sponsored, Ragnotti-driven WRC Group 4 R5 Turbo, this vehicle turned out to be a masterpiece of low-buck engineering and fabrication.

In the back, where a actual R5 Turbo would have a 158-horse hair-dried Renault Cléon engine, there’s a 190-horse Nissan V6 drivetrain out of a flood-victim Infiniti I30t. We’ve observed really a couple of tiny-automobile-with-mid-engine-swap rigs in LeMons, and they often take a race or 3 to get the significant bugs sorted out. This auto has never ever driven a lot more than about 50 feet with the Nissan engine, so the LeMons Supreme Court place it in Class C. Will it run away with the class? Maybe, but that’s not the way to bet.

Speaking of ill-advised engine swaps, how about a late-70s Toyota Celica with supercharged GM 3800? This auto actually went into Class B, because some of the team’s bigger troubles may have been solved by now.

We saw some good team themes, such as these pretty well-executed Bill and Ted costumes.

Rocket Surgery Racing was back with improved Fifth Element outfits.

Here’s a first: a single of the quite couple of manual-transmission-equipped early-90s Toyota Camrys sold in the United States.

The preferred to take the general win has to be the Back To The Past group, whose Nissan 300ZX has won 3 prior races. Their car will be down on power at this mile-high elevation, but BTTP tends to make few blunders and hardly ever breaks their automobile.

Be confident to verify in Saturday night to see how the initial race session goes!

24 Hours of LeMons Colorado Vehicle Inspections: Opel Manta, Renault R5 Turbo, and an Airport-Tug Engine Donor