Wendy reviews the Opel Astra OPC

OMG, we get to drive an OPC today...

 

What does OPC stand for? Opel Performance Centre, which is an independent subsidiary of Opel, headed up by a German racing driver, and responsible for the all Opel’s motorsport activities. 

 

This is the Opel Astra OPC, one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive hot hatch on the market, and certainly the raciest Astra ever.

 

It outguns the Golf GTI, the Renaultsport Mégane and the new Ford Focus ST. The two-litre turbo engine puts out 206kW and a maximum of 400Nm of torque, squirting from standstill to 100 kays in around six seconds.

 

That made it the most powerful FWD hot hatch on the local market until the launch of the Merc A45 AMG in August, which produces 265kW.

 

It’s got a relatively hefty price tag, this OPC - R453 000, although that’s considerably less than the AMG’s R600 000 - but it delivers a special performance and is richly specced.

 

THE RIDE

 

The first Astra OPC which was introduced to SA was back in 2004, and with 147kW available it outperformed the GTI at the time. Compare that with this latest one’s output - 206Kw.

 

OPCs have in the past been a bit brutish to drive - that whack of power descending on the front wheels, and the steering not being designed to fully handle it, created disconcerting torque steer. Coupled with a stiff suspension, it made for white-knuckle driving at times.

 

But Opel has taken care of that with the front suspension of this new OPC, and without going into the detail, it’s made the car far more composed on the corners. Muuch better.

 

As with so many other cars these days, you get to choose how sporty you want the car to be. Opel calls it FlexRide - there’s everyday driving, then Sport, which sharpens and stiffens the ride by adjusting, steering, shocks, suspension and accelerator response, and if that’s not enough, there’s the insane OPC. 

 

FUEL CONSUMPTON

 

While this Astra OPC is more powerful and has more torque than the previous model - a whopping 25% more, in fact - fuel consumption is down by 14%: a claimed average of around 8 litres per 100kays.

 

THE LOOKS

 

You can’t have a hatch this hot without the go-faster stuff to get the message across. So, on the outside, there’s the giant under-bumper air scoop, a twin-fin roof spoiler, imposing 20 inch alloys, side skirts and trapezoidal tail pipes.

 

The cabin is dominated by the massive racing bucket seats, with power lumbar support and dominant stitching. Add a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel and stainless steel pedal covers and it screams sporty.

 

GIZMOS

 

Dual-zone climate control, auto lights/wipers, a premium Infinity audio system, premium lighting pack and an integrated infotainment system. Electric park brake - I’d have preferred a traditional one, but at least there’s Hill Hold.

 

BOOT

 

The Flex Floor system has three positions, so the main boot area can be as deep or shallow as you want it. At its highest it’s flush with the sill, which makes loading easy, and you get to hide stuff underneath.

 

VERDICT

 

A stunning, if pricey hot hatch, which delivers a very moreish ride without the crazy torque steer of earlier models.

 

THE NUMBERS

 

ENGINE: 2-litre petrol, turbocharged, four cylinder Max power: 206kW @ 5500rpm Max torque: 400Nm from 2500-4500rpm

 

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, limited-slip differential, front-wheel drive

 

ACCELERATION: 0-100km/h: 6.2sec

 

PRICE: R453 000

 

- Wendy Knowler