Opel, keen to make the most of the test center at the Nürburgring, takes its latest interpretation to the Geneva Motor Show: a track car, with full focus on a road version, the radical Astra OPC Extreme.
We are facing an absolute novelty. No! in fact it can't be said to be anything new from Opel, 13 years have passed since the last Geneva Motor Show, where Opel shocked the world with the road version of the Opel Astra G OPC Extreme, based on the DTM Astra, the car that scored in the German touring championship.
But those times are long gone and although the 2001 Astra OPC Extreme didn't know the production with much pity for us, Opel went ahead and presents us its new interpretation of the Astra J, in this OPC Extreme version. This time, we don't have a car based on the DTM version, as Opel no longer competes in this discipline, but we received a road version based on the radical version of the Opel Astra OPC Cup.
The production of this Astra OPC Extreme is expected for 2015, according to Opel and bless yourselves because Opel claims to have removed 100kg from the Astra OPC, with an increase in power to 300 horsepower.
Which immediately brings us to the final weight of this super juice of the hot hatches, setting the scale needle at 1375kg, which brings us to 4.5kg/hp of power-to-weight ratio.
The 2nd generation 2.0l Turbo Ecotec block, coming from the LDK family, the A20NHT, present in the current Astra OPC, received an improvement in terms of power, gaining 20 horsepower. The 280 horsepower of the Opc goes up to 300 horsepower on this Astra OPC Extreme.
Like all Astras OPCs to date, the massive power of this Astra OPC Extreme continues to be transmitted using a 6-speed manual gearbox. The help is complemented by a limited-slip differential and colossal 19-inch carbon wheels with 245mm wide tires, not forgetting the flexride system, which adds variable damping suspension.
The use of carbon is not limited to rims. Hood, roof, engine cover, AA bar, rear GT wing, rear diffuser and lower front spoiler, also received this exotic composite material. Only the sides receive aluminum, weighing just 800gr. Diets aside, the numbers are clear: on the roof it was possible to save 6.7kg, which allowed the center of gravity to be lowered, benefiting the Astra OPC Extreme's agility.
The competition model, Astra Cup, was responsible for donating a vital organ, the braking system. Brembo's braking system installed on the Astra OPC Extreme, comprises 370mm discs with 6-piston jaws on the front axle, a record in a front-wheel drive car.
But it's not just the outside where the radical changes are, inside the Astra OPC Extreme is just as extreme for drivers unfamiliar with harsh places, and why?
Simply because in this version of the Astra OPC Extreme the rear seats disappear, so we have a showy roll cage. For the rest, the Recaro drumsticks, with 6 seat belts and carbon fiber steering column, add the “competition look” touch.
However, according to Opel, the customer can have the rear seats as an option, sacrificing the roll cage, if they want some daily versatility for the Astra OPC Extreme.
