Opel Astra and Insignia OPC 2013 overview

Opel's drive to gain a foothold in Australia has just taken a turn for the better with the imminent introduction of three high-performance models from OPC, the Opel AMG version. All of them have been finalized at the legendary German Nürburgring track, where OPC has a test center.

Opel has been refining stock cars for racing since the late 90s and has had great success in motorsport, including silver medals in the DTM (German Touring Car) championship. But the brand has only been around in Australia for about six months and competes in some of the most competitive segments.

The OPC provides instant credibility to Opel among motorsport enthusiasts, and this will no doubt carry over to the general public once the Corsa, Astra and Insignia OPC models hit the road. The Corsa OPC competes with the VW Polo GTi, Skoda Fabia RS and soon the Peugeot 208GTi and Ford Fiesta ST. Really hot competition.

The Astra OPC is up against some real heavyweights in the form of the VW Golf GTi (the next-gen Golf VII series is coming soon), the Renault Megane RS265, the VW Scirocco, the Ford Focus ST and even Mazda's wild 3MPS. But the elephant in the room is Mercedes Benz's new A250 Sport, arguably the best front-wheel drive hatchback available right now.

The Insignia OPC sedan is more like a GT car for quiet high-speed driving than for track days or cornering. It has no direct competition as it sits right on the luxury tax trigger and offers a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 engine through an automatic six-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. Engine courtesy of Holden.

Value

All three models impress with their value thanks to generous equipment and some high-quality components from manufacturers such as Brembo, Dresder Haldex and Recaro. The Corsa OPC is $28,990, the Astra OPC is $42,990 and the Insignia OPC is $59,990. While the latter fills its own niche, the other two are in the right position with the competition, perhaps better if the specs are adjusted.

Fixed price service is part of the deal, as is roadside assistance for three years. The smart OPC Power app for your phone adds a whole new element to bench racing at the pub, dinner party or barbecue where OPC owners can test the talents of their car and of course the driver.

The app records numerous technical data about cornering, braking, engine power and other information on your phone. All three vehicles received five safety stars in Euro NCAP testing.

Astra ORS

This is arguably the best of the three cars from the OPC garage and will undoubtedly be the most popular - at least in appearance. This is a beauty - crouched, ready to jump, with a powerful wide front and pumped back.

The Astra OPC is a front-wheel-drive model with a healthy 206kW/400Nm of power from a 2.0-litre direct-injection petrol engine and a turbocharged four-cylinder. The Turbo is a double helix unit designed for instant response. Only a six-speed manual transmission is available.

That's all very well, but the really good thing about this car is the way it steers and handles, thanks in part to a front steering system called a HiPer strut that moves the steering axle away from the drive axle. No torque boost at full throttle.

Combined with aggressive steering geometry, the Astra accelerates through corners like a racing car. Impressive braking is provided by large-diameter perforated discs with twin-piston Brembo calipers.

This and two other OPC models feature three Flex ride modes offering Normal, Sport and OPC modes. It changes the calibration of the suspension, brakes, steering and throttle response. A mechanical limited slip differential completes the traction picture.

Although the Astra OPC is a three-door, in a pinch it can accommodate five passengers and their luggage. The Auto Stop Start eco-mode is installed, and the car can accelerate to 8.1 liters per 100 km in the premium class. Leather, navigation, dual-zone climate control, auto headlights and wipers, electric parking brake - all included.

OPC Race

This cheeky three-door baby also leads its class in power by a significant margin, developing 141kW/230Nm (260Nm when boosted) over a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four. Opel knows its market well and offers the Corsa OPC with a range of branded components inside and out.

It has Recaros, digital radio, a comprehensive instrument panel and nifty body additions to let people know you're riding something "special". It includes climate control, multi-wheel steering, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, and numerous OPC design elements.

OPC insignia

Two OPC sunroofs and a bigger sedan - like chalk and cheese - in every sense. This is a car-only model with all-wheel drive and a 6-litre turbocharged Holden V2.8 petrol engine. There's nothing like it on sale, aside from the VW CC V6 4Motion, but it's more of a luxury barge than a sports sedan.

The Insignia OPC delivers 239kW/435Nm of power thanks to a range of technologies including direct injection, twin-scroll turbocharging, variable valve timing and other tweaks. It's packed full of goodies like an adaptive all-wheel drive system, Flexride, limited-slip rear differential, 19 or 20-inch forged alloy wheels.

Like the other two OPCs, the Insignia has a custom-designed exhaust system that delivers both performance gains and better sound quality.

Performance

The Corsa OPC can reach 0 km/h in 100 seconds, and the premium fuel consumption is 7.2 liters per 7.5 km. Astra OPC accelerates from 100 to 0 km/h in 100 seconds, provides amazing acceleration at all speeds and consumes fuel with a maximum speed of 6.0 liters per 8.1 km. Insignia OPC stops the clock for 100 seconds and uses premium at 6.3.

Driving

We were able to test the Astra and Insignia OPC vehicles on the road and on the track, and we really enjoyed the Astra in both environments. The Insignia is nice enough, but it has a big $60k price hurdle to overcome considering Opel has little to no profile here.

This will change with time and with hero cars like the Astra OPC. We've only done one lap in the Corsa and can't comment on anything. It seems to be pretty fast for a tiddler and looks okay and also has good specs. But the story, as far as we know, concerns the Astra OPC.

Is it as good as Megane and GTi? Answer definitely yes. It's a precision instrument, only slightly marred by a whistling exhaust that sounds like a vacuum cleaner at full throttle. We are confident that the owners will fix this quickly. It is a dream to look at and has a lot of kit to make you feel comfortable and happy.

Verdict

Corsa? Can't comment, sorry. Mark of distinction? Maybe, maybe not. Aster? Yes please.