Opel Performance Center

Opel Performance Center GmbH

Type	GmbH
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Rüsselsheim, Germany
Key people	Volker Strycek Managing Director
Products	High-performance cars, specialist body styling parts, automotive consumer goods
Services	Testing, production, research and development
Owner(s)	Adam Opel AG
Parent	General Motors Company
Divisions	OPC Race Camp
Website	www.opel-opc.ie

Opel Performance Center GmbH (OPC) is an independent subsidiary of the German automaker Opel, which is responsible for the planning, development and coordination of all motorsport activities in charge of Opel and Vauxhall.

The main focus of OPC lies in the Opel-involvement in motorsport, e.g., by 2005 at the DTM, at the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and at rallies as well as in the performance of standard models, which bear the shorthand symbol OPC.

The former Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters racer Volker Strycek, who won the DTM in 1984, is managing director of Opel Performance Center GmbH.

History

OPC was established in 1997 and its first model launched was the Opel Astra G OPC in 1999.

Prior to OPC models, Opel used the Grand Sport Injection (GSi) designation in the mid 80s and the late 90s for its high-performance and hot hatch derivatives. Opel has offered many models as GSi, e.g., the Manta B GSi, Kadett E GSi or Astra F GSi. The last vehicle with the GSi name was the Corsa C GSi, which was offered in the Opel model range until 2004. After three years, Opel decided to use the GSi name for the Corsa D in 2007, and more recently for the Astra J from 2012 again.

OPC models

The retail versions developed by OPC are sold under the Opel brand, as special versions of the standard Opel vehicles. They are typically painted in a bright shade of blue (though other colours are available too). Their main competition in Europe are the ST versions of Ford's European range and Volkswagen's GTI and R range. In the UK, Vauxhall's versions of OPC models are badged as VXR.

Current models

• since 2007 Opel Corsa D OPC - a version of the Opel Corsa D three-door hatchback.
• since 2009 Opel Insignia OPC - a version of the Opel Insignia five-door liftback, four-door saloon and five-door station wagon (Sports Tourer).
• since 2012 Opel Astra J OPC - a version of the current Opel Astra GTC sport compact car.

Previous models

OPC has developed the following special versions of Opel vehicles:

• 1999 - 2004 Opel Astra G OPC - a version of the three-door hatchback and five-door station wagon (Caravan) Astra G
• 2001 - 2006 Opel Zafira A OPC - a version of the Opel Zafira A compact MPV
• 2005 - 2011 Opel Astra H OPC - again, based on the three-door Astra, this time the three-door hatchback (GTC) version of the Astra H
• 2005 - 2010 Opel Zafira B OPC - a version of the Opel Zafira B compact MPV
• 2005 - 2008 Opel Vectra C OPC- a version of the Opel Vectra C five-door liftback (GTS) and five-door station wagon (Caravan)
• 2006 - 2010 Opel Meriva A OPC - a version of the Opel Meriva mini MPV

Concept cars

Over the nine years of existence, OPC presented the following concept cars:

• 2001 Opel Astra Coupe OPC X-Treme - based on the DTM V8-powered version of the Opel Astra Coupe
• 2002 Opel Corsa OPC - a very production-ready version of the 3-door Opel Corsa C that, however, never made it to production
• 2003 Opel Vectra OPC - contrary to the commercial Vectra OPC, this one was based on the pre-facelift Vectra GTS and was powered with a tuned 1.9 CDTI engine
• 2004 Opel Astra High Performance Concept - a study version of the later 2005 Opel Astra OPC, but painted in "power red"
• 2010 Opel Astra GTC Paris Concept - a study version of the later 2012 Opel Astra OPC, but painted in "power red"

Marketing

OPC Race Camp

OPC Race Camp is a talent show for racers, where the winners attend the 24 Hours Nürburgring race.

Slogans

OPC's corporate German tagline is "Dynamik. Leistung. Pure Passion", meaning "Dynamic. Performance. Pure Passion".

Gallery

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  Opel Corsa D OPC

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  Opel Meriva A OPC

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  Opel Astra G OPC

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  Opel Astra G OPC Caravan

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  Opel Astra H OPC

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  Opel Zafira A OPC

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  Opel Zafira B OPC

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  Opel Vectra C OPC facelift

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  Opel Vectra C OPC Caravan facelift

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  Opel Insignia OPC

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  Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer

See also

• Irmscher
• Steinmetz Opel Tuning
• VXR

External links

• Opel-OPC Ireland