Opel Performance Center

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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
Parent Adam Opel AG
Divisions OPC Race Camp
Website www.opel-opc.ie

Opel Performance Center GmbH (OPC) is a subsidiary of Adam Opel AG and is responsible for the planning, development and coordination of all motorsport activities in charge of Opel and its British subsidiary Vauxhall, where the VXR badge is used.

The main focus of OPC lies in the Opel involvement in motorsport, e.g. at the VLN, 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.

Contents

History [edit]

Opel Manta B GSi

OPC was established in 1997.[1] The first OPC car, an Astra 2.0 litre with naturally aspirated engine developing 160 PS (118 kW; 158 bhp), sold out all 3,000 limited edition units within four months when it was launched in 1999. Since then more than 50,000 of these high performance cars have been sold in a variety of models, ranging from Corsa OPC to Zafira OPC.

Opel was the first brand to offer a high performance variant of a MPV when it launched the Zafira OPC with a 2-litre turbo producing 192 PS (141 kW; 189 bhp) in 2001. More than 12,000 units of that sporty Zafira generation were sold.[2]

The most popular OPC car was the Opel Corsa D OPC in 2008, with its 1.6-litre turbo engine and 192 PS (141 kW; 189 bhp).[citation needed] This small car accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds and can hit a top speed of 225 km/h (139.8 mph). The maximum torque of up to 266 N·m (196 lb·ft) with overboost is delivered to the front wheels by a standard six-speed transmission.

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.[3]

OPC models [edit]

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 [edit]

  • since 2007 Opel Corsa D OPC - a version of the Opel Corsa D three-door hatchback which has a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 141 kW (192 hp).
  • since 2009 Opel Insignia OPC - a version of the Opel Insignia five-door liftback, four-door saloon and five-door station wagon (Sports Tourer) which has a 2.8-liter V6 turbo engine with 239 kW (325 hp) and standard all-wheel drive.
  • since 2011 Opel Corsa D OPC Nürburgring Edition - a version of the Opel Corsa D three-door hatchback which has a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 155 kW (210 hp).
  • since 2012 Opel Astra J OPC - a version of the current Opel Astra GTC compact sports car which has a 2.0-liter turbo engine with 206 kW (280 hp).

  • Opel Corsa D OPC (pre-facelift)

  • Opel Insignia OPC

  • Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer

  • Opel Corsa D OPC Nürburgring Edition (facelift)

  • Opel Astra J OPC

Previous models [edit]

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.

  • Opel Astra G OPC

  • Opel Astra G OPC Caravan

  • Opel Zafira A OPC

  • Opel Astra H OPC

  • Opel Zafira B OPC

  • Opel Vectra C OPC (facelift)

  • Opel Vectra C OPC Caravan (facelift)

  • Opel Meriva A OPC

Concept cars [edit]

Opel Astra G OPC X-Treme Concept

Over the fifteen 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".[4][5]
  • 2013 Opel Adam R2 Concept - a study version of the Opel Adam.

Motorsport [edit]

Rallying [edit]

Opel Adam R2 Concept
  • Adam Cup

The Adam Cup was introduced by Opel in November 2012. It is a rally car based on the Opel Adam. In Germany, the brand championship is named: ADAC OPEL Rally Cup and is held together with ADAC. Originally a starting field of 20 participants was under consideration, which has been increased to 24 participants due to the great rush to the starter courses. Beginning in March 2013, a collaboration with the FFSA was announced to align an Adam Cup with 17 participants in France. The vehicles will be built by Holzer Motorsport and feature a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine and a five-speed transmission from Sadev with a mechanical multi-disc locking differential.

  • Adam R2

Opel presented the study of the Adam R2 for the FIA Rally Regulations R2 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. It is largely based on the Adam Cup. The Adam R2 is powered by a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine making 182 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque.[6]

Astra OPC Cup [edit]

In November 2012, Opel announced to held its own brand trophy with the "Astra OPC Cup" at the 2013 VLN. The Astra OPC Cup is built up by Kissling Motorsport for customer teams. The vehicle makes in the racing configuration 300 horsepower and 400 Nm, and has various carbon fiber components.[7]

Slogans [edit]

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

See also [edit]

Portal icon Germany portal
Portal icon Cars portal
Portal icon Companies portal

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ "Opel Performance Center: High Performance Variants". Opel Poland press release. Retrieved 13 February 2012. 
  2. ^ www.fastestlaps.com/cars/opel_zafira_opc.html
  3. ^ http://www.opel-specials.de/gsis.htm
  4. ^ http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/paris-motor-show/256810/threedoor_astra_steals_show.html
  5. ^ http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-opel-astra-opc/
  6. ^ http://www.caranddriver.com/news/opel-adam-r2-rally-concept-photos-and-info-news
  7. ^ Opel mit Astra OPC Cup zurück im Motorsport

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: OPC-vehicles


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