Opel Astra The new generation OPC is built on the platform of Opel, which is already quite familiar in Russia. Astra GTC. The world premiere of the next generation Opel Astra ORS 2013-2014 model year took place at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 2012, and already in the middle of summer, the representative office of the German company Opel announced the start of sales of the “hot hatchback” at Russian market.
As part of our review, we will try to understand whether the Astra J OPC “lighter” is worth the money that is asked for it, and whether the car is able to “light up”, as they say, “in full”.
The appearance of the "charged" Astra OPS from the first seconds attracts the views of others. In a static position, the machine looks like a bundle of energy. The front part with stylish headlights, a huge bumper with a wide smile of the air intake and original additional air ducts along the edges of the fairing (tricks, but they look impressive).
The aerodynamic body kit in the form of a front bumper lip, sills, a huge spoiler at the transition of the roof dome to the glass of the fifth door is harmoniously complemented by the "biceps" of the wheel arches, which easily accommodate low-profile tires 245/40 R19 - 245/35 R20 on beautiful R19 wheels and R20, and with a rear fairing diffuser integrated into the profile.
Chrome-plated trapezoid exhaust system spread out on the sides rear bumper and unobtrusively hint at the serious potential of the car.
Whatever color the car body is painted in, there are seven color options - snow white, bright yellow (ripe melon), bright red, blue (Arden blue), deep blue (Buzz), black (Carbon Flash) and Mineral White (white) - the car looks amazing.
The interior of the third incarnation of the Opel Astra OPC welcomes the driver and front passenger, familiar from model range, "Astra J Interior". The architecture of the front panel, the center console with a scattering of control buttons, dashboard with two large and a pair of small dials, screen on-board computer(the speedometer is marked up to the "adult" figure of 300 km / h).
The steering wheel and front row seats are original "OPS-sovskie". The "donut" in a leather braid with a diameter of 36 cm fits perfectly in the hands, stylishly sporty trimmed from the bottom, with bright tides for the thumbs in the place of the correct grip. Opel's own design bucket seats (not Recaro) have been approved and certified by the German orthopedic association AGR.
The seats are set low and the driver is reclining behind the wheel, depending on the wishes of the car owner, the upholstery can be combined (fabric and leather) or completely leather. In the presence of 18 (!!!) seat adjustments, including in their list the electric drive of the hip support rollers and lumbar support.
The ideal “handle” of gear selection is pleasantly covered by the hand, pedals with aluminum lining and rubber pimples (at the crucial moment the foot will not come off the pedal). Finding the optimal driving position is not an easy task, but after spending ten minutes choosing different body positions, you end up settling in like in a racing car.
Basic Opel equipment Astra J OPC does not allow you to count on " full stuffing”, and for this, of course, there are several optional packages that allow you to properly “pack” the car:
- package "OPC Design" (25 thousand rubles) - a spoiler, thresholds, LEDs in the rear lights;
- package "Performance" (45 thousand rubles) - adaptive xenon light AFL +, heated electric mirrors with a folding function, light and rain sensors;
- package "Unlimited" (80 thousand rubles) - navigator, parking sensors, side "curtains" pillows.
- and having paid 150,000 rubles at once, we get a complete stuffing (where, in addition to all of the above, there is also: R20 forged wheels, a fully leather interior, Infinity music).
So we got to the most interesting. Appearance, interior and finishing materials are all good, but due to what the car will give joy and buzz from an incendiary drive!? Let's start with phenomenal gasoline engine: A 2-liter turbocharged engine produces 280 “stallions” and, through an honest 6 manual gearbox and a mechanically locked differential, transfers all the power to the front wheels (on wet asphalt, however, it does not save the drive wheels from breaking into a strong slip).
Front conventional MacPherson struts, but thanks to the original HiPerStrut scheme with separately installed knuckles, on which the hubs are attached, when the steering wheel is turned, the racks remain in place, which reduces the angle by 44% transverse slope axles and reduces the running-in shoulder by 46%. Simply put, it is possible to achieve a larger tire contact area in the turn and, of course, improve handling. The rear suspension is a beam with a Watt mechanism, but unlike the “ordinary Opel Astra” with stiffer springs (by 30%) and a ground clearance lowered by 10 mm. To everything it is worth adding adjustable FlexRide shock absorbers and power steering - capable of changing settings (three modes Normal, Sport and OPC) and brake mechanisms Brembo (front with 355mm discs).
Let's try to revive the engine and drive a couple of laps around the track - test drive Opel Astra J OPC. Having started the engine, you immediately understand that a herd “lives” under the hood, the voice of the engine seems so loud. Warming up the "heart" to the operating temperature - the "voice" becomes quieter and nobler. Well, go ahead! We turn on the gear, release the long-stroke clutch pedal and the car is rapidly gaining momentum. You can not hold the steering wheel with a "death" grip, the car goes straight. On dry pavement, the drive wheels fully realize all the power of the motor, the first, second - already 100 km / h in 6 seconds. We pass turn after turn in one breath, at the entrance to the bend we open the gas and the car, as if on rails, is screwed into the radius. The steering wheel is tight and informative, it seems that you are holding on to the tie rods with your hands. The feeling of childish joy does not leave during the entire time spent in the Opel Astra ORS. Turns, turns, and here is a long straight line - the pedal to the floor and the arrow quickly reaches the cherished 250 km / h. Having checked the brakes, hung on the seat belts, the deceleration is powerful and straightforward. Well, the time has come, it's time to give the "beast" to the owner. That's just the "beast" - the car turned out to be tamed, understandable and tolerant, you can drive it to work every day, and even take your children to school.
You can become the owner of an obedient athlete Opel Astra OPC in 2015 (on the Russian market) for 1,714,900 rubles (the “base” price). Definitely, the "lighter" Opel Astra ORS is worth the money that is asked for it.
The production version of the Opel Astra H was introduced in 2004. The sports version of the OPC appeared only in the fall of the following year. How is it different from the civilian Astra? First of all, power unit and some stylistic changes. Wider wheel arches, massive bumpers and tip exhaust pipe, placed in the center - these are the distinguishing features of the compact ORS. 18-inch wheels were offered as standard, but 19-inch wheels could be fitted at an additional cost. The interior was enriched with Recaro sports seats.
In October 2005, the Opel Astra OPC visited the Nurburgring, at the helm of which sat a real German racer Manuel Reiter. Result? Record in the class - 8 minutes 35.93 seconds. In honor of this event, GM introduced the OPC Nurburgring Edition in a limited edition in 2008. A characteristic feature of this modification: suspension with variable characteristics IDS Plus 2, 19-inch wheel disks, a body painted in white lacquer, and a racing chessboard the entire length of the car from the hood to tailgate. A total of 835 copies of this version were produced.
A year later, another limited edition Opel Astra OPC Race Camp appeared in Opel showrooms. The black roof, rims, mirrors, grille trim and white body paint were the hallmarks of the regular OPC. The production of the "sports" modification ended in 2010, along with the stop of the assembly line of the civilian version.
Engine
Petrol: 2.0 R4 Ecotec Turbo (240 hp).
Fans of fast hatchbacks, as a rule, decide to buy Honda Civic type R, Renault Megane RS or Volkswagen Golf GTI. Opel Astra ORS is not as popular as its competitors, although in fact it does not deserve it. which is indirectly confirmed dynamic characteristics- 6.9 seconds to 100 km / h (6.4 - declared by the manufacturer). All competitors noted above are inferior to Opel in the sprint. The maximum speed of the sports version is 244 km / h.
In city traffic, the hatch is content with 13-14 l / 100 km, but if you get carried away a little, the consumption immediately increases. On the highway, OPC consumes an average of 10-11 l / 100 km. Given the maximum power, this is a good result.
The Ecotec 2.0-litre turbocharged is a fairly robust design that typically doesn't deliver serious problems during operation. But it was not completely without drawbacks.
Before buying, you should carefully inspect the engine for oil leaks, which are quite common. In traveled copies, there are cases of damage to the gasket under the head of the block and malfunction of the turbocharger. Should be well researched and an exhaust manifold, in which holes are often formed. Rarely, but there are even cases of "rupture" of the head of the block.
Technical features
The car was offered only in the body - a 3-door hatchback. As befits a typical hot hatch, power from the engine is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed mechanical box gears. For improvement driving performance the manufacturer installed the EDC system - an advanced traction control system that has nothing to do with the usual mechanical limited-slip differential.
MacPherson struts are installed on the front axle, and a torsion beam at the rear. Unfortunately, the latter solution doesn't perform well in tight and tight corners, but most of the competition doesn't do that either.
With regard to security, the civilian version in EuroNCAP crash tests earned 5 stars.
Typical problems and malfunctions
Front-wheel drive in a powerful car does not work efficiently enough. Not only dynamic performance suffers from such a combination, but tires and drive shafts wear out faster. Astra OPC owners are no stranger to these types of problems.
Another common ailment is a short clutch life. During a test drive, you should check if it slips? In addition, there is premature wear of the gearbox bearings. Steering also has its weak sides, so monitoring is a must.
As in the civilian Astra, the air conditioning compressor may fail. Owners note periodic problems with the voltage regulator. In addition, the CIM module often fails, as well as the tire pressure monitoring system and xenon. Not durable and exhaust system, which quickly becomes covered with rust.
Conclusion
What do you pay attention to when choosing a used one? sports car? First of all, on its dynamic characteristics. It doesn't matter how strong its engine is, what matters is how much faster it is than the competition. Comparing the speed performance of various hot hatches, it turns out that the Opel Astra III OPC is one of the fastest cars in its class.
In addition to excellent performance characteristics, ORS has a dynamic design. Astra N with a set of OPC sports linings looks really impressive. Despite the shortcomings, the engine deserves special praise, which consumes fuel within reasonable limits. The price is also attractive - from about 400,000 to 600,000 rubles.
Disadvantages? Unfortunately, the sporting ability is strongly constrained by the rear suspension and front-wheel drive, which is typical for most cars in the C segment. You should not count on a high level of functionality either. Only two people can comfortably fit on board, the rest (in the back) will not be very comfortable due to the heavily sloped roof.
In November 2011, Opel distributed official images of the new generation Astra OPC "charged" hatchback in the J body, which received a 2.0-liter turbo engine that produces 280 hp. and peak torque of 400 Nm.
The new Opel Astra OPS has retained front-wheel drive, but special HiPerStrut steering knuckles have now appeared in the front suspension design, which can reduce the effect of power steering inherent in powerful front-wheel drives.
A similar system is used on "hot" Ford Focus RS, as well as Renault Clio RS and Renault Megane RS, and Opel itself had previously tested it on the older model. In addition, the novelty boasts the presence of a mechanical differential on the front axle.
From 0 to 100 km / h, the new Opel Astra J OPC accelerates in 6.0 seconds (the predecessor with a 240-horsepower engine gained a hundred in 6.4 seconds), and maximum speed new items is 250 km / h. As brakes, the car received brake mechanisms from Brembo.
The interior of the Opel Astra J OPS differs from the GTC version in the presence of sports front seats, a different instrument panel, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a flattened rim at its bottom. European sales of new items will begin only next summer, prices have not yet been announced. In the UK, the car will be sold as the Vauxhall Astra VXR.
Orders for the model started on June 6, 2012. The price of the new Opel Astra OPC 2015 in the Russian market is 1,714,900 rubles, but buyers can upgrade the hatchback additional equipment, with which the cost of the car will exceed two million dollars.
Opel Astra OPC 2013 photo
third generation Astra models OPC appeared in 2012.
The car is based on a three-door version of the hatchback body, and the only power plant is a 2.0-litre A 2.0 NFT four-cylinder petrol engine, turbocharged and mated to a six-speed manual.
Fine-tuning of the car was carried out by specialists from the English division of Vauxhall Dynamics. The car received a MacPherson-type front suspension with extended steering knuckles, as well as rear suspension with the Watt mechanism. And the engine, due to the high degree of forcing, produces 280 hp / 5500 rpm and 400 Nm at 2400-4500 rpm.
Standard equipment on the OPC version includes a self-locking differential, Sachs adaptive dampers, Brembo brakes, Recaro front seats, 19-inch wheels, front front and side airbags, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel and front seats, cruise control, power windows and radio. .
For now Moment Astra OPC is the best offer in terms of power/price ratio. The starting price for the basic version is 1,165,000 rubles.
Expert opinion
And yet, with all the thoughtfulness of the chassis and the balance of settings, one and a half tons of weight, as well as 280 Horse power and the Astra's 400 Nm of hot temperament make it clear that pretending to be a "tough guy" is not enough. You need to literally become one of the varieties of "tough guys" - a racer! If you're not brave enough to use the full potential of the 355mm Brembo caliper front brakes and brake as late as possible, then turn into the perfect trajectory, "targeting" the apex, and open full throttle as early as possible (on the way out of the corner, you remember with a kind word self-locking differential, which helps the wheels cope with high power) - next to the Astra OPC you will be uncomfortable. Wide track, wide tires great suspension and the low center of gravity don't change the fact that the car is front wheel drive and powerful! And this means that if you add gas too early, the front end will inevitably slide to the outside of the turn, frightening an unprepared pilot. Did you really think that such "girls" are weak-willed? No, she definitely won’t allow herself to be pushed around, but it’s quite possible to pretend that you are in charge.