- Powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
- Excellent dynamics (where there’s grip)
- Supportive front seats
- Long throw gearshift has rubbery action
- Steering has weird on-centre feel
- Poor rear visibility and no reversing camera
- Complicated infotainment system
- Interior materials fall short of VW Mk.7 Golf GTi and VW Mk.7 Golf R
Overview
Released in February 2013, the Opel Mk.4 Astra OPC was a three-door, hot hatch. Manufactured in Gilwice, Poland, the front-wheel drive Astra OPC was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
A20NFT engine
The 2.0-litre A20NFT petrol engine had a twin-scroll turbocharger (with maximum boost pressure of 1.5 bar), a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, high-pressure direct fuel injection, dual camshaft continuously variable valve timing, four valves per cylinder (with sodium-filled exhaust valves) and a compression ratio of 9.3:1. As such, the Astra OPC could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds.
Dimensions and suspension
The Astra OPC was 4466 mm long, 2020 mm wide, 1489 mm tall and had a 2695 mm long wheelbase. Unike the standard Astra and Astra GTC , however, the Astra OPC was fitted with ‘HiPerStrut’ front suspension which, compared to conventional MacPherson struts, reduced kingpin inclination by 44 per cent and shortened spindle length (kingpin offset) by 46 per cent with a reduced lever arm. The reduced inclination of the kingpin resulted in less camber loss while cornering, thereby reducing torque steer reactions and improving traction. Furthermore, a Watt’s linkage was added to the rear axle and combined with a compound-crank axle; the linkage consisted of a short, pivoting centre link with a ball joint at each end to which the lateral links from the wheels were bolted. As a result, around 80 per cent of all lateral loads were absorbed by the rear suspension.
The Astra OPC was fitted with Opel’s adaptive ‘FlexRide’ chassis system which automatically adjusted damping to the prevailing driving conditions and enabled the driver to select from different drive modes. The Astra OPC also had a mechanical multi-plate limited slip front differential which provided a locking effect with a ramp angle of 45 degrees under acceleration and 90 degrees under deceleration.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra OPC | 2.0-litre turbo petrol I4 | 6sp man. | 206 kW at 5300 rpm | 400 Nm at 2400-4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Astra OPC included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, active front seat head restraints and front seatbelts with dual pretensioners and load limiters.
Brakes
The Astra OPC had 355 mm by 32 mm ventilated and cross-drilled front brake discs with four-piston Brembo calipers and 315 mm solid and cross-drilled rear discs.
Euro NCAP testing
In Euro NCAP testing , the closely-related Astra GTC received a five star safety rating which included a 91 per cent adult occupant protection rating and a 79 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the front offset test, protection of the driver’s chest was rated as adequate, while lower leg protection for both front occupants was also rated as adequate. In the side impact and pole tests, protection of the driver’s chest was rated as marginal.
Under ANCAP’s methodology , the Astra GTC received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 33.35 out of 37.
Features: Opel Astra OPC
Standard features for the Opel Astra OPC included 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 ZR tyres, a seven speaker sound system with MP3-compatibility, CD player, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod/SD card reader) and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity with voice control, a satellite navigation system with a seven-inch colour display, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control, Nappa leather seat trim, power adjustable and heated front seats, daytime running lights, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a power-operated park brake, 12 volt power outlet, trip computer and an immobiliser.
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