Astra OPC Extreme to be fastest Opel ever

Mon, 03 Feb 2014

A racecar for the road. Usually that statement is nothing more than marketing, but Opel may have actually done it with its Astra OPC Extreme. It promises that the hot hatch is the fastest production Astra it has ever sold.

The Extreme starts as a standard Astra OPC with 280 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, then gets upgrades from the Astra OPC Cup racecar from the VLN Nürburgring Endurance Championship. The upgrades include carbon fiber components to cut weight, an integrated roll cage, racing seats, six-point seatbelts and racing-inspired livery. Opel says that its hottest hatch has done 10,000 kilometers (6,214 miles) of testing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The Extreme will launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will have a limited production run later this year. Obviously, it will be limited only to Europe, so don't get your hopes up. You can scroll down to read all of the details about Opel's race-ready road car.

Super Sports Study for Geneva Motor Show: Opel Astra OPC EXTREME
Opel shows hot Astra OPC as race-bred variant for public roads and track

Rüsselsheim. Opel will reveal a true super sports car at the 84th Geneva Motor Show (March 6 – 16). The study follows the tradition of the Astra OPC X-treme Concept shown in 2002. Then, as now, a real race car found its way from the racetrack to public roads. While the red OPC X-treme from 12 years ago remained a single specimen, the new EXTREME in typical Opel motorsport colors is to be the foundation for a low-volume production run. This OPC EXTREME will be the fastest street-legal Astra ever, true to the Opel Performance Center motto: "OPC. Pure Passion".

The Opel Astra OPC EXTREME is a direct derivative of the Astra OPC Cup racecar from the Nürburgring Endurance Championship (VLN) – and street-legal! High quality, carbon components reduce its weight compared to the 280 hp Astra OPC launched in 2012. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point seatbelts means it comes equipped for the racetrack.

The OPC EXTREME sports coupé features uncompromised racing technology for use on public roads – including the occasional detour to the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That's where the idea for the Astra OPC EXTREME was born, at the Opel Performance Center which is based right next to the legendary track. Be it the Corsa OPC, Astra OPC or Insignia OPC – all Opel sports stars must successfully complete extensive, full-throttle test drives and a grueling 10,000 kilometer endurance program under the toughest conditions on the Nordschleife.

By Chris Bruce