Opel Astra OPC Set to Hit Australian Roads on 2013
A new topnotch car model is slated to join Opel Australia's present domestic product lines, the European carmaker said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
To provide a glimpse of its capabilities, the company will roll out next week the Opel Astra OPC (Opel Performance Centre) in time for the Australian International Motor Show, Opel Australia Managing Director Bill Mott said.
The new Opel local offering will join the company's present stable of vehicles that were backed by the renowned German carmaking technology, namely the Astra variants, the compact Corset light cars and the mid-sized Insignia sedans and wagons.
The Astra OPC is distinct for its high-calibre engineering that has been envisioned to provide "driving enthusiasts (comfortable) ... during the week, on weekends and enjoy on the track," Mr Mott added.
Under the hood, the Astra OPC has a power station in the form of a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine, which is able to pack peak energy of 206kW with the corresponding torque that could reach 400Nm.
Touted as the monster hatch that could easily outmuscle similar models, the car effortlessly accelerates into 100kmh from scratch under six seconds.
Initial reports from The Motor Report showed that the Astra OPC will be fitted with "HiPerStrut front suspension design, FlexRide multimode dampers, a mechanical LSD and Brembo brakes," that should stabilise the sheer power from its behemoth engine.
Opel's fresh addition is easily the most significant for the company's Australian presence so far, specifically the muscle car segment and "Australia has a long history of, and passion, for performance vehicles," according to Mr Mott.
"We are very excited to confirm that the Astra OPC will be in Sydney next week and will be available in our showrooms next year," the Opel Australia chief was quoted by News-Mail.com as saying.
No specific price details were released by Opel on the Astra OPC at the moment but TMR has reported that based on prevailing sticker price for the OPC segment, the car's retail price will likely start below the $50,000 mark.