VIDEO: Opel Corsa OPC hits the 'Ring
As we told you back in January, there's a new Opel/Vauxhall Corsa OPC overseas that's attractive, fun and athletic to boot. For now it remains the exclusive property of our friends in Europe, but with GM stating that Opel will essentially equal Saturn by 2014, and Bob Lutz telling us we should see the Corsa here within 5 years, there is reason to hope. This is a car we would buy today if it were slotted into the Saturn lineup. Replacing inferior product like the Aveo, a Saturn (or Chevy) Corsa would cause quite a stir at the lower end of the market. And better yet is the fact that Opel offers an OPC (the Vauxhall goes by VXR) pocket rocket edition that would look very nice with a Red Line badge on its rump.
That OPC is the subject of today's post. With the car having debuted in Geneva a couple of weeks ago, we filled a gallery with photos of this sexy little beast. Today we have a video clip of the hot pocket zipping along the coast before launching an attack on the Green Hell in Germany. The Corsa OPC uses a 192-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter 4. That is good enough for a 6.8-second 0-60 time and a top end of 140 mph, while still managing to return around 30 US miles per gallon in combined use (35.8 imperial mpg). Those numbers sound pretty good to us. Follow the jump to see this future Saturn (fingers crossed) in all its tire-squealing glory.
[Source: GM]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stealth E34 4:13PM (3/16/2007)
GM should get that thing over RIGHT NOW. Man oh man what an impact it would make, especially as a Chevy, let alone a Saturn.
Hurry up Lutz!
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Aetius 4:15PM (3/16/2007)
WOW
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geo.stewart 4:24PM (3/16/2007)
the future's so bright, I gotta wear my shades...
I would love for this to come over NOW, or even a redline astra with 180-200 hp.
leave the aveo as the chevy model and this as a Saturn. I'd take this with 140-150 hp and be happy.
WHY, oh why, does everyone think americans wanting small cars want cheap POS cars with no ooomph. I want a small car I'm not ashamed to own and that can hit 60 in 8 seconds.
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Dr. Greenthumb 4:29PM (3/16/2007)
No fan of little econo-boxes, but this thing is a "Sexy Little Beast".
Mr. Lutz:
You've got to okay this one for the US. Not doing so = shooting oneself in the foot.
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TSW 4:29PM (3/16/2007)
This car looks FANTASTIC.
Now I'm convinced... we need a gray market, and we need it soon.
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rem83 5:17PM (3/16/2007)
I wish my 118 HP, 1.6 L Miata would return 30 mpg in combined cycle driving.
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naggs 5:08PM (3/16/2007)
"The Corsa OPC uses a 192-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter 4. That is good enough for a 6.8-second 0-60 time and a top end of 140 mph, while still managing to return around 30 US miles per gallon"
drool... this thing is friggin awesome. we will probably have to wait for the next gen to be made for the nazi-riffic US crash testing. to bad, i would take this thing over a mini cooper s any day of the week. will probably cost less too.
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dougjp 5:22PM (3/16/2007)
geo.stewart hit the nail on the head. THIS is what we want! If GM brings it soon, they can grab a waiting market that most other manufacturers ALSO miss on.
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davisguest 8:14PM (3/16/2007)
It is a car like this that will open up two new categories of car buyers for GM: The young buyer who wants a good looking daily driver that can move, and the multi car high income family (and single male too) that has the gas guzzling Suburban/Avalanche/F-150 and needs a third car as a daily commuter, but still wants a car that has a certain "it" factor. Right now, the only car that serves this niche is the Honda Fit, and comparing the Corsa to the Fit in looks, the Fit can't hold a candle to this beauty.
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DPC car videos 7:48PM (3/16/2007)
30 mpg and performance like that is what we need here in the US. I don't see big motor cars selling here in the US in the future, not with the current and still rising gas prices.
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robz4 10:09PM (3/16/2007)
Very neat car and looks like a great handler too.Come on GM ...bring it here the way it is.Show the USA and Canada that you can build small, fun to drive cars too.
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nagmashot 12:59AM (3/17/2007)
#6 europen crash test norms (Euro NCAP) and US chrash test norms are almost identical... the new Opel Corsa did extrem well at europen crash test(better as Toyota Yaris), passing US test is only a matter of doing it..not redesign the car.
http://media.autobild.de/bild/3/976e2fb650943ef7ae9262cdff045aa3_1.jpg
The Corsa recived the best result in passenger protection ever reached in the Mini car class.
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stirlo 9:58PM (3/17/2007)
:'( they took the Corsa (barina) away from us aussies, and replaced it with the POS daewoo Aveo thing.
My gf drives the last model Corsa, and it's a damn nice car, but the new one loks awesome. and a lot better than any daewoo...
GM is retarded to think we want Korean cars, if we did, hyundai would be a respected brand.
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Rick Lyon 10:20AM (3/19/2007)
Why do we, home of these damn companies, get their boring, bloated, crap??? I'd take that as a 4 door right now! Of course, if it comes here, it will not get the ground effects, the rims will be plastic hub caps lacking low profiles and the car will sit 8" higher off the ground for those darn US floods.
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