Filed under: Economy, Sports/GTs, Etc., Euro, Hatchbacks, Opel
Opel Corsa OPC sets Nordschleife record
Click image for a gallery of the Opel Corsa OPC
During the same round of the OPC Race Camp that saw the introduction of the Opel Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition, former Opel works driver Manuel Reuter decided to update the official Nordschleife record book. He did this by taking a production-spec Corsa OPC and lapping the course in 8 minutes, 47.99 seconds -- a new record for superminis on The Green Hell.
The Corsa OPC is no stranger to the Nordschleife, as Opel uses the track regularly during the development of its automobiles. The little hot hatchlet is driven by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 192 horsepower. Its peak torque rating of 169 lb-ft can be bumped up an additional fifteen percent thanks to the car's Overboost function. We sit here waiting patiently for the next Corsa revision, so that we can see a Saturn-badged version take on the forthcoming Ford Fiesta/Verve/Whatever when both ultimately arrive Stateside. If the Detroit automakers cooperate, we'll get a Red Line vs. SVT duel, too. (Fingers crossed.)
[Source: GM]
Gallery: Opel Corsa OPC / Vauxhall Corsa VXR
PRESS RELEASE
Corsa OPC Sets Circuit Record on Nürburgring Nordschleife
* Manuel Reuter sets new supermini record of 8m47.99 minutes
* Third record for Opel OPC model after Astra and Zafira
Rüsselsheim. The Nürburgring Nordschleife, nicknamed the "Green Hell", met its match today in the shape of a standard production Corsa OPC. After 20.8 challenging kilometers, the stopwatch showed eight minutes, 8m47.99 seconds – a new record for a supermini. Manuel Reuter set the officially confirmed circuit record during level four of Opel's popular motorsport initiative called "OPC Race Camp". The former Opel works driver and current head of the innovative racing driver talent search showed the candidates just what the 141 kW/192 hp top-of-the-line Corsa OPC is capable of. Reuter has already set class records on the legendary Nordschleife with the Astra OPC and Zafira OPC.
Manuel Reuter, who is involved with the chassis tuning and post launch modifications to OPC variants, said: "You can sense that this car had its final tuning here on the most demanding racing circuit in the world. The Corsa OPC reacts directly to driving commands and remains fully predictable even well into the car's physical limits." The Nürburgring, and in particular the famous Nordschleife circuit, is Opel territory, as development engineers from Rüsselsheim regularly test and optimize the driving dynamics of new models there.
The Corsa OPC, which has been on sale since March and already exceeded the planned annual sales target of 3000 units, also offers top class everyday driving fun away from the racing circuit. The sporty top version of the fourth-generation Corsa has a 1.6-liter turbo engine, which accelerates the car from zero to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. The Corsa OPC has a top speed of 225 km/h, and its maximum torque of 230 Nm can be temporarily increased by 15 percent via the Overboost function. The Corsa OPC's only conservative trait is its fuel consumption – just 7.9 liters per 100 km.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mark 7:39PM (8/28/2007)
Okay great car, I love it.. But what's with Opel/Saturn leaving out the Coolant Gauge?? It's a turbo, that would be IMPORTANT to have..
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geo.stewart 7:44PM (8/28/2007)
I like it
I love it
I want some more of it.
but, will GM bring it?
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Don 5:36PM (8/29/2007)
They could have brought it in the current Astra...but no, we got saddled with the 1.8L turd.
Mike 7:54PM (8/28/2007)
Cool! So this is why there were so many Opels on the Nurburgring webcam this morning...
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cypher09 8:32PM (8/28/2007)
Dear Santa (Bob Lutz),
Please bring this car over from Europe so I put my S2k in the garage and not have to put snow tires on it again.
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whofan 8:39PM (8/28/2007)
I use to have a 1977 Opel manta GTE when I was in Germany. Bosch fuel injection it ran on regular leaded gas. No emission controls. The car was a blast to drive. It pulled all the way up 7500 RPM before it ran out of breath. GM and Ford both have and had nice cars in Europe. Fords Capri was the equivalant to my car. These were the German Camaro and Mustangs.
The Manta I had was a different car than the one we had here in the early 70s.
More opel for Saturn is a good thing.
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naggs 9:01PM (8/28/2007)
drool...
i want...
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speedball3 9:08PM (8/28/2007)
Sweet car! I like it better as an Opel vs. a Vauxhall..something ab that pontiac-esque grill just doesn't do it for me. Love the center exhaust and aggressive look! Bring it over! It'd be the US's MINI fighter.
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Patrick 9:46PM (8/28/2007)
An 8 Mile Course In 47.99 Seconds? Does It Have A Jet Engine Or What?
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Rob 9:49PM (8/28/2007)
8 Minutes and 47.99 Patrick... Spongebob will explain it later :)
geo.stewart 9:52PM (8/28/2007)
20.8 challenging kilometers, the stopwatch showed eight minutes, 8m47.99 seconds
12.92 miles. 8.8minutes
88.23 miles/hr
Patrick 10:00PM (8/28/2007)
Lol Ooops. I Read That Wrong. Forgive Me Fellow Bloggers Lol
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Harold Kerrick 10:07PM (8/28/2007)
HOLY CRAP.....1.6 liters and 192 horses!!!
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Dave 11:39PM (8/28/2007)
Thats slightly lower specific output than GM's 2.0 DI turbo in the Solstice / Sky.
Grant 11:27PM (8/28/2007)
i so want this car exactly as it is, an Opel! not a saturn, not anything but an Opel! in America, wouldn't that be awesome?
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Nick 11:42PM (8/28/2007)
Awesome little car. Until Toyota comes out with another RWD small car, this is at the top of my new performance-economy car list.
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alexer 1:53AM (8/29/2007)
will they bring this as a saturn?
ill buy it!!!
great job opel!!!!
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DrewSD 3:50AM (8/29/2007)
Now THAT is a hot hatch!
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the marais 3:18PM (8/29/2007)
GM REALLY BLEW IT by not having a NA version of the Corsa ready for 2006 (and the Astra for that matter). They would have sold a ton (prob at a loss, but whatever). Geez, have you seen the Corsa OPC minisite? Amazing. Cheers to Opel for matching VW inch for inch. I really hope that the 2009/10 Saturn/Opel Corsa resdesign will not be dumbed down for a NA / Euro market. DONT FORGET TO BRING THE TURBOS. AND NOT THREE YEARS LATER.
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