2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
The OPC family is complete with the Opel Corsa. The small car from the Rüsselsheim company not only looks sporty, but also offers impressive performance with its 192 hp, as our test shows.
By Frank Mertens
He's short, he's strong and he's also damn good-looking. Shortly after the market launch of the Corsa, this month Opel is sending the OPC version of its successful small car into the race for the favor of sport-loving customers.
This is the end of the period of self-restraint for Corsa buyers hungry for performance. Previously, he had to be satisfied with 125 hp in the 1.7 CDTI, but now he can draw on unlimited resources. The Corsa OPC has mutated into a powerhouse with 192 hp. And that doesn't just apply to engine performance. His appearance is also extremely self-confident. «We really wanted to make a difference when developing the Corsa OPC. We wanted to go to extremes with this vehicle,”admits OPC chief designer Ulli Hochmuth.
The limit of taste
Hochmuth is well aware that with such a claim one can advance into the limits of taste and polarize. "If you like it more subtle, you will definitely find something suitable in our product portfolio," says Hochmuth as a precaution. The OPC chief designer does not have to worry about alienating potential customers.
The way the new Power Corsa stands in front of you, it is not an insult to the eye. On the contrary: The look is sleek, dynamic, not a trace of chubby. The front and rear aprons - which are provided with subtle gills - ensure a powerful appearance. The rear is determined by a centrally placed triangular tailpipe and a rear spoiler. If you look closely at the Corsa OPC, you will see that this triangular style element can be found on the entire car: on the fog lights, the side mirrors and the rims.
Sports seats with side airbags
The interior of the Corsa is as sporty as it is on the outside. This is ensured primarily by the Recaro sports seats, which are being used for the first time in an OPC version and have side airbags. There has never been anything like this in bucket seats before. The OPC cockpit is extremely clearly structured and does not cause any irritation for the driver. It is also pleasing that the previously intrusive blue in the round instruments has become more subtle. It's good for the eye.
But what about what is most important in this car, the driving performance? You can be seen. The 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine, already working with 180 hp in the Meriva OPC, ensures a full propulsion. A torque of 230 Nm - with the overboost function it is even 266 Nm, is an announcement. A gentle push on the accelerator is enough to turn the little one into a big one.
However, if you push your foot through too vehemently, you will quickly realize that a front-wheel drive car has problems with always effortlessly bringing such power onto the road. The anti-slip regulation has to do a lot in such moments. The driver is also required to hold the extremely grippy sports steering wheel - the steering reacts extremely directly - with both hands. The Corsa accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.2 seconds, and its top speed is 225 km / h. According to the manufacturer, consumption is 7.9 liters. The Corsa's six-speed gearbox works precisely, but it could have a slightly shorter translation.
Good balance
As with all OPC models, the chassis, which has been lowered by 15 millimeters, was tuned on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring: Particular emphasis was placed on a good balance between agility and vehicle control, as the two-time Le Mans winner Manuel Reuter, who today as Brand ambassador works for Opel.
The chassis set-up is successful, even when driving through bends at speed, there is seldom a feeling of insecurity, especially thanks to a well-regulated ESP. When things get tight, the internally ventilated disc brakes (308 mm diameter at the front, 264 mm at the rear) ensure good deceleration values.
Front-wheel drive limits
But as I said: A powerhouse driven exclusively by the front wheels like the Corsa OPC reaches its limits faster than an all-wheel drive, for example. But at some point there will also be all-wheel drive for the OPC models. Just when, that's not yet certain. Until then, customers have to be content with what the youngest member of the OPC family has to offer.
And that's not a little. Anyone interested in the Corsa OPC has to pay 22,560 euros for it - that is also an announcement. Opel expects sales of 3000 Corsa OPCs for the current year. Since the market launch of the OPC models in 1999, a total of 30,000 vehicles have been sold from the Rüsselsheim-based performance center. The bestseller among the OPC models is the Zafira family van with 12,000 vehicles sold.
