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Feann Torr27 Feb 2014
NEWS

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Opel Astra OPC EXTREME

GM's German arm reveals 'EXTREME' low-volume VW Golf R-killing track monster

Dubbed the fastest road-legal Astra ever, the Opel Astra OPC EXTREME is 100kg lighter and 18kW more powerful than its donor car, and looks like something out of The Fast and the Furious films.

Following a teaser of the bonkers hatch in January, new details and images have been released; the new race-track ready machine is so intense its name must be spelled in capital letters: Astra OPC EXTTREME.

Powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol as the 206kW Astra OPC that was sold in Australia last year -- but has since been canned as Opel packed up its short-lived Australian operation -- the Astra OPC EXTREME ups the ante by 18kW, taking peak power to 224kW (300hp).

Extensive use of carbon fibre helps slash 100kg from the car's kerb weight, with the roof and bonnet made from the exotic material. The wheels are also carbon fibre, saving a full 20kg over regular alloy wheels. Even the suspension cross-bracing and rear wheelhouse ventilation are made from the light, strong but expensive-to-repair material.

The removal of the rear seats (replaced with a roll bar) and new aluminium front fenders also help reduce weight, all in the pursuit of faster lap times.

Quad exhaust pipes, a rear diffuser, extended front splitter, the fitment of a massive carbon fibre roof spoiler and serious bonnet venting improve acoustic, thermal, and aerodynamic properties and also ensure the car stands out from the crowd.

Expected to give Volkswagen's all-new Golf R a black eye when they go head-to-head, the agro Opel Astra's engine power finds its way to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. It takes advantage of a limited slip differential to ensure the power is effectively transferred to the road mid-corner.

Opel has not released torque figures for the highly-strung 224kW four-pot screamer, but considering the less exciting Astra OPC has a hefty 400Nm, the new model has the potential to grind out even more mumbo.

No 0-100km/h times have been divulged but expect it to trounce the Astra OPC's 6.0 second run. A top speed of 250km/h -- electronically limited -- is no certainty given the car’s race track intent, which could make it one of the fastest hot hatches ever.

Big six-piston Brembo brake callipers are in evidence, chomping down on massive 370mm front discs, to ensure deceleration is up to scratch. The stoppers are hidden behind large 19-inch carbon wheels shod with Hankook "ultra high performance" 245/35 tyres.

The interior still has several mod cons and convenience features, but with deep Recaro bucket seats matched with Schroth six-point safety harnesses and a carbon fibre-reinforced, suede-covered steering wheel, the car doesn't lend itself to quick grocery runs.

Inspired by the Astra Cup race car that competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Championship in 2013, the new Opel Astra OPC EXTREME could be the hot hatch to beat -- and could persuade other car makers to develop low-volume track-attack hot hatches.

Opel CEO Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann, says the new car is "quite simply spectacular" and that enthusiasts "will appreciate its looks, which are head-turning without grandstanding".

"Its interior is superb and typically Opel -- exciting, precise and quality-made in Germany. The EXTREME is the new top-of-the-line model in our Astra family with all the attributes of a super sporty car," intones Neumann.

No price has been mooted, but with so many exotic materials in use, the hard-as-nails Astra won't be cheap. Opel says the car will enter low-volume production after its public debut in Geneva.

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