Opel Premieres Astra OPC Nurburgring Edition at Essen

The legendary Nurburgring in Germany, and inparticular its demanding Nordschleife track, has been used to perfect the driving dynamics of vehicles since the 1960s. And so it was the case with Opel's OPC performance range, clocking up a total of 10,000 fine-tuning kilometres at racing speed during development.

This special edition Astra - the OPC Nurburgring Edition - is an expression of the respect that Opel has for the 'most charming' race track in the world. Premiering in Essen to celebrate the motor show's 40th anniversary, the Nurburgring Edition Astra OPC is a car to be limited to only 835 examples and available to order from early next year.

Performance achievements of the OPC model range and particularly the Astra OPC were made concrete in 2005 when former racing driver Manuel Reuter performed a lap time of 8:35,94 minutes on the Nordschleife, setting a new class record and a new reverence for the Opel performance brand.

The Astra OPC performance model, branded VXR in the UK, has been a best seller in the OPC Program. And this special edition Astra aims at commending those customers. The proven 177 kW (240 PS) turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol motor powers a sprint to 100 kph (62 mph) from standstill in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 244 kph (151 mph).

The second-generation IDPlus2 chassis allows the special Nurburgring Edition to perform to its maxiumum potential. Aids such as ESP-Plus, TC-Plus traction control, various brake-assisting functions and electronic dampers CDC work together for optimum driving dynamics and are also available on OPC versions of the Vectra and Zafira.

As the single OPC model available in white, the Nurburgring Edition is an attractive proposition, featuring rack track decals and lightweight bi-colour 19-inch alloys that polish an already refined special edition OPC. A coseted leather-furnished cabin and carbon-fibre decor add a touch of classy sportiness, while a special nameplate designating the car's serial number sits atop the car's ashtray.