Opel hatchback We are very familiar with the Astra OPC, but before we talked exclusively about its “racing” qualities - behind the wheel of a 280-horsepower German “rocket” I spent the entire season in the RHHCC (Russian Hot-Hatch Club Championship) time-match championship, and took a ride around the Moscow autodrome Raceway as part of the “Sports Car of the Year” award (read about this in the article “Sports Car of the Year.” Day of unexpected discoveries). He also rode it along the famous Nordschleife (details in the material “Chasing seconds. OPC training at the Nürburgring”). The Astra OPC is really well suited to the race track. What will you have to put up with during daily use?

Opel Astra OPC is tailored according to all the canons of “hot hatches” - on the outside the “lighter” is given out by a spectacular aerodynamic body kit and two pipes exhaust system and huge 20-inch wheels (optional). However, we abandoned the latter in favor of 18-inch ones - they are lighter, and the tires, which are quickly destroyed on race tracks, are cheaper. But even without that small ground clearance in this case, it becomes smaller by 13.5 millimeters - if you choose R18 for the winter, it’s worth remembering. And it’s better to try on the wheels first - for example, the OZ Racing Ultraleggera R18 fits on the front axle exclusively with spacers. The reason is the brakes. Astra OPC boasts four-piston Brembo calipers and 355 mm discs of a composite (!) design - cast iron rotors are mounted on aluminum hubs. Exactly the same are found in the all-wheel drive Insignia OPC, which is both more powerful and heavier.

The interior elements are also similar to the older model Astra OPC - Recaro seats, OPC steering wheel and six-speed gearbox manual transmission. The seats are very comfortable, you don’t get tired in them at all. long trips, but calling the fit ideal is hampered by the fact that the backrest cannot be placed vertically. Or did doctors from the independent German Association for Back Health (AGR), who issued their certificate to Recaro, insist on this? And, of course, the scattering of buttons on the center console has not gone away, for which only the lazy did not kick Opel. In practice, however, you get used to their location and functions within a couple of days.

Leather seat trim is an option for 55 thousand rubles. Moreover, you can choose the color of the stitching threads - black or blue. Getting back, as in any three-door with a low roof, is inconvenient, but two passengers can fit in the back with sufficient comfort - there is enough room for both legs and head. The lateral support of the front seats is adjustable separately on both the cushion and the backrest

But the main thing is hidden under the hood. Two-liter turbo engine with direct injection produces 280 “horses” and a decent 400 Newton meters of torque! By the way, he wakes up with accompaniment - during a cold start, for the first couple of minutes the exhaust pipes boom with a pleasant hoarseness. But when driving, the sound does not manifest itself in any way - the Astra OPC does not growl, but emits something between a whistle and a hiss, even when accelerating to the floor. It’s surprising that the tires don’t try to destroy themselves or tear out rubble from the asphalt - despite the fact that all the traction goes to the front axle, the Astra OPC has a very flexible disposition!

Skeptics who believe that such a herd is for front wheel drive car excessive, they will be put to shame. Rip off grippy tires - be they stock Pirelli P Zero or Michelin Pilot Super Sport in our case, you can only get into slippage on dry asphalt by dropping the clutch! So it’s not difficult to accelerate the Astra OPC in the most efficient mode - you just need to get used to the left pedal drive, which is neither short nor informative. But the clutch cannot be called too “heavy” - even in dense traffic jams the left leg does not get tired.

In addition, Astra OPC is equipped with a limited slip differential. And not the now fashionable electronic imitation, but a real piece of hardware. Moreover, unlike most similar “lighters”, including newest Peugeot RCZ R (the story about it is in the material

), not used here worm gear, and disk with a blocking coefficient of up to 50%. It works efficiently - when turning, you feel how, under the gas, Astra is being pulled to the inner radius! And in normal modes there are no negative effects such as power steering - thanks to the HiPerStrut front suspension with “separate” steering knuckles. And it doesn’t matter what kind of coating is under the wheels - Astra OPC always remains very stable and predictable, and it can only be thrown into a skid by deliberate provocation. And that's not always...

Astra OPC is not explosive at all - apparently, this is due to its large mass (1550 kg), decent sound insulation and quiet exhaust. And the traction increases smoothly and linearly - all the torque is available in the range of 2500-4500 rpm, and the engine reaches peak power at 5500 rpm. So “spinning” it beyond 6000 rpm makes no sense. And this is not necessary - Astra OPC is capable of accelerating as soon as the tachometer needle touches the “2” mark. And at any level! And the Astra OPC has a very “long” third gear - this is not very good for race track, but it is very convenient on ordinary roads and eliminates unnecessary manipulations of the gearshift lever, which, by the way, does not work well.

So driving an Astra OPC ordinary roads not much different from the operation of conventional three-door GTCs - only the low ground clearance will force you to park more carefully at the curbs, and poor visibility to the rear is compensated by the optional parking sensors. The smoothness of the ride is also surprising – even on 20-inch Astra wheels OPC does not turn into a stool and is much more comfortable than, for example, extreme hatchback Renault Megane RS. This is a nod to the FlexRide suspension with adaptive shock absorbers from ZF Sachs, which copes with almost all types of road irregularities. Moreover, FlexRide has three operating modes – “normal”, Sport and OPC. True, they differ only in that in the “evil” version, Astra OPC overly zealously repeats the profile of the canvas.

The OPC button forces the Astra to clench its muscles - the response to the gas pedal becomes sharper, the suspension becomes stiffer, instrument panel is filled with “blood”, and the steering wheel is filled with force. By the way, the Astra ORS turbo engine does not have a crazy appetite - in the city it is quite possible to achieve 12 l/100 km, and if necessary, it also consumes 95-octane gasoline

In addition, in the case of the Astra OPC, the FlexRide suspension is included in the basic package. And in general, the Opel Astra OPC is the most affordable way get 280 “horses” and 6 seconds to “hundreds” among new cars. Judge for yourself - the price starts at 1,165,000 rubles and includes not only FlexRide, but also Recaro seats, powerful Brembo brakes, a limited slip differential and 19-inch wheels. Main competitor - Renault Megane RS – can be equipped with these “racing” bells and whistles using the Cup package, but its cost in this case increases from 1,182,000 to 1,296,000 rubles.

In fairness, it should be noted that the Opel Astra OPC in basic configuration doesn't have xenon headlights, parking sensors and auto-dimming interior mirrors that the Megane RS can boast of. So a similarly equipped Astra OPC will cost 1,216,000 rubles. You can add some chic - a spectacular panoramic windshield up to the middle of the roof, 20-inch forged wheels, a powerful audio system, leather interior with blue stitching. The price in this case will increase to 1.37 million rubles.

In any case, the Renault Megane RS will remain a sports car that is phenomenally fast on the track, and the 250-horsepower Ford Focus ST is a different breed: a five-door body (hatchback or station wagon), the absence of four-piston brakes and “self-locking”. It’s surprising that the prices for such a modest filling are steep: from 1,251,500 rubles for a car that doesn’t even have climate control. New Volkswagen Golf GTI It’s difficult to call the Astra OPC a competitor - its engine develops only 220 horsepower, and in Russia it will not be offered with the Performance package, which includes a more rigid chassis, a limited slip differential and stronger brakes. 300 hp all-wheel drive Golf R? Minimum 1,592,000 rubles...

It turns out that the Opel Astra OPC is a compromise, a desire to please track-day enthusiasts who had not previously looked towards the Astra due to the lack of normal brakes, chassis and “self-block”, and not lose previous customers who choose OPC for its bright design and eye-catching accessories. Both categories have benefited from the generational change - Astra OPC has become faster by race track, and more comfortable in everyday life, and the price remains humane. Great option for those who are not ready to shake on a rigid suspension and stall from the roar of the engine, but at the same time want to enjoy driving around the race track on a day off! But perhaps soon Astra OPC will have another one worthy opponent– at the end of February “Auto Mail.Ru” will test the newest SEAT Leon Cupra.

Vadim Gagarin
Photo: Vitaly Kabyshev

Third generation Astra models OPC appeared in 2012.

The car is based on a three-door hatchback version, and the only power plant is petrol four-cylinder engine Series A 2.0 NFT with a volume of 2 liters and a turbocharger, combined with a six-speed manual transmission.

The fine-tuning of the car was carried out by specialists from the English division of Vauxhall Dynamics. The car received a MacPherson-type front suspension with remote steering knuckles, as well as a rear suspension with a Watt mechanism. And the engine, due to its high degree of boost, produces 280 hp/5500 rpm and 400 Nm at 2400-4500 rpm.

Standard equipment on the OPC version includes a limited-slip differential, Sachs adaptive shock absorbers, Brembo brakes, Recaro front seats, 19-inch wheels, front front and side airbags, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel and front seats, cruise control, power windows and a radio. .

On this moment Astra OPC is the best offer in terms of power/price ratio. The starting price for the basic version is 1,165,000 rubles.

Expert opinion

And yet, with all the thoughtfulness of the chassis and balanced settings, one and a half tons of weight, as well as 280 Horse power and 400 Nm of the hot temperament of the Astra clearly hint that pretending to be a “tough guy” is not enough. You literally need to become one of the varieties of “tough guys” - a racer! If you're not brave enough to fully exploit the potential of the 355mm front brake discs with Brembo calipers and brake as late as possible, then turn along an ideal trajectory, “aiming” for the apex, and open full throttle as early as possible (at the exit of the turn, you remember with a kind word the limited-slip differential, which helps the wheels cope with high power) – you will feel uncomfortable next to Astra OPC. A wide track, wide tires, excellent suspension and a low center of gravity do not change the fact that the car is front-wheel drive and powerful! This means that if the throttle is applied too early, the front end will inevitably slide to the outside of the turn, frightening the unprepared pilot. Did you really think that such “girls” could be weak-willed? No, she definitely won’t allow herself to be pushed around, but she’s quite capable of pretending that you’re in charge.

“Look, almost our Astra, but a third more expensive! Why is she better? A purely women's question. A basic 180-horsepower three-door costs at least 780 thousand rubles. If you are not interested in rich performance, packages and individual options, but consider the Astra GTC as a “warmed up” hatchback, this is very little for future achievements at track days. A 1.6-liter turbo engine paired with a 6-speed manual guarantees good dynamics (acceleration to hundreds in 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h), and the chassis promises decent handling.

If you stuff the GTC with options like ours test car, then it will come close to the price of the most powerful Astra OPC in standard version. OPC is one of the fastest hot hatches: a 2-liter turbo engine with 280 hp. accelerates the car to 250 km/h and allows you to reach the first hundred in 6 seconds! Stiffer springs and stabilizers are used in the chassis, electronically controlled FlexRide struts combat vibrations, a limited-slip differential minimizes slipping, and Brembo brakes stop the car.

The differences in the salons are not so striking. Both GTC and OPC have a stylish front panel with a scattering of buttons, leather trim on the doors and seats. But the seats themselves are different: the “lighter” has Recaro buckets, and they are located 17 mm lower. Its remaining differences are more decorative than functional: the steering wheel with the OPC logo is 1 cm smaller in diameter and slightly beveled at the bottom, the gear lever has a branded knob, and the pedals have metal pads.

IN CIVILIAN LIFE

The GTC is initially perceived as a purely civilian car. The seating position is comfortable, the body is well supported, and the controls are in place. There are just one or two complaints: long-armed people can get a bruise on the armrest when engaging even-numbered gears, while short-legged people will get tired of the long-stroke clutch and high-lifted Front edge pillows.

The engine seems bland. " Astra GTC“Drives smoothly throughout the entire rev range: linear thrust is accompanied by a quiet, dull accompaniment from the exhaust. It seems that you are standing still, but if you look at the speedometer - bam, we have already accelerated to deprive of our license! Detachment is facilitated by good insulation - both from vibrations and noise. The clatter of studded tires and the hum of the tread, of course, penetrates the cabin, but it is muffled. And most of the irregularities are caused not by pokes, but by sounds: alas, the “talkativeness” of FlexRide struts is familiar to many Astra owners.

The three-door holds a straight line confidently and does not yaw when accelerating even on wavy asphalt - thanks to the HiPerStrut front suspension. But sometimes steering puzzling: the feeling of a clear “zero” disappears; when it deviates by a few degrees, the steering wheel becomes uninformative. It becomes difficult to drive even in your own lane: it is impossible to feel a slight deviation by effort. Features of electric amplifier calibrations?

At a gas station on the way to the Smolensk Ring we change cars. It is more difficult to get behind the wheel of the OPC version - the 10 mm smaller one hinders the landing ground clearance and low level of support installed seats. Why is the chair so spacious? Don't panic: the cushion and backrest bolsters can be adjusted using electric drives. However, even I, the owner of an average build, would wish for a closer “hug” - but not now, but later, at the race track.

In the meantime, Astra OPC wakes up from sleep with a dissatisfied roar. The pedal effort is higher here, but not excessive. At the very first braking, a dive follows: with a light touch of the pedal, the hot hatch stands rooted to the spot. Otherwise, everything is familiar from the GTC, only the description of each parameter requires the word “a little”: a little clearer than the gearbox switching, a little more noise and vibration, a little more accurate Feedback. But not overclocking - with an extra hundred “horses” the Astra OPC groans and hisses like mad, just have time to change short gears.

RING OF DISTOUR

On the morning of the test, the hot hatch was left standing on trestles without wheels. No, no, they were not stolen (by the way, the cost of four tires and rims is comparable to the six-month income of the average city dweller in the vicinity of the Smolensk Ring). We had a hard time finding a tire shop where we agreed to change the tires summer tires(for measurements), and tested both cars on the same set. This is acceptable: for the Astra GTC, 20-inch wheels are offered as an option. But castling won’t work: the powerful OPC brake calipers fit right between the spokes of the 18-inch GTC wheel!

A yellow hatchback, poised on cool wheels, sets off to storm the turns of the circuit. A harmonious, obedient and predictable car: in the Sport mode, the mechatronic chassis responds to the gas in a timely manner, obediently follows the “clean” steering wheel, rolls as expected and smoothly passes the curbs. Handling is good: slight drift when overspeeding at the entrance to a bend is immediately replaced by steering rear axle, turning into a predicted skid.

The brakes are the fly in the ointment: on the race track the drive feels weak, and after a few fast laps the reliability of the deceleration decreases. Perhaps the grip properties of Pirelli-P Zero tires in size 245/35R20 exceed the capabilities of the brakes! But overall the result is decent: best circle completed in 1 minute 55.9 seconds. This, for comparison, is even better than the time of the 240-horsepower Seata Leon Cupra and only half a second worse than the result of the Ford Mustang, boosted to 700 horses!

What about Astra OPC? A completely different car. Acceleration is aggressive, but not the same as that of the previous generation car of the same name, which was impressive with an explosion of traction. Here it simply smoothly, like a wave, turns from sufficient to crazy, forcing you to operate the lever faster: there is no point in raising the speed above six thousand. The box can only be wished for greater clarity.

What about controllability? Sophistication, perhaps. Although this is a matter of taste. The younger version can be played this way and that, but the Astra OPC does not understand hints: no matter how you provoke it with the steering wheel and gas, it does not skid. And it dictates different trajectories than most hot hatches we've tested. But once you find an approach, OPC will give you a thrill with its straightforwardness.

In a profiled arc before the starting line, you don’t have to worry about the insidious sliding of the rear end, sharp turn“Behind the wheel”, with which it ends, you can open early. If the Astra GTC was limply slipping with its inner wheel and sliding outward, then OPC version The limited slip differential keeps it on the track. It’s amazing: you open the gas, and instead of flying onto the curb with powerful acceleration, the car passes along the very edge of the asphalt road! And so - circle after circle.

“Have your brakes failed?” - the videographer asked after a series of measurements. We were surprised: there were no comments about them at all. You put pressure on tight pedal- and every time you hang correctly on the belts. Then they showed us a video: with scarlet glowing disks, with fireworks from burning pads, the Astra OPC falls to the asphalt under hard braking... And even after such overloads, on the way back there was neither the beating of warped discs nor the creaking of worn out pads.

And the Opel Astra OPC became the fastest of a dozen hot hatchbacks that we tested on the Smolensk Ring in 2012: the lap was completed in exactly 1 minute 50 seconds. Whether all this is worth the price difference between a warmed-up GTC and a warmed-up OPC is up to track-day fans to decide. And from hot hatches with power from 250 hp. This, whatever one may say, is the most affordable and hot offer.

Oleg PETRIKOV, master of sports,

Director of the Smolensk Ring Autodrome:

Oddly enough, the Astra GTC is more interesting to drive. Yes, it has a relatively boring engine, the brakes float in extreme modes, and the pedal drive seems to be stuffed with cotton, but this is acceptable for a civilian car. But the chassis is brilliant: a good balance between oversteer and understeer. “Astra OPC”, with its straightforwardness, forces you to look for unusual trajectories, and if you do not take this feature into account, then you will not be able to correct the direction by releasing gas. But at the exit of a turn, the self-locking mechanism works great. And the brakes are beyond praise. The car is fast, but not for everyone.

organizer of the RHHCC series, winner of the Federal Hot-Race classification:

I really liked the Opel Astra OPC - so much so that I am ready to award it one more emotional degree. Impressed by the performance of the brakes and the overall balance: it allows you to slow down and skid later more speed into a turn. The self-block helps noticeably at the output: where the GTC slides powerlessly, the OPC accelerates. I think this is one of the best hot hatches. And since lap time is primary in RHHCC competitions, in the “Behind the Wheel” results table he is truly a champion. My combat Seat Leon Cupra, specially prepared for competition, is faster and designed for oversteer, but the straightforwardness of the Astra OPC was not at all annoying. The only thing I didn’t like was the fit - the side support bolsters, even when brought together, press in the wrong place instead of fixing the body. Well, I wish Opel’s gearboxes more clarity. And the Astra GTC is beautiful, good car for everyday driving, it didn’t give me any bright emotions on the track.

In November 2011 Opel company distributed official images of the “charged” hatchback Astra The new generation OPC in the J body, which received a 2.0-liter turbo engine producing 280 hp. and peak torque of 400 Nm.

The new Opel Astra OPS retains front-wheel drive, but the front suspension now features special HiPerStrut steering knuckles, which reduce the power steering effect inherent in powerful front-wheel drive vehicles.

Similar system used on the “hot” Ford Focus RS, as well as Renault Clio RS and Renault Megane RS, and Opel itself previously tested it on the older model. In addition, the new product boasts a mechanical differential on the front axle.

From 0 to 100 km/h the new Opel Astra J OPC accelerates in 6.0 seconds (the predecessor with a 240-horsepower engine reached a hundred in 6.4 seconds), and maximum speed the new product has a speed of 250 km/h. Received as car brakes brake mechanisms from Brembo.

The interior of the Opel Astra J OPS differs from the GTC version in the presence of sports front seats, a different instrument panel, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a flattened rim in its lower part. European sales new products will begin only next summer, prices have not yet been announced. In the UK the car will be sold as the Vauxhall Astra VXR.

Accepting orders for the model started on June 6, 2012. Price new Opel Astra OPC 2015 on Russian market is 1,714,900 rubles, but buyers can upgrade the hatchback additional equipment, with which the cost of the car will exceed the two million mark.

Opel Astra OPC 2013 photo

The new generation Opel Astra OPC is built on the platform of the already quite familiar Russia Opel Astra GTC. World premiere next generation Opel Astra ORS 2013-2014 model year took place as part of Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 2012, and already in the middle of summer the representative office German company Opel announced the start of sales of a “hot hatchback” on the Russian market.

As part of our review, we will try to understand whether the Astra J OPC “lighter” is worth the money that is being asked for it, and whether the car is able to “let it light,” as they say, “in full.”

The appearance of the “charged” Astra OPS attracts the attention of others from the first seconds. In a static position, the car looks like a bundle of energy. The front part has stylish headlights, a huge bumper with a wide air intake smile and original additional air ducts along the edges of the fairing (fake, but they look impressive).

Aerodynamic body kit in the form of a lip front bumper, door sills, a huge spoiler at the transition of the roof dome into the glass of the fifth door are harmoniously complemented by “biceps” wheel arches, which easily accommodate low-profile tires 245/40 R19 – 245/35 R20 on beautiful R19 and R20 wheels, and with a rear fairing diffuser integrated into the profile.

Chrome trapezoids of the exhaust system are spaced on the sides rear bumper and subtly hint at the serious potential of the car.

Whatever color the car’s body is painted in, there are seven color options - snow white, bright yellow (ripe melon), bright red, blue (Arden blue), rich blue (Buzz), black (Carbon Flash) and Mineral White – the car looks amazing.

The salon of the third incarnation of the Opel Astra OPC warmly welcomes the driver and front passenger, familiar from model range, "Astra J interior". Front panel architecture, center console with a scattering of control buttons, instrument panel with two large and a pair of small dials, screen on-board computer(the speedometer is marked up to the “adult” figure of 300 km/h).

The steering wheel and front row seats are original OPS-Soviet ones. The leather-braided “steering wheel” with a diameter of 36 cm fits perfectly in the hands, is stylishly cut at the bottom in a sporty manner, with bright ridges for the thumbs in the place of the correct grip. Bucket seats of Opel's own design (not Recaro) were approved and certified by the German orthopedic association AGR.

The seats are installed low and the driver reclines behind the wheel; depending on the wishes of the car owner, the upholstery can be combined (fabric and leather) or completely leather. There are 18 (!!!) seat adjustments, including electric drive for thigh support rollers and lumbar support.

The ideal “knob” for selecting a gear is pleasantly grasped by the hand, the pedals have aluminum linings and rubber bumps (at the crucial moment the foot will not jump off the pedal). Finding the optimal driving position is not an easy task, but after spending about ten minutes choosing different body positions, you end up settling in like in a racing car.

The basic equipment of the Opel Astra J OPC does not allow you to count on “ full stuffing", and for this, of course, there are several optional packages that allow you to properly “pack” the car:

• “OPC Design” package (25 thousand rubles) - spoiler, side skirts, LEDs in the rear lights;
• “Performance” package (45 thousand rubles) - adaptive xenon light AFL+, heated electric mirrors with folding function, light and rain sensors;
• “Unlimited” package (80 thousand rubles) - navigator, parking sensors, side curtain airbags.
• and by paying an additional 150,000 rubles at once, we will get a complete mincemeat (where, in addition to everything listed above, there is also: R20 forged wheels, a full leather interior, Infinity music).

Now we get to the most interesting part. Exterior, interior and finishing materials are all good, but how will the car give you the joy and thrill of an incendiary drive!? Let's start with the phenomenal gasoline engine: A 2-liter turbocharged engine produces 280 “stallions” and through an honest 6 manual gearbox and a mechanically locked differential transmits all the power to the front wheels (to wet asphalt, however, does not save you from breaking off the drive wheels due to severe slipping).

The front has conventional MacPherson struts, but thanks to the original HiPerStrut design with separately mounted steering knuckles on which the hubs are mounted, when turning the steering wheel the struts remain in place, which reduces the angle by 44%. lateral inclination axle and reduces the running shoulder by 46%. Simply put, it is possible to achieve a larger tire contact area when cornering and, of course, improve handling. Rear suspension- a beam with a Watt mechanism, but unlike the “regular Opel Astra” with stiffer springs (30%) and a ground clearance lowered by 10 mm. To all this it is worth adding adjustable FlexRide shock absorbers and power steering - capable of changing settings (three modes Normal, Sport and OPC) and Brembo brakes (front with 355 mm discs).

Let's try to revive the engine and drive a couple of laps around the track - Opel test drive Astra J OPC. When you start the engine, you immediately realize that there is a herd “living” under the hood, the voice of the engine seems so loud. By warming up the “heart” to operating temperature, the “voice” becomes quieter and more noble. Well, go ahead! We engage the gear, release the long-travel clutch pedal and the car quickly picks up speed. You don’t have to hold the steering wheel with a “death grip”, the car drives straight. On dry asphalt, the drive wheels fully realize the full power of the engine, the first and second wheels already reach 100 km/h in 6 seconds. We go through turn after turn in one breath; when entering a bend, we open the gas and the car, as if on rails, is screwed into the radius. The steering wheel is tight and informative, it seems that you are holding the steering rods with your hands. The feeling of childish joy does not leave during the entire time spent in the Opel Astra ORS. Turns, turns, and then comes the long straight - the pedal is to the floor and the needle quickly reaches the cherished 250 km/h. After checking the brakes, hanging on the seat belts, the deceleration is powerful and straightforward. Well, the time is up, it’s time to give the “beast” to the owner. It’s just a “beast” - the car turned out to be tamed, understandable and tolerant, you can drive it to work every day, and even take your children to school.

You can become the owner of an obedient athlete Opel Astra OPC in 2015 (on the Russian market) for 1,714,900 rubles (“base” price). Definitely, the Opel Astra ORS “lighter” is worth the money they ask for it.