cyrenepenya: Opel channels the N�rburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Opel channels the N�rburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Opel

Opel Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Between the New York Auto Show, the Shanghai Motor Show and Top Marques Monaco, there's a major motor expo happening on each of three continents. But the latest model you see here wasn't unveiled at any one of them.

What you're looking at is the hottest hatch to come from Opel. It's called the Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition, and it means business. To start with, the Opel Performance Center (think of it as General Motors of Europe's AMG) has tweaked the 1.6-liter turbo four from 192 horsepower to 210 and boosted the torque count from 170 lb-ft (196 on overboost) to 184 (206 on overboost).

To cope with the added twist, OPC's fitted a multi-plate mechanical limited-slip differential. They've also added Bilstein suspension components and Brembo brakes, recalibrated the ABS, traction control and stability management systems. On the outside, they've mounted new 18-inch alloys on 35-series low-profile rubber and a new front spoiler, dual-tipped stainless-steel exhaust and the requisite special badges.

The result is a Karousel-charging 6.8-second sprint to 60 and an Autobahn-crunching 143 mph top end. Only 500 examples will be offered, with two new colors (Grasshopper green and the above-pictured Henna red) joining the catalog for this special edition. Follow the jump for the full press blast and scope out the trio of images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition