Fire-breathing Astra Breaks Cover

By Feann Torr

There are hot hatches, and then there are performance hatches: Volkswagen has its 320Nm R32 Golf, Alfa Romeo has the 300Nm 147 GTA, and now General Motor's German operation, Opel, has the 310Nm Astra High Performance Concept.

Opel will be taking the wraps off the scorching 240km/h Astra hatch at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, and though it has been officially named a 'concept', there is a good chance that it will reach production.

Competing against extremely popular models like the Volkswagen Golf is no easy task, and an über-powerful hatch such as the Astra High Performance Concept would become a brilliant flagship car for the new new Astra range.

Opel's new concept is based on the Astra GTC 3-door hatch, which we covered in a recent article (click here for the full report), and has been given a thorough working over both under the bonnet and in terms of styling.

The engine is based on Opel's tried-and-tested 2.0-litre 16-valve turbocharged mill, which immediately gives it a different angle when compared to the abovementioned 147 GTA and R32 Golf, as the latter two are powered by naturally aspirated 6-cylinder engines.

Previously, the most powerful state of tune for the hot 4-cylinder turbo engine was a 147kW (200hp), 262Nm power and torque output, but the whitecoats at the International Technical Development Center (ITDC) in Rüsselsheim teamed up with the folks at OPC (Opel Performance Center) to develop the engine further, knowing full well that the new Astra's chassis would handle more power.

The engine's increased power output was the result of optimisations to the intake and exhaust systems, and higher quality engine components were also introduced to reduce friction.

Enhancements to the turbocharger and injection system also played a part in the power increase, up from 147kW to 176kW (240hp), while a 6-speed manual transmission makes the most of a hefty 310Nm of torque.

No specific 0-100km/h times have been supplied by Opel, save for a "well under seven seconds" comment. Depending on its kerb weight and gear ratios, it should be around the 6.2 to 6.4 second mark, which would be on par with its German and Italian V6-powered rivals. Call me a dreamer, but if it had an AWD transmission, that sprint time would possibly dip even lower.

With the aim of making it an even sportier, tighter handling package, the GTC's electronic damping control and integration of all the dynamic driving controls has been taken to a new level, to match the vehicle's boosted power.

Furthermore, and in tandem with the performance hatch's increased performance, the concept vehicle has been given a number of high impact styling cues, least of which are massive 19-inch wheels. Though 18-inchers are more likely on a production model, the big alloy rims give the hi-po Astra an awesome stance, communicating clearly that this is no ordinary hatchback.

While the Astra OTC already has a rear roof spoiler, Opel's head turning concept gets an even bigger one, and while such gregarious extras would normally look quite tacky and try hard-ish on most hatches, this one pulls it off.

Other changes to the rear of the prototype Astra include a pair of shiny trapezoidal exhaust pipes, above which exist the obligatory black cutouts, plus a mild diffuser integrated into the bottom of the rear apron helps reduce turbulent air flow somewhat.

The flared wheel arches haven't been increased - the standard GTC items are already pretty exaggerated - but more pronounced, fatter side skirts and a new front apron has been fabricated to both give the car a more ground-hugging look, while allowing the engine to breath more deeply thanks to the enlarged air intake. Above the big intake is a honeycomb grille and clearly defined fog lights also make the cut.

Taken as a whole, the concept car looks nothing short of spectacular and hot hatch fans will no doubt be foaming at the mouth, thanks not only to the striking new look, but the vehicle's performance potential too. It also goes to show how good a job Opel has done on the styling of the standard Astra GTC, a modern-looking vehicle for the 21st century if there ever was one.

Opel didn't skimp on the interior either, providing deep Recaro bucket seats designed to offer good lateral support. They even incorporate an extendable cushion as well as four-way lumbar support, which is a rather nice touch. Other interior highlights are a new leather gearshift knob and a customised instrument cluster comprised of red-ringed instruments.

The third premiere for Opel at the 2004 Paris Motor Show - hot on the heels of the new Astra GTC and Astra GTC with the panorama windshield - is striking, both visually and mechanically, and this writer in particular is keeping his fingers crossed that the concept bridges the manufacturing gap and eventually becomes a production model.

Competing against vehicles like the Alfa 147 GTA and VW R32 Golf will be no mean feat, as both vehicles have a strong pedigree and impressive power levels, but the Astra High Performance Concept is not exactly a shrinking violet (as the photography attests) and has the potential to boost the new Astra's image considerably.