The Opel Insignia OPC will take top spot on the German brand’s performance ladder when the $59,900 sedan goes on sale locally later this month.
The Opel Insignia OPC sits above the Opel Corsa OPC and Opel Astra OPC to complete the company’s new performance line-up. And with a 239kW/435Nm turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 – built by Holden in Melbourne and shipped to Opel in Germany – at its heart, the Insignia OPC is also Opel’s most powerful production car ever.
This focus on performance continues with the Insignia OPC’s new HiPerStrut front suspension architecture, intended to improve grip and cornering ability, and its adaptive four-wheel-drive system and electronic rear limited-slip differential.
A driver-controlled FlexRide damping system is also included in the Opel Performance Centre Insignia. The system gives drivers the option of three modes: Standard, combining performance and comfort for everyday driving; Sport, for a stiffer chassis and firmer suspension to reduce body roll; and OPC, which sharpens the steering and throttle response, and changes the dials illumination to red. This final OPC mode also activates two sub-modes of the system, one focused on damping, and one on further reducing the car’s body roll. The Opel Insignia OPC also uses stiffer bushings and springs compared to the standard car, along with a softened front anti-roll bar and stiffened rear.
Italian brake specialists Brembo have come to the party with stopping the 1809kg four-door OPC with a specially designed brake booster, ventilated and cross-drilled 355mm discs with four-piston calipers up front and 315mm discs on the rear, sitting inside the standard 19-inch wheels. Optional ($1000) forged 20-inch wheels are also available.
Despite the Opel Insignia OPC’s powerful engine, four-wheel-drive system, trick suspension, and 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.3 seconds, it also brings with it the practicality of five seats, 1015 litres of cargo space (rear seats folded down), fuel consumption of 10.9 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 255 grams per kilometre.
A unique front bumper with ‘tiger tooth’ air intakes, integrated rear spoiler, satin chrome highlights, and dual exhaust pipes give the exterior a clean yet sporty look while inside the theme continues with a flat-bottom OPC steering wheel, model specific gear shifter for the six-speed automatic transmission, dark headliner, and Recaro sport seats.
Standard equipment includes an electric park brake, adaptive forward lighting system with auto high-beam, headlight washers, 8-way power-adjustable front seats with driver’s two-position memory, front seat heating, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, front and rear park assist, auto headlights and wipers, and seven-inch colour information display with satellite navigation and seven speaker audio.
The Opel Insignia OPC is available in four colours – OPC Arden Blue; Summit White; Asteroid Grey; Carbon Flash Blck – and goes on sale this month alongside the Astra OPC with the smaller Corsa OPC hitting showrooms in April.
