Opel has unveiled a new special edition Insignia OPC on the European market. It is called "Unlimited" and the best part about it is that it comes with the removal of the 155 mph limiter. In Germany, prices start from 48,605 euro, or about $70,000 at the current exchange rates.
The new Insignia OPC Unlimited will be distinguished from the standard OPC version by a blue Brembo logo and a newly-designed tachometer and speedometer. A special edition of the vehicle is also planned with a matte black wrapping.
Under the hood, everything will remain the same with the only exception being that it comes equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and can hit a top speed of 167 mph.
"We are responding to frequently expressed customer wishes," says Alain Visser, Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Adam Opel AG. "Insignia OPC buyers are generally experienced and responsible drivers who want to enjoy the full technical possibilities of their car."
Traditionally, when two cars go on a race, the thinking is that both cars should be evenly matched. After all, when only two cars are involved, it doesn’t make sense to have one be superior to the other, otherwise, why do it in the first place.
Opel’s new promo video featuring the all new Insignia sees it go face-to-face with one of the brand’s most iconic rally cars, the Opel Ascona 400, the last rear-wheel drive rally car that won the WRC World Championship way back in 1982.
So ok, it’s not really a fair race considering that the Ascona is close to hitting 40 years old but it sure made for an entertaining watch as the historical rally car went up against the new Insignia – a car that comes with an optional Adaptive 4x4 system on the 220HP 2.0-liter version and a standard 4x4 system on the 2.8 V6 Turbo and OPC variants.
Manning the wheels of the Ascona 400 is rally legend Christian Geistdörfer while Sina Winkelhock, a budding racer in her own right, is behind the wheel of the Insignia in this race on ice. Like we said, there’s really no suspense as to what car will take the chequered flag, but if you want to see the slick manoeuvrability of the Insignia - even under less-than-ideal road conditions – then you should definitely give this video a look.
As surprising as it may sound, the German car builder Opel has been setting speed records since the 1920s, one such occurrence featured Fritz Von Opel piloting his rocket powered RAK 2 to an estimated 149 MPH at Berlin’s Avus racetrack. Not ones to leave history alone, the Opel tuners at Steinmetz brought a modified Insignia Sports Tourer OPC to the Nardo Ring the other day where it hit a record speed of 178.5 MPH to become the fastest street legal Opel ever. Steinmetz started off by upgrading the OPC’s cooling system with a modified intercooler before installing a larger turbo complete with a full 3 inch exhaust to let the engine breathe easier, reduce back pressure and eliminate turbo lag. In order to account for the added boost, Steinmetz has installed a set of high flow fuel injectors and then reprogrammed the engine’s electronics so that everything stays in working order. The end result is an Insignia wagon that makes 400 HP and 405 lb-ft of torque that has just become the fastest Opel of all time.
Opel has just released a new promotional video that shows off both Opel Insignia OPC and Sports Tourer versions of their factory tuned OPC models.
Both versions re powered by a 2.6 Liter V6 engine that puts out 325 HP. The OPC treatment consists of a redesigned front bumper and aggressive body kit while rolling around on a set of 19 inch or optional lightweight 20 inch wheels.
We were already envious of the European countries that got the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, now with the OPC makeover, we’re down right jealous as the sleek sedan gets go-fast looks and a new turbocharger. For those not familiar: BMW has M and Mercedes has AMG, so Opel has OPC (Opel Performance Center).
The heart of the Insigina OPC takes the 2.6-liter V6 engine already used in the sedan, and then adds a turbo and a new exhaust system. This jumps the output from 260 hp to 325 hp. The sedan now has a 0 to 60 mph time of about six seconds, and top speed is limited (at least in Germany) to 155 mph.
What is seen on the OPC package is the new front bumper and body kit, as well as 19-inch or optional lightweight 20- inch wheels. Working behind the scenes on this Insignia is the Adaptive 4x4 system, electronic rear limited slip differential (eLSD), new front axle, and Brembo brakes. The suspension is adjustable for three modes: Normal, Sport and OPC.
