2011 Opel Astra J Turbo by EDS Fahrzeugtechnik

Welcome to the tuning world, EDS! Unheralded, small-time, and maybe even a little known to a lot of us, the German tuning firm recently caught our attention for the work they did on turning an otherwise mundane Opel Astra into some piece of work.

Combining a powerful performance upgrade with a few aerodynamic touches, EDS’ tuned-up Opel Astra Turbo has become the personification of a lion trapped in a deer’s body.

Make no mistake, the Astra’s stock 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 180 horsepower is no slouch by every definition of the word. But when you add a comprehensive engine tune-up that includes a new Garret GT28 turbo-charger, a new sports exhaust system, a new manifold, and an ECU optimization, then you get a car that bumps up its overall output to an incredible 360 horsepower and 354 lb/ft of torque.

Not to be outdone by the attention being given to the modified engine under its bonnet, EDS also gave the Astra a number of aerodynamic upgrades, including new black grilles on the front, side sill, a new rear apron with a diffuser and quad tail pipes, and a set of 20” wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero - 235/35ZR20 in the front and 275/30ZR20 at the back – high-performance tires.

All told, the changes done by EDS on the Astra Turbo aren’t something that should be taken lightly, lest you happen to see one on your mirror and it proceeds to leave your car eating its dust.

For an upstart tuning firm from Germany, EDS certainly did their homework on the Astra Turbo, and the result certainly speaks for itself.