Review: Opel Astra Coupe
When the Americans started waffling about there being no substitute for cubic inches, they didn’t know about modern turbocharger technology.
After all, why lug all that extra hardware around if you can cram a whole lot more fuel and air into a smaller engine? Where superchargers drain power from the engine to pump in the extra fuel and air mixture, turbochargers use waste exhaust gases, and while early turbo engines needed to be revved to get their turbo’s impellers spinning fast enough to do the job, the technology involved in more recent versions makes the notorious turbo lag bugbear a thing of the past.
The Opel Astra Coupe turbo’s two-litre engine is a good example of just how efficient turbos have become. Based upon Opel’s naturally aspirated two-litre Ecotec block, it weighs in at virtually the same as its more pedestrian cousin, but offers 40% more power and 33% more torque. Unlike early turbocharged engines, however, it doesn’t need to be caned to produce results — its peak power of 140kW is attained at 5 400rpm, and the torque ceiling of 250Nm is available from 1 950 to 5 300rpm. Drive it like your granny would and it’ll get the job done without any fuss, but give it a bit of welly and it takes off like a journalist on his way to a disgraced sportsman’s funeral.
Its predecessor of a few years ago, the Kadett 200iS, was plagued by torque steer, which made it feel as if it wanted to go in three directions at once, but modern electronics in the form of traction control has tamed that monster and the Astra tracks straight and true, even at full throttle from standstill. It takes about 7,5 seconds to reach 100kph and top speed is reputed to be in the vicinity of 240kph. Handling is crisp and sporting without the ride being too harsh — the cars imported into this country wear 16″ boots, which make for a softer ride than the 17″ low-profile rubber fitted in Europe.
The styling of the Opel Coupe is surprisingly conservative — if I’d been responsible for the project I’d have asked Bertone to be a little more brutal in its design. The car is very attractive, but still manages to get lost in a crowd, and it’s a little too special to be allowed to get away with that. Perhaps some slightly more flared wheel arches, a power bulge in the bonnet …
The Opel is surprisingly spacious inside, although access through the two long, heavy doors is a little pernickety. Still, what do you expect when you buy a coupe? A polished aluminium gearknob and gunmetal grey trim give the interior a business-like appearance. All the usual luxuries apply, of course.
At R238 100 the Opel Astra Coupe is a gem of a car. We’d love to see it styled more aggressively though. And wouldn’t it be just great to see that lovely engine slotted into a four-door Astra?