General Motors has their fingers in almost every part of the automotive market. Europe not only has Chevrolet, but GM built Opel and Vauxhall while Australia gets the hot-rod Holdens. For years, these cars differed from what GM USA offered, but a few gems have made their way across the sea and on to our soil. Some say that if GM was to do this more and more, they would prosper. Hopefully, we here in The United States might get to taste just a little bit of what Opel/Vauxhall recently revealed.
First is the limited edition Opel/Vauxhall Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition. A hard-core version of the Corsa super mini, this little rocket will compete against the Fiat 500 Abarth and will produce a startling 210hp from its 1.6 liter turbocharged four cylinder. High-horsepower and front wheel drive usually mean torque steer but Opel/Vauxhall worked hard to quell the issue with a multi-plate, mechanical limited slip differential. Being mechanical means that this little rocket probably won’t be that “nice” on a city street, but that’s not where this car belongs. This is a track rat.
Another revealed car by GM Europe is the upcoming Opel Astra GTC. A concept of what the next generation Astra compact could look like, it uses a much more smoothed-out front and rounded rear compared to the current Astra’s sharp angles. It could be powered by a 290 hp 2.0 liter EcoTech four cylinder that might just see its way over to us.
These two cars, even though not meant for the United States, can give us a glimpse at what could be. Ever so often, GM does import a European model for use in the United States; their most recent being the Buick Regal which is a rebadged Vauxhall/Opel Insignia. So far, it has been praised for its performance and fit&finish so perhaps America is ready for another European re-badge. The technology is there and with other imports like the Fiat 500, a rebadged Corsa would have a place to compete.
Unfortunately, history could also repeat itself; after all the Vauxhall/Opel Astra was brought over here and rebadged as a Saturn and look at it now. Other cars such as the Cadillac Catera and the Pontiac GTO were solid performers, but did not do well in the American market. That is not to say that GM should stop trying to import over its European models, just look at the 2011 Regal. If anything, America can only hope that even the slightest bit of technology that can be seen on the new Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition and the Astra GTC might find their way onto an American GM.
