Opel Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition with BILSTEIN sports suspension
„Jeder lobt, was Nürburgring erprobt“
The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is our living room: we have been testing our technologies here for many decades. In the meantime, many car manufacturers also test their vehicles in the “Green Hell”. The advertising slogan from 1935 “Jeder lobt, was Nürburgring-erprobt” (Everyone praises what is Nürburgring-tested) seems more relevant than ever. While lap times on the Nürburgring are a popular and frequently used marketing tool today to promote particularly high-performance sports cars, very few are granted the honour of having “Nürburgring” in their name.
Opel Corsa OPC: Developed on the Nürburgring
The Opel Corsa OPC “Nürburgring Edition”, presented in 2011, is one of these rare examples. In Rüsselsheim, Opel´s head quarter in Germany, they worked consistently to create a compact sports car that was beyond reproach. Under the direction of motorsport and Nürburgring icon Volker Strycek, the then sports department, the “Opel Performance Center”, created a hot hatch that was consistently optimised for the Nordschleife.
The 1.6-litre turbo engine not only received a power injection to 210 hp. The Opel engineers also installed a mechanical differential lock for more traction, especially in tight corners. A new high-performance brake system was installed to provide adequate deceleration on the race track.
Sports suspension from BILSTEIN
The matching sports suspension came, of course, from BILSTEIN. The specialist magazine “sport auto” had nothing but praise for the suspension in 2012. The BILSTEIN suspension requires “no excessive sacrifice of comfort” in everyday driving and ensures roadholding that “keeps the powerhouse safely on the ground at all times”.
One person who can confirm this is Kris, who was able to secure one of the original 500 produced in 2019. “When I saw the presentation of the Corsa OPC at Opel back then, I was totally flashed,” Kris recalls. “A small car with a racing look, wow! I knew that I would have to own this vehicle one day.”
In 2019, the time had come: Kris was looking for a new car – and found his Corsa OPC “Nürburgring Edition”, built in 2013, nearby. The Opel fan was particularly impressed by the components installed: “Starting with the Recaro seats and the Brembo brake system through to the BILSTEIN suspension.”
The 33-year-old was fascinated by the sports suspension from Ennepetal: “The suspension really works wonderfully in the vehicle. You notice that no normal suspension was used to offer an artificial racing feeling: It fits the car perfectly and really conveys the highest precision.”
Excited about the BILSTEIN sports suspension for the Opel Corsa OPC
“The suspension is my first experience with BILSTEIN. However, I am so thrilled that it was certainly not the last experience. With the next car, BILSTEIN will be my first choice.”
Kris has left his Corsa OPC “NRE” in its original condition except for modifications to the exhaust system. And it should stay that way. “The car is absolutely perfect the way it was built,” says Kris. “After all, the developers at Opel and their partners had something in mind when tuning the car. It is no coincidence that the Corsa was tested for 10,000 km on the Ring.”
Kris has not yet been on the race track with his Opel Corsa D OPC Nürburgring Edition. But that is about to change: “I am committed to going to the Nürburgring in the near future”. To the place where the Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition was developed.
