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Opel Corsa OPC Confirmed to Arrive in 2015

Since we acquired the first spy photos of the all-new Opel Corsa OPC back in September 2013, we had a hunch that the hottest version of the supermini would arrive on European roads in 2015, sporting at least 200 ponies to keep up with direct rivals such as the Renault Clio RS. And guess what - we were spot on with the details from the get-go.
2015 Opel Corsa OPC pre-production vehicle 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
While most automotive enthusiasts are highly anticipating the official unveiling of the all-new Opel Corsa E slated for next week, the hardcore hot hatchback fans among us are looking forward to the top-of-the-range pocket rocket marketed under the OPC or VXR moniker depending on the market.

After Vauxhall's small car brand manager was questioned about the upcoming Vauxhall Corsa VXR by AutoExpress, Ian Mitchell replied with: "you might be seeing something next year. There’s such a following for it we’d be crazy not to do it." So yeah, our hunch was right and we'll get the all-new Corsa OPC/VXR in 2015.

So what's there to expect under the bonnet of the cheeky supermini? Well, Mr. Mitchell declared for the aforementioned publication that "it has got to be" more powerful than the Ford Fiesta ST, that's powered by a 180 horsepower 1.6-liter four-pot EcoBoost turbo mill. So it's safe to presume that the next-gen Corsa OPC/VXR will get at least 200 horsepower in order to stay competitive against the quite fast Renault Clio RS.

The 1.6-liter turbocharged engine on the outgoing generation of the hot supermini churns out some 192 horsepower and 170 lb-ft (230 Nm) of torque and it utilizes multipoint injection. For the upcoming model, we expect that under the hood you'll find the direct injection 1.6-liter SIDI turbo mill, which provides the Cascada cabriolet with 200 horsepower and 221 lb-ft (300 Nm).

Our assumption is based on the fact that it's a cleaner, more economical unit that provides more oomph than the old 1.6 without needing too much attention from the automaker's skunkworks. Further more, the Clio RS boasts with 200 hp and 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) of torque, so it's pretty obvious what will propel the Opel Corsa OPC.

By the way, the Vauxhall VXR Clubsport with its six-speed manual is faster round the Nurburgring than the Clio RS' lazy twin-clutch tranny. Therefore we expect big things from the hot hatchback's next iteration.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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