This is how the bloodline of the fastest Opel Astra runs: from GSi, via OPC to GSe

The first generation Opel Astra soon came as a GSi and before that Opel planted the engines of the Kadett GSi in the successor of the compact middle class. The Astra GSi was therefore available as a 115 hp 2.0 eight-valve, the 16V delivered 150 hp. That was the almost legendary C20XE block that had already given the Kadett wings. Less well known is the Astra GSi with 1.8 16V, which replaced the 2.0-8V. This had 10 hp more and delivered 125 hp. It came in 1993 and was allowed to stay until the 1994 facelift and with that model update something some regretted happened: the GSi lost its extra fast appearance. Until 1994, the fastest Astras always distinguished themselves with different bumper work, a rear spoiler and special GSi wheels, but from August 1994 the external difference with the less potent versions was small. Only the 2.0 16V was allowed to carry the GSi label and luckily it remained 150 hp strong until 1996. In the last two years of the Astra F life cycle, this version disappeared and sports enthusiasts had to make do with an Astra with a 136 hp 2.0. -sixteen valve. However, it was not allowed to leave the factory as a GSi. His name was Sport or Sport Cool.

The Astra G came in 1998 and at the end of 1999 Opel presented the first hot version at the IAA. That was the Astra OPC. A three-door taken care of by Opel Performance Center with a tweaked 2.0, good for 160 hp. Of course a sixteen valve, and an engine that could not be found in any other Opel with comparable specifications. The car was nicely decorated with beautiful cross-spoke wheels and on the protruding butt of the three-door was a spoiler.

The first Opel Astra OPC.

With 160 hp from a naturally aspirated engine, the first Astra OPC was nice and smooth, but from 2001 there were more and more hot hatchbacks with power direction or even over 200 hp. Time for a thicker engine and that came in 2002. A 2.0-turbo with 200 hp, some exterior adjustments and as a saving grace also an Astra Stationwagon OPC. Remarkable, especially because the hatchback was only available as a three-door OPC. The cross-spoke wheels were replaced by wheels of a different design and the grille and bumpers were also updated for the OPC. A thicker spoiler was placed on the rear of the three-door.

With the third Astra, Opel used the beautiful GTC as a slick three-door that also had to replace the coupé version of the Astra G. The GTC was allowed to defend the OPC colors in the hot hatch class. A lot of hours went into the 2.0-turboblok and that yielded 240 hp for the Astra GTC OPC. A copy with 200 hp was also available for the Astra, but it was not allowed to be called an OPC, at most OPC-Line. An extra fanatic Nürburgring Edition of the OPC resulted in a faster lap time on the famous track. The manufacturers who had fast hatchbacks in the range were engaged in a fierce battle and were out of touch with each other to be just a few seconds faster on the Nordschleife.

For Astra number four, Opel again devised a three-door with the letters GTC. It was again the basis for the OPC and the power increased to 280 hp. This sprinted the three-door, which looked very thick, from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds and the top speed was no less than 250 km/h. Such a fast Astra would never appear again after that, because the Astra J was never eligible for the designation hot hatchback.

Now the Astra GSe has been unveiled. It has a plug-in hybrid powertrain of 225 hp. Whether it is a hot hatchback, we still have to experience in a test. However, it is nowhere near as fast as the last Astra OPC. The acceleration from 0 to 100 in presumably 7.5 seconds (based on the time of the Peugeot 308 Hybrid 225) is not impressive enough on paper. But the start is there, because for the first time in years an Astra wears a special badge, linked to a special appearance.

Fancy a nice sporty Astra from the past? We have browsed through the used car range on our site:

• An early Opel Astra GSi, an eight-valve with very low mileage, and that’s what the price is for.
• The first Opel Astra OPC, with the atmospheric two-liter. Costs $1,000 less than the early GSi above.
• A real Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition, the same price category as the two Astras above.
• Various copies of the last Opel Astra OPC, also for those cars you pay prices between €6,000 and €20,000.