Opel introduced the Insignia GSi a few months ago but the company has just revealed the model is up to 12 seconds faster on the Nürburgring Nordschleife than its predecessor.
The company declined to release the car’s time but the results are impressive as the Insignia OPC is more powerful than its newer counterpart. As a refresher, the outgoing model has a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 engine with 325 PS (239 kW) and 435 Nm (321 lb-ft) of torque while the new model has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder developing 260 PS (191 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.
In order to overcome the 65 PS (47 kW) and 35 Nm (25 lb-ft) power discrepancy, engineers focused on making the Insignia GSi lighter than its predecessor and they successfully removed 160 kg (352 lbs) of weight. The development team didn’t stop there as they equipped with the model with Brembo brakes, a torque vectoring all-wheel drive system, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and 20-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires.
According to Opel Performance Director Volker Strycek, “The results speak for themselves. I can complete a lap of the Nordschleife in the new Insignia GSi up to twelve seconds faster than in the more powerful OPC predecessor – but I obviously push the car every inch of the way.” He added the model is “definitely faster and easy to control” in corners.
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