For many years, Ford and GM’s Opel and Vauxhall brands have been battling it out in Europe’s hotly contested sport hatchback segment.
Now, both automakers have come out with new proposals based on their highly popular Focus and Astra compact models.
Whereas Opel offers its Astra OPC (sold as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in the United Kingdom) exclusively as a sporty-looking, three-door hatchback, the Blue Oval’s Focus ST is available only as a more practical but less fun to look at, five-door body style.
Under the hood, however, both models get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission that turns the front wheels.
The Focus ST is rated at 252-horses and 366Nm (270 lb-ft.) of torque while the Astra OPC/VXR at 276hp (280PS) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft).
The hot hatchbacks were summoned by UK car magazine EVO for a test to see which of the two models is better on the track.
To find out the winner, head past the jump to watch the -somewhat dry in terms of commentary- video.
VIDEO