Berlin Olympic Stadium. Around a thousand cars, well-known brands from Lada to Lamborghini, in all sizes, horsepower and years of construction. And all are distinctive one-offs, reinterpretations to a certain extent, redesigned imaginatively and excitingly. “Tuning” can be so much more than jazzing up engines. And nothing illustrates this more impressively than an “XS Carnight”. Right in the middle of the “20 Years of XSCN” at the end of July: a new Opel Astra plug-in hybrid. And what a.
Deep, deeper, “Astra Hybrid XS”
The basis for the unmistakable one-off: a five-door in arctic white, the roof in black, the high-gloss black pack turns chrome into high-gloss black. Refined with Opel Motorsport foiling on the flanks and 20-inch rims in turbine design. The wheel arches are filled except for a measured gap – with exactly as much space as the 245/30 tires need to turn. In addition, there is a wealth of detail-obsessed customization. An example? Even the holes for mounting the number plates have been removed for an even cleaner look, the number plates instead stick to the bumper with magnets. And then this Astra is as low as an Opel has rarely been.
Flash cars: Opel brought several models from circuit racing, Formula 3 and DTM, including the Vectra DTM V8 in OPC design.
Impressive location: The anniversary event “20 Years of XSCN” took place in the Olympic Stadium, the home of Hertha BSC Berlin.
The finest racing technology: With the Astra TCR, Opel has had a touring car for customer racing with 330 hp since the 2016 season.
The show car bears the name of the organiser: “Astra Hybrid XS”. The tuners from Freital in Saxony had invited to an “XS Carnight” in their 20th year. And with this electrifying creation of their own, they wanted to offer their guests a special eye-catcher. And they came in greater numbers than ever before for this special birthday – private and highly professional screwdrivers from all over Europe. And because the “Astra Hybrid XS” is also a reminiscence of Opel’s motorsport history, Opel brought several models from circuit racing, Formula 3 and DTM to the meeting in Berlin.
Absolute freedom
But how did the “Astra Hybrid XS” project come about in the first place? Peter Junghanns is Opel Manager for Brand Strategy, he coordinates the cooperation with the “XS” tuners. It was he who introduced the team from Freital to the Astra L during a visit to the Classic workshop in Rüsselsheim. That was in March. And the boys were immediately hooked. Junghanns’ specification: “Theoretically you can push the full program, the main thing is that it will be good!” In other words, absolute freedom of design. The dream of every creative screwdriver.
Clear the stage: The unique Astra show car is also a reminiscence of Opel motor sport history.
At Opel Classic, the guests were then inspired and decided to provide their modern interpretation of the Astra with reminiscences of Opel motorsport history. Above all, they wanted to revive elements of the legendary Manta 400. And the “Astra Hybrid XS” was to celebrate its premiere at the “Performance and Style Days” in Hanover at the beginning of July.
“This hybrid picked us up”
“We’re usually ambivalent when it comes to electric vehicles,” XS team boss Andreas Füllborn recalls, “but this hybrid picked us up straight away.” In the truest sense of the word: the master tuners set off on their journey home with the Astra plug-in hybrid. “We drove the first 70 kilometers electrically, then with only 3.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers to Dresden – amazing!” And so it was already clear: This drive with its system output of 133 kW/180 hp and a maximum of 360 Newton meters torque there was nothing more for them to do. Car lovers are also impressed by the interior: “Everything looks extremely tidy and modern. materials and a first-class entertainment package. The competition should dress warmly.”
US import: The 20-inch forged wheels show tuning fans what is possible.
[embedded content]
The making-of in the video: The specialists from “XS Carnight” have taken on the new Astra plug-in hybrid with great attention to detail.
The project presented a number of challenges: the foiling, for example. It should show the classic Opel motorsport colors, but matt, not shiny. Interpreted in a modern way, inspired by the Opel Manta 400. A custom-made product was needed. The modification of the chassis turned out to be tricky. For example, the tuners equipped the Astra with a “GRINDS air suspension” that was fitted with original shock absorbers and height sensors. The supplier delivered the complex technology quickly and on time, but there was little point in starting installation until the intended wheels were at hand.
Rim import from the USA
Andreas Füllborn fell in love with RVNT Forged rims – “It had to be these and no other.” A fantastic choice, as it turned out in the end. But the noble wrought iron work first had to be imported from the USA. And that lasted. And the planned presentation date was getting closer. And it probably wouldn’t have been possible either if there hadn’t been a rescuer in need: Michael Körner from his friend, the tuning company “Carstyle me” in Dresden.
Lowered body, air suspension and four-piston brakes: the “O-Team Zafira Life” show car was also there.
From Nick Heidfeld to Ralf Schumacher: The “Who’s who?” of racing learned the basics of the sport with the help of Opel technology in Formula 3.
Widely positioned: This Opel Astra V8 Coupé was developed for the German Touring Car Masters in the years 2000 to 2003.
In the days before the “PS Days”, he worked night shifts to get the XS-Astra right and only slept three hours a night. “You have to be crazy in the best sense of the word to be able to do that,” Peter Junghanns recognized when he found out about this show of strength in the final meters. But the result speaks for itself. The visitors of the PS Days were enthusiastic, the guests of the “20 Years of XSCN” in Berlin two weeks later no less. “I was most pleased with the compliments from car fans who actually drive other makes – at least for the moment,” says Peter Junghanns.
Refinement continues
On September 17, the next “20 Years of XSCN” will take place at Wörthersee – and this time the Astra Hybrid will be there in its XS-enhanced version. The Zurich Car Show from November 10th to 13th offers another opportunity to look at the unique car. “But by then its design will have changed again,” promises Peter Junghanns. The XS team had a few more ideas in the meantime.
Aug 2022
Text: Eric Scherer, photos: Peter Herforth, Andreas Woerner, Martin Hillmann