Without Opel Corsa OPC for the US market
Europe’s highly anticipated small fuel-efficient hatchback, the Corsa OPC from General Motors’ European brand Opel, is set to launch in markets across the continent any time this month. The Opel Corsa OPC made its world debut at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show in early March and was dubbed the “Most Powerful Corsa Ever”. Why? Because it’s equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine capable of pumping out 192 horsepower (141 kW) and producing 169 pound-feet (230 Nm) of peak torque, it’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox that drives its front wheels. Acceleration from zero to 62 mph can be achieved in 7.2 seconds with an electronically controlled top speed of 139 mph. Updating with GM’s power programmer can increase the performance of the Corsa OPC.
General Motors Corporation. has a very high expectation for this vehicle in terms of sales due to increasing consumer demand for fuel-efficient small cars in Europe and the United States. Does it mean that General Motors would also bring the Corsa OPC to US showrooms?
No. According to an online report from San Francisco (www.sfgate.com), General Motors’ Opel division won’t be bringing the Corsa OPC to the US any time soon. This is due to some economic factors, such as the different range of gasoline prices in Europe and the United States. In an interview with Robert Lutz, vice president of Global Product Development at General Motors Corporation, he said: “Europe and the United States are two different worlds. We could sell the OPC here (Europe) and make money because gasoline is about $6 a gallon. If we had $6 worth of gasoline in the United States, we could sell it there at a profit, too.”
“But Americans are unlikely to buy a $30,000 small car when they’re paying $2.50 for gas. We need $6 gas in the United States for the Corsa OPC to make sense in that market.” he added she.
Lutz was also asked if they will bring the other GM-brand fuel-efficient European models to the US and said, “We also sell a lot of fuel-efficient models in the United States. But the mix of models more small and fuel efficient is higher in Europe than in the US We need gasoline at $6 a gallon to change that equation in the US If the US really wants more fuel efficient cars, that will mean more smaller models It’s up to the government to set the parameters in which that market will work.”
GM’s decision is final and Americans will not be able to see the Opel Corsa OPC make it to dealer showrooms.