- Brian Byrne
Opel breaks 17 diesel records
28 July 2003: The 24-hour weekend drive by a diesel Opel Speedster at Opel's Dudenhofen Test Centre in Germany has resulted in 17 International Records for the ECO-Speedster, which achieved an average speed of 225.079 km/h and a fuel consumption of only 2.54 liters per100 kilometers
The results came after 24 hours at full acceleration in the 112 hp prototype car, interrupted only by brief routine stops to refuel. It wasn't without drama - 55 minutes before the session was scheduled to end, after the pilot brought the vehicle in for a pit stop because of electrical problems, he was unable to restart the engine.
The team, which had set 16 of the 17 international records up until this point, decided to push the ECO-Speedster through the final round. The final driver was able to move the record-setting vehicle across the finish line with starter power.
The even proved the efficiency and strength of the new 1.3 CDTI engine, which will make its debut in the Opel Corsa and Agila in the coming weeks.
An identical ECO-Speedster model tested on public roads by a group of international trade press journalists proved also to be exceptionallyeconomical at 2.54 liters per 100 km.
Thirty-one years ago a modified Opel GT with a 95 hp 2.1 liter turbo diesel engine also set numerous world records at the same proving grounds in Dudenhofen while achieving a top speed of 197.5 km/h.
The production version of the new CDTI ECOTEC engine delivers 70 hp and develops maximum torque of 170 Nm. The Agila requires 5.2 liters per 100 km while the Corsa 1.3 CDTI needs an average of 4.5 liters per 100 km.
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