Here’s Opel’s answer to that awesome-looking, widebody VW Golf TCR study that was revealed earlier this month.

Set to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, it’s based on the new-generation of the Opel Astra hatch, and just like VW’s model, it too is being developed in accordance with the current regulations of the TCR series for national and international customer racing that was inaugurated in 2015.

“Touring car racing has always been an important part of Opel,” said Opel Group CMO Tina Müller. “The philosophy of the new TCR series corresponds to our idea of customer racing. We want to give ambitious privately owned teams a platform for exciting sport at reasonable costs.”

All cars participating in the series have 2.0-liter turbocharged engines producing up to 330PS (325PS) and maximum torque of 410 Nm (302 lb-ft) 
Opel’s take on touring cars is the automotive equivalent of taking an Astra to the gym for some serious workout action. The renderings show a very muscular-looking Astra hatch with swollen wheel arches and bumpers, and a huge roof wing, dressed in the German brand’s traditional motorsport colors.

The new Astra TCR is currently under development with precise technical specifications to be announced later on. Opel said that field tests are expected to begin in October.

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