THE FINAL!! Opel OPC vs Honda Civic TypeR

So we are finally here, the finals of Hot Ride Shootout 2014. It has been one awesome ride featuring 16 cars, you guys deciding who goes forward in the compo and who gets the boot.

There have been some interesting decisions by you and now we can reveal the 2 finalists. These 2 have matched up against some stiff competition. You complained about some Hot Rides not being making the grade. They’re gone!!

You voiced your displeasure at some of the match ups, well the losers, they too are gone.

One-by-one, you’ve weeded out the also-rans and pretenders to whittle our field of 16 down to the Final. Since you’ve come this far, it’s your civic duty as a nitro-breathing, gasoline-bleeding gearhead to finish the mission of naming our 2014 Hot Ride Shootout champion.

But just so you know, things are about to get trickier. Take a look at the pairings and make your call.

Finalist 1: OPEL Astra OPC Extreme
It’s all racer when it comes to the Opel Astra OPC Extreme details. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged motor has been tuned and is good for no less than 225 kW according to Opel. This engine is now the most powerful four-pot unit ever made by the manufacturer. It’s interesting to note that tuners have been getting big power out of these motors for a while, and 225 kW really isn’t that big a number. However the car has been put on a diet and is 100kg lighter than its normal counterpart, which gives it a dynamic edge.

Carbon composite is used extensively in the Opel Astra OPC Extreme. The material is used for the aerodynamically-optimized rear wing, the diffuser, front spoiler, hood, suspension cross-bracing, the engine cover, complete wheels, rear wheelhouse ventilation and roof. The carbon wheels are 20kg lighter than their aluminium counterparts. Gone is the steel roof and in its place is a carbon fibre version. That alone saves just over 6.5kg. As Lotus cars demonstrate on a regular basis, light weight equals high performance.

Haven’t made up your mind yet? Watch the Opel Extreme Video here: http://youtu.be/LMkEjc8CBTM

Finalist 2: Honda Civic Type R

Onto the Honda, you’ve seen the teaser sketch. Now there’s this – the official Honda Civic Type R concept, released at the Geneva motor show. But unlike some of the more far – fetched concepts you’ll see, Honda says this design study ‘strongly hints’ at the production version, which it’s promising in 2015.

You want specs? You can’t handle the specs. The new Type R will be the first model to feature the company’s brand-spanking VTEC turbo engine. It’ll come as a 2.0-litre, direct injection, four-cylinder unit that’ll make at least 280bhp. Blimey.

So, what about that Veneno – like styling? Honda says it offers real performance benefits, which it’s actually tested – the front and rear spoilers adds down force, the vertical side wings and vents in the front bumper help to reduce drag and control airflow around the front tyres, and the front grilles have been enlarged for better cooling. The front and rear wings have also been pulled out to accommodate bigger wheels.

For Honda and its fans, Type R represents its “racing spirit,” which is the company’s corporate philosophy of using motorsport to drive innovation and foster teamwork. Honda’s a company with a rich racing heritage, spanning almost half a century at the highest echelons of motorsport. The Civic iteration of Type R has always been the mainstay of the Type R badge.
 
Here is another video to help you make up your mind: http://youtu.be/QQyiXqVlA8A

The final decision is yours. Make it!

Here are our 3 easy ways to vote
1.    Write your choice of HOT RIDE in the comments section below each blog post.
2.    Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Facebook and vote on each individual match-up when we post it, by commenting on your choice of favourite.
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3.    Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Twitter and vote on each individual match-up when we post it by commenting on your choice of favourite.
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Semi Final 2: Honda Civic TypeR vs BMW M 135i

So good to be back, Spain was knocked out of the soccer world cup last night, as to with Cameroon but before they bowed out of the competition 2 players had a go at each other leading to the head butt (well played Africa, well played).

Onto a more interesting topic, Hot Ride Shootout. This is the last match of the semi – final round and we believe it’s a great one to end off with, so sit back relax, read and get voting

 

Honda Civic Type R
This is will be one of the most radically styled hatchbacks ever. It looks more like a racer without the stickers and roll cage than a road car. And according to senior project designer Masaru Hasegawa, that’s exactly what Honda intended.

“The current Civic line-up isn’t very exciting, so we needed to come up with something for European Honda fans that also fits our performance heritage,” he told Auto Express. “Now, the Type R is aimed at the VW Golf R and Ford Focus RS. Those cars are subtle and more sophisticated-looking. But we wanted ours to be different and distinctive.”

Designers call it a “racing car for the road”, and the wild bodywork lives up to the billing. Dramatically flared wheel arches with vents behind them, an enormous rear wing with integrated LED brake lights and a full-width diffuser with quad exhausts make the Type R look more like a touring car than something designed to be driven every day.

 

BMW M 135i
BMW describes the shell as “unmistakeable” and the cars will certainly be on the shopping lists of younger buyers out there, especially with their twin-scroll turbos.

The cars are rear-wheel drive (which is unique in the segment) – and the three-litre M135i is described as “a top-ranking vehicle thanks to its straight-six petrol engine with M Performance technology, M precision-engineered and high-performance chassis and optimised aerodynamics” carrying an exclusive cabin design and the passenger doors have fancy frameless windows.

If frameless windows don’t do the trick for you how about the Fuel-saving stop/start which is available across the range which, apart from the M car, will come in a choice of standard, Sport Line, Urban or M Sport spec and the EfficientDynamics technology package incorporates EcoPro, invoked through what BMW calls a Driving Experience Control button.

The two-door is described as having increased agility and driving comfort over the previous model as well as a more spacious cabin and the rear seats can be set for two or three people. BMW says: “The exclusive look and feel of the interior, the wide range of standard features as well as many optional driver assistance systems and BMW ConnectedDrive mobility services underscore its premium status and progressive character.”

 

Here are our 3 easy ways to vote

1. Write your choice of HOT RIDE in the comments section below each blog post.
2. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Facebook and vote on each individual match-up when we post it, by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://www.facebook.com/powerflow.exhausts?ref=hl

3. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Twitter and vote on each individual match-up when we post it by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://twitter.com/PowerflowSA

Match 4: Renault Megane Sport vs Honda Civic New

This next pair of rides going head to head are the very latest in technology, with every last kilowatt being rung out of their 2 litre powerplants by the magic wizardry of microchips and quantum-nano super technology.

Renault Megane Sport

Renault’s upped the ante in the past couple of years, especially in the hot-hatch market with its new flagship Megane RS (Sport). VW Golf R drivers beware, the new 195kW Trophy edition has arrived in South Africa! The Renault name has long been synonymous with motorsport. In its 35-year involvement in Formula 1 the French automaker has had eight Grand Prix champions, the most recent of whom was Fernando Alonso.

In 2007 the brand began a revitalisation of sorts, at least in South Africa, to change perceptions and raise its profile through an entirely new line-up of models from the locally built Sandero to the Megane Renault Sport models. Exciting times ahead!

Honda Civic New

As yet unreleased but already creating a storm with the claimed numbers that are being pushed out of it’s powerplant, this Civic is a giant leap forward over it’s predecessors. It’s certainly making big promises for when it does eventually get here, but in the mean time, you’ll have to do the maths and decide if it’s a match for the Megane.

 

Get Voting guys!!! This is going to be a close call. Share with everyone you know and encourage them to vote aswell.

Share with your friends, get them involved and don’t forget to cast your vote for your favourite so that they progress into the next round.

 

Here are our 3 easy ways to vote

1. Write your choice of HOT RIDE in the comments section below each blog post.
2. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Facebook and vote on each individual match-up when we post it, by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://www.facebook.com/powerflow.exhausts?ref=hl

3. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Twitter and vote on each individual match-up when we post it by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://twitter.com/PowerflowSA

 

Round1: 95 Honda Civic vs Opel Astra OPC Extreme

So it’s finally here, our first match up.

Starting off our match up we have 2 very worthy opponents so make sure you vote so that your favourite goes through to the next round.

I think it’s safe to say that both of these hatch backs need no introduction so let’s give you some info about each car so you can vote.

 

’95 Honda Civic

So as we all know, these little beauties stole our hearts and imagination from when they first appeared as they drove up to hijack a semi at the beginning of the hit movie Fast & Furious.

Since then these Honda’s have been looked at in a different light. The standard Honda Civic 5^th Generation has nothing to write home about in terms of power, but it does have the ability for owners to customize their rides as well as bring a sense of pride to each individual owner. The sky’s the limit, and some people have tuned these rides into true beasts!

 

Opel Astra OPC Extreme

This is the kind of extremism we at Powerflow like!

Opel’s new Astra OPC Extreme is the fastest Astra ever created and it even looks likely to enter low-volume production.

Not only is this beastly hatch 100kg lighter than the normal Astra OPC (thanks to the widespread use of carbon composites), but it’s also significantly more powerful, with Opel claiming that its 2-litre turbo petrol engine has been tuned to deliver more than 221kW (up from the standard 206kW). What do you think?

 

So there you have it folks, the first of many posts to go up. FOLLOW this blog, Share with your friends, get them involved and don’t forget to cast your vote for your favourite HOT HATCH, so that they progress into the next round.

 

Here are our 3 easy ways to vote

1. Write your choice of HOT HATCH in the comments section below each blog post.
2. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Facebook and vote on each individual match-up when we post it, by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://www.facebook.com/powerflow.exhausts?ref=hl

3. Follow Powerflow Exhausts on Twitter and vote on each individual match-up when we post it by commenting on your choice of favourite.

https://twitter.com/PowerflowSA