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Opel Ascona A 1.2 S (60 Hp)
Overall Rating
Opel Ascona:
The Opel Ascona is a large family car that was produced by the German automaker Opel from 1970 to 1988. It was produced in three separate generations, beginning with rear-wheel-drive and ending up as a front-wheel drive J-car derivative. The Ascona was developed to fill the gap in the Opel range as the Opel Rekord was gradually growing in size.
The Ascona took its name from the lakeside resort of that name in Ticino, Switzerland, and already in the 1950s a special edition of the Opel Rekord P1 was sold as an Opel Ascona in Switzerland, where the name was again used in 1968 for a locally adapted version of the Opel Kadett B into which the manufacturers had persuaded a 1. 7-litre engine borrowed from the larger Rekord model of the time. The Opel Ascona A launched in 1970 and sold across Europe was, however, the first mainstream Opel model to carry the name — departing from Opel's long standing convention of using German naval rank designations for its models....(Read more on Wikipedia)
A Overview:
Opel Ascona (A). With 88 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 845 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 19 s). The top speed reaches 137 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Opel Ascona A was produced before the establishment of modern crash testing protocols like Euro NCAP. As such, it lacks contemporary safety features and would not meet current safety standards, typical for vehicles of its era.
1.2 S (60 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
Despite its small displacement, it delivers 60 Hp, making it suitable for city driving but lacking power for highway cruising.
Fuel Economy
The most fuel-efficient engine in the lineup, ideal for those prioritizing low running costs.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Robust and reliable mechanicals, typical of Opel's era.
- • Sporty handling and rear-wheel-drive dynamics, especially in SR trims.
- • Simple design and ease of maintenance, appealing to classic car enthusiasts.
- • Diverse engine lineup catering to various needs from economy to performance.
Cons:
- • Lack of modern safety features, common for its production period.
- • High fuel consumption for performance models by today's standards.
- • Interior comfort and refinement are basic compared to modern vehicles.
- • Rust can be a significant issue for unrestored examples.
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(A: 1971 - 1975).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Opel |
| Model: | Ascona |
| Generation: | A |
| Modification (Engine): | 1.2 S (60 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1972 |
| End of production: | 1975 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 2-4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 60 Hp @ 5400 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 50.2 Hp/l [Same length.] |
| Torque: | 88 Nm @ 3000-3800 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | 12S More details about the engine 12S |
| Engine displacement: | 1196 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Fuel injection system: | Carburettor |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | OHV |
| Engine oil capacity: | 2.8 l |
| Coolant: | 5.1 l |
| Cylinder Bore: | 79 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 61 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 10 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 19 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 19 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 137 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 14.1 kg/Hp, 71 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 9.6 kg/Nm, 104.1 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 18.1 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 845 |
| Max. weight: | 1270 |
| Max load: | 425 |
| Permitted trailer load with brakes (12%): | 700 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 46 l |
| Permitted trailer load without brakes: | 415 kg |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4124 mm mm [Same length.] |
| Width: | 1626 mm mm [Same width.] |
| Height: | 1385 mm mm [Same height.] |
| Wheelbase: | 2430 mm mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1331 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1320 mm |
| Ride height (ground clearance): | 134 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 10.4 m [above average] |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Disc [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
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