Performance Review: Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS - [1978]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Vauxhall-Opel Chevette Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1978. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1979 DeTomaso Pantera GT5 S 5.8 V8 and the 1978 BMW M1 3.5 2d Manual.This particular Vauxhall-Opel Chevette has a 2279cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Chevette shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Chevette's Rear Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1014 kgs (2235 lbs) this makes the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS in the same weight category as the 2014 Abarth 695 Biposto 1.4 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Vauxhall-Opel Chevette shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of power the 2279cc 16V St4 engine produces 135 bhp (100 kW) @ 5500 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 134 lb-ft (181.6 Nm) @ 4500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (159 lb-ft) or the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (148 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi (158.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette.

The Vauxhall-Opel Chevette has a Power to weight ratio of 133.1 bhp per ton and 132.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1978 Chevette competing with the 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Hemi (158.1 bhp per ton) or the 2003 Peugeot 206 RC 2.0 16v (158.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette generating around 132.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0T GTi 16V (157.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2010 Volkswagen-VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI DSG (157.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 8.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 8.8 secs, this made the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS as fast as the 2012 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6 (8.50 secs) the 2004 Land-Rover Discovery 3 4.4 V8 (8.50 secs) the 2000 Volkswagen-VW Golf GT TDi 150 (8.50 secs) the or the 1997 Peugeot 306 2.0 XSi (8.50 secs). This Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS is also faster than the 2012 Jaguar XJ V6 (8.60 secs) the 2006 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.6 TDV8 (8.60 secs) the 2004 Audi A4 1.8T Sport (8.60 secs) the and the 2003 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0 FSI (8.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Chevette and the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185

When talking about the performance of the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.13 secs @ 84.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (16.06 secs), the 1989 Jaguar XJ R-S 6.0 V12 (16.06 secs), and the 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Drop-Head Coupe (16.06 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1978 version of the Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS has a maximum speed of 115mph.

Top Speed of the 1978 Chevette equals the 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.4 tsi Spaceback (126 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1978 Vauxhall-Opel Chevette 2300 HS then how about the 2013 Skoda Rapid 1.4 tsi Spaceback (126 mph), the , or the 2004 Vauxhall-Opel Corsa 1.8 GSi (126 mph).

Related Links:

1978 Chevette Rivals List.

A Brief History of Vauxhall-Opel

Car Comparison