The Opel Astra OPC is currently one of the most powerful front-wheel drive hatchbacks available with 206 kW and 400 Nm of torque. Last week UK-based tuners Superchips announced a performance upgrade that hikes power to 229 kW and 475 Nm. with an ECU update and performance exhaust system. Opel have now released a performance accessory of their own, although not a performance enhancing one.
The Astra OPC already has an on-board computer that shows performance data such as g-force, laptimes, oil and water temperature, but Opel have created a “Power App” kit, which includes a wireless ECU adapter that links to a free iPhone application.
The Power App is able to display a myriad of technical data in real-time from the car’s ECU, some of which include: vehicle speed; engine revs; electrical system statuses; turbo boost pressure and even some of the vehicle’s settings like the automatic headlights. The app also includes a location map, track timer and a visual representation of the OPC’s over- and understeer, a feature which Opel says can help “to hone the perfect driving lines and cornering speeds on a race track”.
There are many such ECU adapters and applications available to read data from vehicle ECUs, however, we have yet to come across an official offering from a manufacturer. The benefit is that the software has been design specifically for the OPC and is able to reliably read some 60 data channels.
The OPC Power App adapter is available through the Opel dealer network for R6 052, while the Power App software is freely available via the Apple App Store for iPod Touch, iPad2 and newer, as well as iPhone 3 and newer.
