Performance Review: Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre - [1973]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1973. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1973 Monteverdi Hai 450 GTS and the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.This particular Vauxhall-Opel Firenza 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 Firenza 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 Firenza's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon 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 1040 kgs (2292 lbs) this makes the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre in the same weight category as the 2016 Abarth 124 Spider 1.4 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

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

In terms of power the 2279cc 8V St4 engine produces 131 bhp (97 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 144 lb-ft (195.2 Nm) @ 3500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (159 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

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

The 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (150.8 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza.

The Vauxhall-Opel Firenza has a Power to weight ratio of 125.9 bhp per ton and 138.4 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1973 Firenza competing with the 2017 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT Premium (150.8 bhp per ton) or the 1999 Audi TT 1.8T 225 (150.8 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 Firenza generating around 138.4 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 1984 BMW 6 Series M635 CSi E24 (163.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 2012 Porsche Cayman 2.7l (163.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 9.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 9.7 secs, this made the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre as fast as the 1986 Ford Granada Scorpio 4x4 2.8 V6 (9.40 secs) the 1955 Ford Thunderbird 292 Fordomatic 1st Gen. (9.40 secs) the 2001 Alfa-Romeo 147 TS Selespeed (9.50 secs) the or the 1993 Rover 200 216 GTi Coupe (9.50 secs). This Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre is also faster than the 2001 Alfa-Romeo 147 TS Selespeed (9.50 secs) the 1993 Rover 200 216 GTi Coupe (9.50 secs) the 1992 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit II 6.8 V8 (9.50 secs) the and the 1978 Mazda RX7 SA22C (9.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Firenza and the 1986 BMW 3 Series M3 E30

When talking about the performance of the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.42 secs @ 83.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1986 BMW 3 Series M3 E30 (16.34 secs), the 2002 Jaguar S Type 4.2 V8 SE (16.34 secs), and the 1999 Peugeot 206 2.0 GTi 180 (16.35 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1973 version of the Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre has a maximum speed of 114mph.

Top Speed of the 1973 Firenza equals the 2011 Renault Twingo 1.6 133 Renaultsport Cup (125 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1973 Vauxhall-Opel Firenza Droop Snoot 2.3 Litre then how about the 2011 Renault Twingo 1.6 133 Renaultsport Cup (125 mph), the 2011 Fisker Karma Hybrid (125 mph), or the 2009 Tesla Roadster Electric 248bhp (125 mph).

Related Links:

1973 Firenza Rivals List.

A Brief History of Vauxhall-Opel

Car Comparison