The second generation of the Opel Ascona was presented at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show. For homologation in group 4 with a view to participation above all in rallies, Opel developed a sports version called 400 (from the minimum number of specimens required to obtain homologation ). The 400 received a 2410cc and 144 horsepower engine. With a low weight (only 870 kg), aerodynamic appendages and specific set-up, the Ascona 400 was capable of noteworthy performances and achieved several successes in rallies, including the 1982 world championship with Walter Roehrl. The Ascona 400 remained in production from 1979 to 1981.
The Sun Star Group is an international conglomerate founded in 1981 as a company specializing in building construction and decorative fit-out. To meet its corporate diversification strategy, Sun Star entered the car model manufacturing business in 1989, including acquiring the Vitesse brand in 2001. Sun Star has wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures in Macao, Hong Kong, China, USA, UK and Japan active in many fields of trade and services.