View all Vauxhall Corsa Reviews
► The Vauxhall Corsa is back as a hot hatch
► Sporty GSE model backs 277bhp
► And is the fastest accelerating Vauxhall on sale
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Vauxhall has unveiled the new Corsa GSE as the firm looks to get back into the hot hatch class after almost a decade without a proper contender.
But this time it won’t be the popping and banging exhaust of a modified Corsa VXR waking you up at 2am (other stereotypes are available) as Vauxhall’s sporty Corsa will now be electric, using the same powertrain as the new Peugeot e-208 GTI and Vauxhall Mokka GSE, with VXR and GSI names firmly a thing of the past.
While it will be publicly revealed at October’s Paris Motor Show, here’s everything we know about the new Vauxhall Corsa GSE so far.
It’s currently Vauxhall’s quickest car
Ignoring the plug-in hybrid Astra GSE halfway house from a few years, this model sees Vauxhall return to the hot hatch class after almost a decade-long gap and it’s most powerful Corsa ever, putting out 277bhp and 254lb ft of torque, all sent to the front wheels, albeit with a Torsen limited slip differential to help out. A 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds makes it the fastest accelerating Vauxhall currently on sale, with its top speed capped at 112mph.
It uses the same 54kWh (51kWh usable) battery as a standard Corsa Electric and, though Vauxhall isn’t quoting an electric driving range yet, we’d expect around 220 miles, based on the claimed 217-mile figure for the Peugeot e-208 GTI.
Other changes compared to a standard electric Corsa include a lower and stiffer chassis, four-piston brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers and ‘GSE-optimised steering and pedal tuning’.
The styling has been turned up a notch
The current Vauxhall Corsa is far from being a bad looking car, but it certainly isn’t very sporty. To set it apart from the regular model, the GSE gets striking three-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, as well as Alcon brakes.
Specific GSE bumpers, with the front getting more pronounced air intakes and black trim on lower sections. A black roof and black rear spoiler will also be standard, as will the wider gloss black wheelarch surrounds.
What about the interior?
Possibly the best thing about the new Corsa GSE are its seats. They’re much more interesting than those in the Mokka GSE and almost like a Golf GTI in pattern, though swap the Volkswagen’s red and white for black, grey and yellow. It’s meant to be a nod to the ‘80s Vauxhall Nova GTE.
Alcantara is used on the seats and steering wheel, while the bright yellow seatbelts are an interesting addition.
As with a standard Corsa, the GSE will come with a 10-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster of the same size, albeit redesigned to show performance data, such as acceleration values and a G-force reader. Other equipment fitted includes keyless entry, heated seatsand a heated steering wheel.
Prices for the Corsa GSE are yet to be announced, but we expect it to undercut the Mokka GSE’s £36,995 starting price by a couple of thousand pounds when orders open later in the year.
