First look at Corsa GSE as 'ring testing continues
Full reveal coming in October; here's the official sneak peek
There was never any danger of mistaking a VXR for an ordinary Vauxhall. Wild bodykits, big wheels and centre-exit exhausts made sure of that. For the new range of GSE performance models, though, it would seem like a more mature approach is being taken. The Mokka GSE set out the stall, and the Corsa is very much cut from the same cloth; this GSE prototype almost looks like a standard car…
Of course there’s only so much to tell from trackside Nurburgring pictures. And the fact that it’s there for chassis sign off is encouraging. But boy does it look tame; maybe we’re all a bit too grown up now for truly OTT hot hatches, though even the usual giveaways of something performance orientated are hard to spot. It’s a lower Corsa on larger wheels, if hardly one that screams intent on the Nordschleife. Probably a GSE doesn’t need to, and hopes for how a 280hp Corsa might look were misguided. Some disappointment has to still linger for now, though. Maybe the disguise is merely unflattering. Because the e-208 GTI has shown how good this platform can look…
There’s not an awful lot more to say yet, albeit with the usual promises of a ‘sport chassis with specific throttle, steering and ESC tuning matching its power output.’ The aim of the Nurburgring laps was to fine-tune all those settings ahead of a motor show debut at Paris in October. Which feels reassuringly old school for the return of a hot Vauxhall Corsa. There also isn’t an electric hot hatch record at the Nordschleife; maybe it wouldn’t stand for very long with cars like the Ioniq 5 N around, but it would be a cool claim to launch a new GSE with…
Marcus Lott, a senior Stellantis engineer and board member with a title too long to type, added: “The Opel Corsa GSE will be the next addition to the GSE family. We want everybody to enjoy fully-electric hot hatchback performance and exciting driving dynamics. That’s why we specifically travelled to the Nürburgring to put the final touches on the set-up. I am sure that everybody will enjoy the locally emissions-free driving pleasure it will offer.” Which is hardly the most thrilling soundbite ever noted. Still, it means there’s little danger of expectations getting carried away. Opel is adamant for now that the GSE ‘will stand out from the crowd’, so let’s reserve judgement for now. And hope it comes in a good orange…
And why bother with the GSE and a GTI if Peugeot pulls their finger out nearly 7 years into a car's lifespan?
Unless they get brave and put a decent bodykit on this, it's going to bomb, spectacularly.
What % of hot hatch owners ever take their car on track and what tiny % have even tracked a car worth more than £20k.
The first stock GR Yaris done the Nurburing with Autotest in a 8min18 with similar BHP and at 1290kg despite all its trickery. A Fiesta ST stock is 8min28. Previous Corsa VXR 8min47.
Corsa GSE will likely get between the GR and ST as my guess if we are honest showing that it’s a decent steer no matter how you try and cut it. Practical, super cheap to run and it isn’t trying to be something it isn’t.
Newsflash for those who haven’t done track days but most stock cars outside going a full lap of the Nurburgring are going to struggle to do a lap guys never mind string them together. Especially this cars rivals with small 1L engines managing overheating and getting 4mpg on track.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to meet some guys from Stellantis Motorsport in France last year and to have a look at the electric Corsa rally car, as well as the new Mokka rally car. It was actually really interesting to hear about how different the approach was for EV rally cars compared to ICE ones. I made a video about it if anyone is interested: https://youtu.be/xzUg8b9M4os?si=G3sEfIzq8BvSvynn
I also did one with the 208 Racing as well, which is another cool Stellantis project: https://youtu.be/nAStr2-DUKA?si=6i2xDDLR50vpW2c9
That's the car I'd really like to see them make for the road to be honest!
Alfa junior = Pug 208 GTi = Lancia Ypsion HF = Corsa GSE
All the same, so any Nurnberg ring tweaks will be very modest !!
Ever drive a normal Megane and a Renault Sport Megane?
A 320d or an M3.
An X3 or an X3M Comp.
Ever drive a normal Megane and a Renault Sport Megane?
A 320d or an M3.
An X3 or an X3M Comp.
Who buys souped up Golf’s, MINIs, Fiesta, I20s now?
Its drive train is near enough irrelevant now. It’s a 280hp supermini that will likely go 5.Xsec 0-60, be 2nd fastest in class behind the GR Yaris and cost pennies to run compared to its rivals.
Hasn’t even been a review of how it drives yet. Could be brilliant could be rubbish but we don’t know. At least Vauxhall trying to make a drivers car.
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