Vauxhall Corsa GSI
OFFICIAL: Hot hatch legend returns
THIS is our first look at the reborn Vauxhall Corsa GSI, a car that will aim to offer a performance image on a budget when it goes on sale in late autumn.
The GSI is based on the three-door Corsa, but it gets chassis modifications and sports styling add-ons. Its front end is dominated by larger air intakes and a honeycomb grille, while there are sill extensions along the flanks and a sizeable rear spoiler beefs up the look at the rear, along with a chrome exhaust.
Under the skin, the GSI has the same suspension and brakes as the Corsa VXR, with firmer springs and retuned dampers, and it sits on 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, there are leather Recaro sports seats, a leather steering wheel and aluminium pedals. The Corsa’s infotainment gets Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity as standard.
Vauxhall hasn’t issued any details on the car’s powertrain. However, we’d expect the Corsa to follow the same policy as the recently launched Insignia GSI, which uses the most powerful engines in the conventional, non-vxr line-up. That means the Corsa GSI should get the brand’s 148bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
This, in turn, should mean that the GSI is more affordable for younger buyers to insure. That’s a key factor for Vauxhall, which knows how popular performance-focused Corsas have been to that area of the market over the years.
Developments on faster VXR models appear to have been frozen in the wake of Vauxhall and Opel’s purchase by PSA Peugeot-citroen. But insiders say that the idea of faster versions of the next-generation Corsa and latest Astra have not been abandoned. Engineers are looking at ways of sharing performance parts with Peugeot to help drive down the cost of creating niche hot hatchbacks.
The Corsa GSI is due on sale just before the end of the year. There’s no word yet on pricing, but we’d expect it to weigh in at less than a VXR, so it should cost around £19,000.
“The new GSI should be more affordable for younger buyers to insure”
SUBARU has confirmed that a new Forester is on the way, and will be revealed at the New York Motor Show at the end of March.
The teaser image (below) issued with the announcement is just a snapshot of the car’s new tail-light. The new Mazda CX-5 rival is expected to go on sale towards the end of the year.