Vauxhall flies high with Griffin

THE Griffin logo has been the unmistakable badge on Vauxhall cars for more than 100 years – and now there’s a new limited edition version of the Corsa that takes its’ name from the mythical creature which is thought to have first appeared on a heraldic coat of arms in the 12th century.

The new Corsa Griffin is designed to celebrate 25 years of the top-selling Corsa range, but the Griffin designation could also be said to cement Vauxhall’s independence under its new French owners, the PSA Group.

The new Corsa Griffin is priced from £11,695 and comes with a high level of standard equipment, including 16-inch gloss black alloy wheels complemented by a black roof, door mirrors and front grille logo bar, matching the dark tinted rear windows.

As well as Griffin badges on the front wings, there’s a set of Griffin branded floor mats in the front, and additional equipment includes satellite navigation, front fog lights, air conditioning, heated front seats, leather-trimmed and heated steering wheel, automatic lights and wipers and an automatic anti-dazzle rear view mirror.

Four versions of the Corsa Griffin are on offer, with either a three or five door body style and a choice of 74 or 89bhp, 1.4-litre petrol engines.

The current Corsa will be replaced next year by a new model based on a PSA Group platform, so the Griffin is likely to be just the first special edition model to be offered by Vauxhall as the current model begins to enter its run out period.

Vauxhall first adopted the Griffin as its brand logo in 1915, and since then the badge has evolved over the years, with the design becoming progressively simpler and more graphic.