Vauxhall Corsa
Following its debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the new Fourth-Generation Vauxhall Corsa is replacing a model which - even in its final full year of production - achieved exceptional sales, thanks to buyers' familiarity with its name and looks, and fondness for its compact dimensions and interior packaging.
The outgoing Corsa has been a sales phenomenon, British car buyers have taken it to their hearts and used its name as a default description for cars in the supermini class. It has also been Vauxhall's best-selling car for many years, vying with Fiesta for the UK's Number One spot and topping sales charts in Scotland and Northern Ireland outright.
In its last full year, 84,000 were sold, outstripping total sales of manufacturers like SEAT, Skoda, Renault and Citroen. Such is its popularity, the UK is now the lead market for Corsa by a large margin (Germany was the second biggest market in 2013 with around 50,000 sales).
Taking Europe as a whole, Corsa is the second most popular nameplate across the continent after 32 years in the market. And despite tough competition from rivals like VW Polo, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta, over 12 million have been sold, or an average of 370,000 cars each year.
In the UK, Corsa has a very diverse customer profile appealing to people from all areas of society, male and female, young and old. Target customers for the three-door and five-door do differ slightly though: the five-door model is aimed firmly at the mainstream and the three-door at a younger, under-40 demographic. The retail/fleet split is fairly even, albeit weighted slight towards private buyers.
Why does the Corsa's appeal endure? Research conducted by Vauxhall has found that the following qualities repeatedly lead buyers to Corsa:
So the challenge with the Fourth-Generation model has been to retain these assets and build on them. Improved driveability to class-leading standards has been a key goal during New Corsa's development, as well as a substantial re-design of the interior, fresh and more efficient powertrains and the introduction of clever and appealing technology.
'Corsa remains the best-selling car in Vauxhall's range, which is testament to the continued appeal of the current model to UK buyers, supported by a raft of innovative sales programmes that make the car even more enticing,' said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall's Chairman and Managing Director. 'So New Corsa has its work cut out - both as a worthy replacement for the existing car, and as a new challenger in a highly competitive class. We're confident that it will jump both hurdles with ease.'
Still one the UK's top-selling and best-loved cars, the current model continues to garner affection from its owners thanks to its perfect combination of compact exterior dimensions and clever use of cabin space - major considerations when the new car was conceived.
As a result, the new, Fourth-Generation Corsa is near-identical in length to the current model and retains its enviable space utilisation for occupants.
But almost every other element of its design and engineering has changed, significantly improving the car's driveability, efficiency, connectivity and overall ownership experience.
All of the car's body panels are new, and provide greater definition between the 'sporty' look of the three-door and the 'premium' five-door models. For the first time on a Corsa the car's striking profile has been overlaid with Brit Mark Adams' sculptural design, including elements such as the 'blade' running across the lower door-sections.
Almost every element of the Corsa's generous cabin is completely new, including a completely re-designed instrument panel and dashboard, and greatly improved levels of functionality, highlighted by Vauxhall's sophisticated IntelliLink system - its first use in a high-volume application.
'The new Corsa interprets our design philosophy perfectly,' said Mark Adams, Vice President Design for Vauxhall/Opel. 'The smoothly sculpted body, taught dynamic lines, including our signature "blade" body side and the sophisticated surfacing make the Corsa a sporty-looking small car with an elegant design. That also goes for the interior with its high-quality materials, excellent craftsmanship and leading-edge infotainment. It targets customers who do not invest a fortune in a car but demand quality at the highest level.'
From the front, the Corsa is immediately recognisable as the latest addition to the Vauxhall range. The bold face is clearly recognisable thanks to its 'eagle eye'-shaped headlights, incorporating Vauxhall's signature 'wing' LED daytime running lights and the low sporty trapezoidal grille, with a chrome bar supporting the Vauxhall Griffin. The front fog lights are embedded in two low, outward laying air inlets with chrome trim that make the car appear wider and lower.
The side view of the three- and five-door bodies is very different. In the three-door model, the upper window line drops to the rear which makes the car look coupe-like. In the five-door variant, the belt line extends upwards creating a dynamic connection with the roof spoiler. The sculptured body sides feature Vauxhall's flowing 'blade' signature.
The rear view of the Corsa is also completely new. Wide horizontal split tail lights help widen the car and flow through to the rear shoulders creating a more muscular stance. The 'wing' graphic design features when the rear lights are switched on.
There's also a large pallet of 15 exterior colours. New for this model are Summit White and Limelight Green, and metallics Shiny Rock, Emerald Green, Darksea Blue and Peppermint Green.
While the basic dimensions of the New Corsa's cabin remain largely the same, almost everything that sits in it has been re-designed.
High quality materials - like those used for the soft IP top-pad, or the decor elements dressed in rich satin chrome, are all worthy of vehicles from much higher segments. New Corsa's interior also introduces an industry-first seat fabric printing technology.
A new driver control centre takes pride of place within the newly-designed instrument panel, which is themed around horizontal lines. There's also a re-designed steering wheel that's more ergonomic than before along with switches and chrono-styled instruments that are all finished in chrome.
The interior is practical too with the front doors featuring a compartment large enough for a 1.5-litre bottle as well as three cup holders in the centre console. There's also a flexible cup holder located in front of the gear lever.
Corsa is the first high-volume Vauxhall to be available with IntelliLink, the innovative communications system which has already been seen in the ADAM model. The state-of-the-art IntelliLink infotainment system is fully customisable, and designed with ease of use in mind. The system is surrounded by high gloss décor, with supporting switches accented in satin chrome.
IntelliLink operates through a seven-inch colour touchscreen, and can be controlled via apps such as BringGo (for navigation), Stitcher and TuneIn (for global radio channels and internet podcasts).
The system is compatible with both Apple and Android 'phones, and incorporates additional features, such as voice command, Bluetooth and Siri Eyes Free.
Under the bonnet, new engines and transmissions will be available from launch. A 1.0-litre, three-cylinder ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo - just one of a raft of new engines from Vauxhall's new powertrain offensive - will headline in the petrol offerings, while a much improved 1.3 CDTi, which meets stringent Euro-6 regulations, will appeal to diesel buyers.
The highlight of the New Corsa's engine line-up is the fresh-to-market 1.0-litre, three-cylinder ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo petrol unit. Meeting the latest stringent Euro 6 emissions regulations, this new engine is the first of a new family of small petrol three and four-cylinder units that are being introduced in to the Vauxhall range.
The compact ECOTEC 'triple' is the only production three-cylinder engine on the market with a a sump-mounted counter-rotating balancer shaft, making it especially smooth and resonance-free and a class benchmark for reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
One of the quietest three-cylinder engines of its type, the ECOTEC has numerous sound engineering measures contributing to its benchmark refinement. During development 40 components and sub-groups were acoustically-optimised, including the cylinder block, fuel injection system and crankshaft.
This state-of-the-art unit features high-pressure direct fuel injection, an ultra-compact turbocharging system and continuously variable valve timing (intake and exhaust sides). The 1.0-litre ECOTEC weighs in at just 106kg thanks to its lightweight, all-aluminium construction, with a cylinder head-integrated exhaust manifold.
The new engine also features outstanding performance achieving 0-62mph in just 10.4 seconds in 115PS guise with a top speed of 121mph. Both 90PS and 115PS versions deliver superior low-end torque, with 170Nm generated at just 1,800rpm.
With Start/Stop technology as standard, the 1.0-litre ECOTEC achieves 65.7mpg combined and CO2 emissions as low as 100g/km.
The engine is mated to an all-new, compact six-speed manual gearbox. Highlights include greater efficiency, thanks to its low friction design and a precise shift feel.
A new version of Vauxhall's 1.4 turbo engine will also launch with New Corsa. Designed for maximum fuel efficiency, but with strong mid-range performance, the new unit produces 100PS. Torque of 200 Nm is delivered from 1,850 to 3,500 rpm. Economy is 55.4mpg combined and CO2 emissions are 119g/km for the 3-door ecoFLEX version. The same model accelerates from 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds and has a top speed of 115mph.
Two naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engines - a 1.2- and a 1.4-litre - have been revised and adapted to suit the new car. The 1.2-litre achieves 53.5mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 124g/km with 16-inch wheels. The 1.4-litre three-door ecoFLEX model delivers 55.4mpg and 119g/km.
Significant improvements to the current Corsa's 1.3 CDTi diesel engine have been made to bring it up to Euro 6 emissions standards for the new model.
At launch, the most frugal Corsa diesel version - with 95PS, 5-speed manual transmission and braking energy recuperation system - can reduce the three-door model's CO2 emissions to 85g/km and allow it to achieve 88.3mpg on the combined cycle. The same engine is also available with 75PS. Both units have been reworked to provide more refinement and responsiveness while remaining outstandingly efficient.
Three new gearboxes - a manual, an automatic and an Easytronic - are available, with improved shift quality and providing greater overall efficiency.
The new 1.0-litre ECOTEC gets a compact six-speed manual gearbox featuring minimised internal friction for better efficiency and excellent shift comfort. Vauxhall engineers have achieved greater operating efficiency through optimally stepped gear ratios and low friction design for internal components. Weighing less than 40kg, this is one of the lightest manual gearboxes on the market.
The New Corsa is the first small Vauxhall to be available with the new six-speed, torque converter automatic transmission. An increased number of ratios (the outgoing Corsa model had a four-speed automatic transmission) enable a wider spread of gears. The long sixth gear ensures lower engine revs and a reduced noise level in the cabin. Initially this transmission, featuring fast and extremely smooth gear shifting, is available exclusively with the 1.4-litre (90PS) petrol engine.
There's also a new generation five-speed automated Easytronic 3.0 transmission. It provides automated operation at a more affordable price as well as excellent fuel efficiency and smooth gear shifting. It will appeal especially to price-sensitive customers who do not want to forgo the comfort offered by an automatic transmission.
Easytronic 3.0 is a technical tour de force, with shift-quality and drive-off responses on a par with a conventional, converter-based automatic, but for about half the price and with improved fuel economy. Technical optimisation has been achieved through advancements in the areas of actuators, sensor technology and control engineering, as well as the incorporation of a completely re-worked base manual gearbox.
There are also new functions in the interaction between the powertrain's control modules. In addition to automatic mode with an electro-hydraulic actuator taking over shifting and clutch operations, Easytronic 3.0 also offers manual gear shifting via push and pull operation of the gearshift.
Compared to conventional automatic transmissions, Easytronic 3.0 has a lower weight and minimal interior friction. With the Easytronic, the new Corsa achieves 60.1mpg combined and CO2 emissions as low as 110g/km.
A completely re-designed chassis with new suspension components underpins every New Corsa, with no carry-over elements from the current models.
The new car has a 5mm lower centre of gravity, aiding stability and roll characteristics, while a reinforced, stiffer front sub-frame and new front suspension geometry, including new knuckle joints, give drivers more taught and precise handling.
'The chassis of the new generation Corsa does not inherit a single component from the previous model,' said Michael Ableson, GM's Vice-President Vehicle Engineering Europe. 'We turned every conceivable setscrew to achieve a better drive experience with new levels of comfort, precision and pleasure. At the same time, we concentrated on finding the optimal balance between enjoyable dynamics and predictable, safest road-handling.'
In addition to its 5mm lower center of gravity, the Corsa receives a new, stiffer, redesigned chassis. The front MacPherson suspension has a new geometry with new front knuckles which improve the vehicle's roll behavior, steering response and understeer behavior.
A new, reinforced sub-frame increases torsional rigidity, while dual strut mounts provide improved responsiveness on uneven surfaces. New spring rates and damper characteristics in the front reduce the pitching moment during sharp braking manoeuvres. This helps the driver keep control in an emergency braking situation, even for inexperienced drivers.
The rear axle torsion bar has been redesigned too, and an enhanced stabiliser has been added to reduce tilting for a better cornering and stability.
Improvements have also been made to damper characteristics, for both Comfort and Sport set ups, raising the bar for ride comfort and rolling refinement within the Corsa's class.
The Comfort chassis is offered with 14- to 16-inch wheels. The Sport chassis has stiffer springs and shock absorbers as well as a specific steering geometry and calibration for a more direct response. It comes standard on Corsa models equipped with 17-inch wheels.
In order to improve directional stability, Vauxhall engineers changed the mounting points of the rack-and-pinion steering shaft and optimised its geometry. A newly-constructed mounting for the steering column saves space which is filled with additional padding material and increases driver safety in case of a collision. The steering column also possesses special impact absorbers.
The development of a completely new electrical architecture for the fifth-generation Corsa enables a more sophisticated level of interaction between its various systems.
New speed-sensitive electric power steering - which incorporates a City mode for low-speed manoeuvring and parking - receives a specific UK tune to cater for our unique and challenging topography. Understeer has been reined in and friction dialled out of the system, allowing drivers a smoother, yet more precise command of the car's steering.
Complementing New Corsa's chassis hardware, are a plethora of driver safety systems made possible by a new electrical architecture. These include: Hill Start Assist, Automatic Park Assist (the car will self-steer into a parking place), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
The base new Corsa comes with 14-inch steel rims and 185/70 tyres. In combination with a turbocharged engine (1.0 turbo, 1.4 turbo and 1.3 CDTi), the new Corsa is always fitted with 15-inch or bigger wheels. There's also the option of 17-inch rims and 215-wide tyres. The standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System display warns the driver in the event of excessive pressure loss in any of the tyres.
The braking system consists of ventilated front and solid rear discs which can easily cope with high stress. The pedal feel is distinguished by the defined pressure point and excellent controllability. The braking systems is assisted by electronic aids that receive information for the ABS/ESP sensors. For example, the systems recognise if the brakes are being applied while cornering and distribute the braking force to all four wheels depending on the load.
In its fourth-generation, Corsa has never been so well served for driver comfort and safety. The new model is available with heated front seats, steering wheel and windscreen, as well as soft-tone ambient lighting and a full-size panoramic roof, matching equipment levels from the segment above.
New safety systems also proliferate. Buyers can choose from a list including Side Blindspot Alert, High Beam Assist, Lane Departure Warning, bi-xenon lights and a rear-view camera.
Vauxhall's IntelliLink infotainment system features in a high sales volume model for the first time. It provides seamless integration of Apple iOS and Android smartphone functionalities inside the car, ensuring Corsa drivers stay safely connected when they are on the road.
A new ThermaTec heated windscreen helps provide excellent visibility. As in the previous generation, the steering wheel and the front seats can also be heated.
Unlike conventional air conditioning systems, the new Corsa's electronic climate control uses a patented control strategy which maintains constant comfort through the seasons, without the need to change settings.
Using performance data that includes more than 200 characteristics, a micro-processor computes the on-board climate and adjusts it to match the desired values. The result is an air conditioning system which is more stable and compensates for temperature fluctuations inside the car, making long journeys even more comfortable. An activated-carbon cabin air filter helps keeps pollen and unpleasant smells at bay.
Seats featuring elaborate workmanship and optimal contours with contemporary upholstery fabrics give the new Corsa cabin a final quality flourish.
There is also plenty of space inside both the new three and five-door Corsa. In the three-door version, Easy Entry front seats enable easy access to the rear seats. The 60/40 split folding rear bench seat turns the elegant interior into a spacious storage compartment. When the rear seat backrests are folded forward, the Corsa offers a load capacity of 1,120 litres.
The new generation Corsa features Vauxhall's IntelliLink infotainment system which brings the connected world of smartphones and apps into the cabin.
Standard on all models with the exception of Life and Sting, IntelliLink is fully-compatible with the latest Android and Apple iOS-based smartphones. Up to five mobile phones can be simultaneously connected inside the car through Bluetooth.
IntelliLink has a standard seven-inch colour touchscreen and its home page gives access to five major functions: make phone calls (Phone), listen to music (Audio), looks at photos and videos when it is safe to do so (Gallery), change settings such as the language of the system for instance (Settings) or use apps (Apps).
BringGo is IntelliLink's navigation app. It can be downloaded from the app store as a map version for Eastern and Western Europe. Once downloaded, the map data remains installed on the user's smartphone, which means Corsa owners do not need a smartphone broadband connection to use the BringGo navigation system. BringGo uses the smartphone's GPS to locate the Corsa.
The Stitcher app is a useful global podcast internet radio service which lets users listen to programmes live, or after they have been broadcast. Once Stitcher is downloaded to a smartphone, Corsa owners can access more than 10,000 podcasts on demand, including radio shows and live stations around the world, via the Corsa's IntelliLink touchscreen.
With access to a global network of 70,000 radio stations, the Tune-In app has the power to offer entertainment to suit the tastes of every listener.
The integration of Apple iOS devices within IntelliLink also enables SIRI EYES FREE voice control. This makes it possible for drivers to hear an incoming text message read aloud, or dictate texts and emails - all while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.
The new Corsa not only offers a new driving experience with improved comfort and precision thanks to its new chassis and steering systems, it also makes driving easier and safer with advanced assistance systems.
Particularly in hectic city driving conditions, they help the driver in a variety of ways. At the touch of a button, the standard City mode increases power assistance at lower speeds, which is useful when manoeuvring in congested urban areas.
Hill Start Assist also comes as standard. It maintains the brake function for about two seconds after the driver has taken his/her foot off the brake pedal. This prevents the Corsa from rolling back when starting on a slope, or when driving off from traffic lights or an uphill parking spot.
Many of the new Corsa's driver assistance systems are unrivalled in its vehicle class. These include bi-xenon headlamps with cornering light and LED daytime running lights. This impressive system that so far was only available in vehicles of larger classes offers improved range, brightness and colour intensity - a bonus for visibility and safety. In addition, it has a lower power consumption, and a much longer service life.
The new generation Advanced Park Assist identifies suitable parking spaces and automatically parks the vehicle, without the driver touching the wheel. The ultrasonic sensor-based system measures parallel or perpendicular parking spots, calculates the vehicle's trajectory and automatically steers the Corsa into a space.
The driver just controls acceleration, deceleration and gear shifting. Advanced Park Assist always comes with Side Blind Spot Alert, which also uses the ultrasonic sensors to warn the driver of an imminent collision when changing lanes.
The sensors have a range of three metres to the left and right of the car, enabling them to detect objects or other vehicles in the driver's blind spot. Whenever another vehicle comes within range of the sensors, a warning LED illuminates in the relevant exterior door mirror. The optional combined pack, comprising the up-level functionalities of Park Assist and Side Blind Spot Alert, is available for £495.
A speed limiter function also allows the driver to select a maximum vehicle speed above 18mph at the touch of a steering wheel control button. This feature is particularly useful in town or city driving.
Extras such as the optional rear view camera can also be integrated, while safety is further increased thanks to new systems - such asTraffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Following Distance Indication and Forward Collision Warning.
Lane Departure Warning alerts drivers with an acoustic and visual warning when they unintentionally stray out of their lane. Traffic Sign Recognition reads speed limit, no-passing and supplementary road signs.
To provide maximum safety, Forward Collision Warning uses an acoustic alert and a red, head-up warning that is projected into the windshield whenever the distance to the preceding vehicle falls below the pre-set minimum distance.
Following Distance Indication provides the driver with the distance to other vehicles in front in seconds.
High Beam Assistant automatically activates the High Beam Light for better road illumination and improved visibility. The system monitors the distance to a preceding vehicle or oncoming traffic, recognises the headlamps or tail lights of other vehicles and automatically switches the headlamps to low beam to prevent blinding other road users. This results in higher comfort and safety for drivers and passengers.
Vauxhall's all-new Corsa is available to order now priced from £8,995 on-the-road, with list prices reduced by up to nearly £3,000 versus the outgoing model, despite a huge leap in quality and equipment levels across a simplified range.
New Corsa offers excellent value-for-money against the current model. Customers opting for a Corsa SRi Vx Line 1.2i with air con, the entry-level SRi Vx Line car, save £2,970 versus the outgoing SRi 1.4 with air con model. Similarly, customers choosing a Corsa SRi 1.2i with air con, the entry SRi model, save £2,435 against the previous SXi 1.2i with air con. Similar savings are echoed across the entire range.
A new 1.0-litre ECOTEC (115PS) engine is available from just £10,995 in Sting R trim. This brand new three-cylinder Vauxhall powertrain received universal plaudits when it was introduced in ADAM ROCKS AIR. The engine features outstanding performance, achieving 0-62mph in just 10.4 seconds, and superior low-end torque, with 170Nm generated at 1,800rpm.
The new Corsa is available in nine trim levels, down from ten previously: Life, Sting and Sting R, Design, SRi, Excite, SE, SRi VX Line and Limited Edition. The range has also been vastly simplified with half as many models as before. Improved residual values that are predicted to rise by in excess of £1,000 over three years/60,000 miles make new Corsa an even more compelling package.
'The all-new Corsa range offers the perfect combination of refreshed design, class-leading specification, vastly improved driving dynamics and cutting-edge powertrain technology,' said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall's Chairman and Managing Director. 'And if that wasn't enough, customers can save close to £3,000 versus the outgoing model.
The new Corsa range offers big savings over key competitors for both company car drivers and fleet decision makers alike. Most key fleet models benefit from significant list price roll backs of approximately £2,000 against the outgoing model.
Combined CO2 emissions have seen improvements across the range and are now as low as 85g/km. The Corsa range has also been simplified with half as many models as before with fleet trims that include Design, SRi, SE and SRi VX Line.
Improved residual values that are predicted to rise by in excess of £1,000 over three years/60,000 miles complete this compelling package.
Thanks to the new low-CO2 engines, the Corsa has substantial Benefit-in-Kind saving overs key rivals. Over three years/60,000 miles on a personal tax rate of 20 per cent, the Corsa SRi 5-door 1.3 CDTi (95PS) saves £190 against a Peugeot 208 Style 5-door 1.6 e-HDI (92PS) and £129 versus a Volkswagen Polo SE Design 5-door 1.4TDI (75PS). It also saves £90 over a Ford Fiesta Zetec 5-door 1.6 ECOnetic (95PS).
Fleet decision makers can take advantage of best-in-class whole-life costs driven by fuel savings thanks to the new, more efficient engines and improved projected residual values. For example, the Corsa SRi 5-door 1.3 CDTi (95PS) makes a whole life cost saving of £1,669 against a Peugeot 208 Style 5-door 1.6 e-HDI (92PS) and £1,547 versus a Volkswagen Polo SE Design 5-door 1.4TDI (75PS). It also saves £655 over a Ford Fiesta Zetec 5-door 1.6 ECOnetic (95PS).
Vauxhall's new 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine features in Corsa for the first time. With low CO2 emissions, this fantastic new engine offers a compelling alternative to competitor diesel models with whole life cost savings in excess of £1,000 versus the rivals above.
'The all-new Corsa range offers the perfect combination of refreshed design, class-leading specification, vastly improved driving dynamics and cutting-edge powertrain technology,' said James Taylor, Vauxhall's Fleet Sales Director. 'And if that wasn't enough, against key rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and the VW Polo, both company car drivers and fleet managers alike can make significant savings.'
