2019 Opel Corsa GSi

Yay...GSI nameplate returns on the Corsa! Future COTY winner hopefully!

Opel Corsa GSi

Pure precision for pure driving pleasure: What the Opel Insignia GSi is already impressively showing in the midsize class, will be brought to the small car segment by the new Opel Corsa GSi. A precise sports machine that becomes a cornering virtuoso thanks to its sports chassis fine-tuned on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The exterior design of the Opel Corsa GSi leaves no doubts: Here comes a true athlete that is equally impressive in everyday driving.

"We are continuing our long GSi tradition with the new Corsa GSi. There was already an especially sporty variant of the very first Corsa, which is a sought after classic-to-be. Our latest athlete will set new standards in the segment with its OPC sports chassis," said Peter Küspert, Opel Managing Director Sales and Marketing.

True to the motto "hot, hotter, Corsa GSi" the three-door small car impresses with precise lines: It has a characteristic design with large air intakes, sculptured bonnet, prominent rear spoiler and precisely modelled side sills .From the front, the cheeky Opel GSi fascia with large honeycomb grille and the central Opel Blitz supported by two wings, along with the exterior rear view mirror housings in carbon racing-look become visible. The large chrome-ringed design elements that are visually connected in a horizontal line via black crosspieces running across the front, along with the black traverse cleat on the bonnet support the impression of road-clinging athlete. The vibrant styling is also present when viewed from the rear. The prominent spoiler on the edge of the roof creates additional downforce, the sporty chrome tailpipe is framed by the vibrant design of the rear apron in body colour.

The pure feeling of sportiness is also conveyed by the interior. The Opel Corsa GSi driver sits on the optional Recaro performance seat and puts his hands on the sports steering wheel. Select the gear via the leather gearshift knob, put your foot on the aluminium sport pedal and pure driving pleasure commences. The Opel Corsa GSi also emits pure precision: The sport chassis known from the OPC version and the brakes with red callipers ensure precise athleticism, outstanding handling and short braking distances also when combined with the optional 18-inch light alloy wheels.

Opel Corsa GSi occupants can also enjoy outstanding connectivity with the optional IntelliLink infotainment system and bring the world of Apple iOS and Android smartphones into the car.

https://www.netcarshow.com/opel/2019-corsa_gsi/

Vauxhall Corsa GSi returns as driver-focused VXR replacement

Sporty new three-door Vauxhall goes on sale this summer at around £19k

Vauxhall will apply its revived GSi tag to a new driver-focused version of the Corsa. It will be the second GSi model in its current line-up after the recently launched Insignia GSi.

Due on sale in the summer as a rival to the Ford Fiesta ST-Line, the Corsa GSi borrows key chassis hardware and geometry from the Corsa VXR to give it sharper handling than other Corsas. It uses the standard VXR’s firmer springs, dampers and uprated brakes.

Although it’s unconfirmed, the Corsa GSi is expected to follow the pattern set by the Insignia GSi and use the most potent engine on offer beneath the VXR, which has a 202bhp 1.6-litre unit. So the most likely candidate is the 1.4-litre four-cylinder that supplies the Corsa White and Black Editions with 148bhp. That engine can accelerate those models from zero to 62mph in 8.9sec, suggesting the Corsa GSi will be neck and neck with the 138bhp Fiesta ST-Line.

To be sold exclusively in three-door form, the Corsa GSi has larger air intakes, a honeycomb grille and side skirts taken from the VXR. There is also a rear spoiler that generates downforce and 18in VXR wheels.The interior features leather Recaro seats, a leather sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals. As standard, its infotainment system comes with a 7.0in screen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Corsa GSi is expected to cost from about £19,000.

The Corsa VXR will be discontinued as part of Vauxhall plans to push GSi as its main, albeit more subtle, performance arm.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...sa-gsi-returns-driver-focused-vxr-replacement

Yay...GSI nameplate returns on the Corsa! Future COTY winner hopefully!
Pity we will never see it here locally available.

Yes, it’s back! Warmed-up Opel Corsa GSi revived

Not too long ago, we reported that Opel had plans to launch a GSi-badged Corsa. And now the news has been confirmed, with the German automaker finally taking the wraps off its revived warm hatch.

Now owned by the PSA Group, Opel earlier this year confirmed that its sixth-generation Corsa hatchback would go into production in Zaragoza in 2019, so this warmed-up GSi model comes as something of a swansong for the outgoing generation. The GSi badge was, of course, last year revived for use on the Insignia.

Described as a “precise sports machine that becomes a cornering virtuoso thanks to its sports chassis fine-tuned on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring”, the new Corsa GSi will come in three-door configuration only. Opel says it borrows its sport chassis from the Corsa OPC, while the brakes feature red calipers.

Strangely, however, Opel has not mentioned what’s under the bonnet of its new Corsa GSi. Earlier reports, of course, speculated that the warm hatch would employ the brand’s 1,4-litre turbocharged four-pot, although it’s not yet known whether this engine will gain any more oomph than the 110 kW/220 N.m version currently doing duty in the Corsa Sport.

Still, the requisite styling cues are present and correct, from the gaping air intakes, cheeky rear spoiler, chunky side-sills and side-mirror caps in a carbon-look finish to the optional 18-inch light alloy wheels. Inside, the Corsa GSi can be specified with optional Recaro performance seats to match the standard sports steering wheel, leather gearshifter and aluminium sport pedals.

“We are continuing our long GSi tradition with the new Corsa GSi. There was already an especially sporty variant of the very first Corsa, which is a sought-after classic-to-be. Our latest athlete will set new standards in the segment with its OPC sports chassis,” said Peter Küspert, Opel managing director for sales and marketing.

Opel South Africa, which has been under new distributors from the start of 2018, has yet to indicate whether the revived Corsa GSi is destined for local shores…

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/yes-back-warmed-opel-corsa-gsi-revived/

Opel Corsa GSi Announced

Opel is set to introduce a new, sporty 3-door Corsa GSi to its lineup. Take a look a what this hot number will offer…

Last year, Opel brought its sporty Insignia GSi sedan to the world and now, the Rüsselsheim-based firm has applied its GSi moniker to the Corsa hatchback.

The next-generation Corsa is expected sometime in 2019, so this latest Corsa GSi appears to be a fitting, final send-off for the current model.

“We are continuing our long GSi tradition with the new Corsa GSi. There was already an especially sporty variant of the very first Corsa, which is a sought after classic-to-be. Our latest athlete will set new standards in the segment with its OPC sports chassis,” said Peter Küspert, Opel Managing Director Sales and Marketing.

Key features

With its OPC sports chassis, the Corsa GSi promises agile handling.

The Corsa GSi borrows its Nurburgring-honed sports chassis from the Corsa OPC which ensures nimble cornering ability. The 3-door Corsa GSi has been spruced up visually too and features a sizable honeycomb grille with large air intakes, a sculpted bonnet, rear spoiler and carbon-look side mirrors which give the Corsa GSi a racier edge. The model is finished off with red brake callipers and can be equipped with optional 18-inch light alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Corsa GSi features optional Recaro performance seats, a sports steering wheel, leather wrapped gear lever and aluminium sport pedals. In-car connectivity comes in the form of Opel’s IntelliLink infotainment system.

Opel has not divulged engine details for the Corsa GSi but it may very well be offered with a 110 kW / 220 Nm 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine.

We will keep you updated as more details emerge.

https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/opel-corsa-gsi-announced/44781/

New Opel Corsa GSi engine and chassis details revealed

In March 2018, Opel confirmed plans to launch a new Corsa GSi, releasing a pair of images but not very much technical detail. Now, however, the Rüsselsheim-based brand has revealed a little more about its warmed-up hatchback.

Opel says the new Corsa GSi will be powered by a turbocharged 1,4-litre four-cylinder engine, directing 110 kW and 220 N.m to the front axle via a six-speed manual gearbox (so, the same configuration and output as the powertrain employed by the Corsa Sport already offered in South Africa, and by the Corsa S in Germany).

The Corsa GSi boasts the sport chassis from the OPC version, while the brakes feature the obligatory red callipers. A set of 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/40 R18 rubber will be optional.

While Opel describes the Corsa GSi as a “hot hatchback” (curiously, it even included the quotation marks in its press material), it’s not going to trouble traditional B-segment blasters such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTI, hitting 100 km/h from standstill in a relatively leisurely 8,9 seconds. That said, according to a recent report, the high-performance OPC moniker is tipped to survive, so we’re hoping a next-generation version of the Corsa wearing this badge is still on the cards.

Anyway, back to the Corsa GSi. Opel says it will sip at around 6,3 L/100 km, and top out at 207 km/h. The brand says its engineers “specifically optimised” the responsiveness of the engine “for great driving fun on winding country roads”. Furthermore, Opel promises that the turbocharged engine and its “short-ratio” gearbox will deliver “outstanding punch in second and third gears”.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/new-opel-corsa-gsi-engine-chassis-details-revealed/

Opel drops details on new Corsa GSI

Opel revealed its new Corsa GSI back in March, and be ‘revealed’ we mean the company showed us some nice pictures of it, but didn’t bother to impart the important details, such as what kind of engine powers the car.

Now Opel has spilled the beans and it turns out the GSI will be motivated by Opel’s 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine, credited with 110kW and 220Nm, which Opel says is good enough to get it from zero to 100km/h in just 8.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 207km/h.

Cogs are swapped the good old fashioned way, with a short-ratio six-speed manual gearbox doing service in the GSI.

So as expected the Corsa GSI is more warm hatch than hot hatch, albeit a potentially enticing pocket rocket alternative to Suzuki’s Swift Sport, but doesn’t the current Opel Corsa Sport - which is already on sale in SA with the same 1.4T engine - already fill that role?

It sure does, but apart from the engine, the GSI enhances the overall experience with an OPC chassis and it’s a lot sportier looking as Opel has based it on the coupe-like three-door bodystyle and given it a more distinctive body kit.

To that end, the Corsa GSI gets carbon-look trim on the wing mirrors and honeycomb grille, pointy satin chrome accents on the lower air intakes of the redesigned front bumper, side skirts and a large rear spoiler. Buyers can also opt for chunky 18-inch alloys as seen in the pics.

Clients will also have to pay more for Recaro performance seats, although a bespoke sports steering wheel is standard, along with aluminium sport pedals.

The local importer has not officially confirmed whether the Corsa GSI is coming to South Africa, however a spokesperson did state that bringing GSI derivatives would “make sense”, given the heritage inherent in the badge.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/opel-drops-details-on-new-corsa-gsi-15037150

Pitty they kept those ugly lights in the back. Ruins the whole look of the car

looks like a opel adam that got fatter.

Opel Fatam

Vauxhall Corsa GSi priced from £18,995

Vauxhall has confirmed that its upcoming Corsa GSi costs from £18,995, making it £1050 more expensive than the comparable Ford Fiesta ST-Line with 138bhp.

The sporty Corsa, which is available to order now and due in showrooms this September, does has a 10bhp advantage, however, using the same 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the Corsa White and Black Editions to offer 148bhp and 162lb ft of torque.

Like the editions with which it shares its engine, the GSi reaches 62mph in 8.9sec, making it a tenth quicker to the mark than the Fiesta ST-Line. Top speed is 128mph - 3mph up on its Ford rival.

Following the recently launched Insignia GSi, which revived the classic GSi name, the new Corsa borrows key chassis hardware and geometry from the Corsa VXR, which it will indirectly replace.

The setup incorporates the VXR’s firmer springs, dampers and uprated brakes. There are also lightweight 18in wheels on 215/40/R18 tyres available as part of the GSi Plus Pack, which costs £1900 and also brings Recaro sports seats and bi-xenon headlights with cornering lights.

To be sold exclusively in three-door form, the Corsa GSi has larger air intakes, a honeycomb grille and side skirts taken from the VXR. There is also a rear spoiler that generates downforce and 18in VXR wheels.

As standard, the interior features a 7.0in screen for its infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Corsa VXR is being discontinued as part of Vauxhall plans to push GSi as its main, albeit more subtle, performance arm.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/vauxhall-corsa-gsi-priced-£18995

Vauxhall Corsa GSi 2018 UK review

Should I buy one?

Vauxhall might rush to point out that the Corsa GSi isn’t intended to be a direct rival to a Ford Fiesta ST but, with a starting price of £18,995, it costs exactly the same as one. In every conceivable measure, the Ford is the better car, except that it is a Ford and there are still people out there who wouldn’t dream of owning one.

In terms of horsepower, the Corsa GSi is more closely aligned to the 138bhp Suzuki Swift Sport, which happens to be cheaper by £1000. If the little Swift was the only other small hot hatch on the market, the Corsa GSi would at least be the second-best car in its class.

Vauxhall Corsa GSi specification

Location Oxfordshire On sale Now Price £18,995 Engine 4 cyls, 1364cc, turbo, petrol Power148bhp at 5000rpm Torque 162lb ft at 2750-4500rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Kerb weight1278kg Top speed 129mph 0-62mph 8.9sec Economy 49.6mpg CO2 139g/km Rivals Ford Fiesta ST, Suzuki Swift Sport

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/vauxhall/corsa/first-drives/vauxhall-corsa-gsi-2018-uk-review

Head for the hills: hillclimbing in a Vauxhall Corsa GSi

Hillclimbing was once a stern test of a vehicle, but for new cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa GSi it is a breeze, as we discover on a drive to three hills with history

The Vauxhall Corsa GSi drags itself up Star and Garter Hill in south-west London without breaking sweat.

With 162lb ft to call on, you can approach the bottom of the incline in fourth gear, apply a brief stab of throttle, shift into fifth and the car will merrily ascend to the top of the hill 325 yards further along. Well, of course it will. You will not be at all surprised to learn that a modern hatchback has no trouble whatsoever scaling a moderate slope on the fringes of Richmond Park.

But had Charles Stewart Rolls been present to witness this confidently yellow hatchback scamper up Star and Garter Hill as though it was no hill at all, he would have been astonished. For it was Rolls – several years before he started an engineering firm with business partner Henry Royce – who once drove a Panhard et Levassor 6hp from the bottom of Star and Garter Hill to the top, then back down to the bottom again, at an average of 8.75mph. It was a speed so breathtaking that Rolls was sent home with a trophy marked ‘winner’. That was 119 years ago; things have rather changed since then.

In the very early days of the motor car, when horsepower outputs were yet to reach double figures and Henry Ford’s pioneering assembly line was not much more than a vague idea in a bright man’s mind, hillclimbing was very different to the adrenaline-soaked sport we think of today. It was on these often very short inclines that car makers set out to demonstrate the climbing ability of their vehicles. It was aregarded as the ultimate test of a powered machine. If a car could inch its way up this slope or that one, it was clearly a very capable vehicle indeed.

The origins of hillclimbing in this country can be traced back to three particular courses, all of which are still in use today as public roads. We’ll be bouncing from one to the next by way of the Corsa GSi, simply because it is new and we are keen to try it out.

But hang on: doesn’t Vauxhall already have a performance brand in VXR? It did, but if you walk into a dealership today and enquire about buying one, you’ll be offered a sincere apology. The entire VXR range was killed off last year, apparently due to emissions legislation, although Vauxhall promises the badge will eventually make a comeback in some more fuel-efficient form.

You can still buy a fast Vauxhall, though. Earlier this year, the Luton marque revived its once-famous GSi moniker as a sub-VXR performance brand. The Insignia GSi was launched at the start of the year and now it is the turn of the little hatchback. It would be best not to think of the resulting Corsa GSi as a direct replacement for the departed Corsa VXR, not least because the new model is less powerful to the tune of 57bhp. If the full-fat Corsa VXR was still in production, this GSi version would be the sugar-free alternative.

The first of our three hillclimb courses is that short burst up Star and Garter Hill. Back in 1899, when the competition was first held and Rolls became its inaugural champion, the course started outside The Dysart public house, which is still there now.

It carried on up the hill, sweeping to the left halfway along and reaching its summit a few moments later. At its peak is a very grand building that is now apartments, but before that was a place where sick and injured servicemen would convalesce. In 1899, though, Rolls and his fellow competitors would have ended up outside of the Star and Garter Hotel, a different but similarly grand building that was later demolished. The hillclimb course actually turned around on itself at that point and carried on down to the Dysart.

It’s staggering to think there was ever a time that a motor vehicle would struggle to climb to the top of the hill, so effortlessly does the Corsa GSi manage it today. Its 1.4-litre engine is down on power compared with some other junior hot hatches’ powerplants, but as long as you have 4000rpm on the dial it has plenty of pull. A pity, though, that is it a touch short on character.

This car’s most notable weakness, however, is its almost unbearably stiff ride. Hot Corsas have always been jiggly and bouncy, and this GSi is no exception. The problem is, it also happens to be firmer and more uncomfortable than any Corsa VXR you care to mention. That does at least mean the GSi is a hoot to punt along a B-road, the sort that we stumble upon in Buckinghamshire on our way to the second of our three hillclimbs.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/head-hills-hillclimbing-vauxhall-corsa-gsi

Auto Express review

Opel in SA: Corsa GSi and new diesel models coming in 2019

Opel’s local distributor has confirmed the German brand will bring the Corsa GSi to South Africa in 2019, along with new diesel derivatives of its crossovers as well as the Combo commercial vehicle.

The Corsa GSi was revealed in March 2018, powered by a turbocharged 1,4-litre four-cylinder engine directing 110 kW and 220 N.m to the front axle via a six-speed manual gearbox.

Interestingly, this is the same configuration and output as the powertrain employed by the Corsa Sport already offered in South Africa. Whether the GSi model will be positioned alongside the current version or outright replace it remains to be seen.

Regardless, it will serve as something of a swansong for the badge, since the next generation of the Corsa hatchback is scheduled to be revealed in 2019.

The local distributor for the Rüsselsheim-based automaker furthermore confirmed it would add diesel versions of the Crossland X and Grandland X crossovers to its line-up at some point in 2019.

In addition, as we reported in September, the Combo van is also on the cards for next year, and is expected to be offered with a choice of wheelbase lengths and seating configurations (two, three or five seats) when it arrives in March.

https://www.carmag.co.za/news/opel-in-sa-corsa-gsi-and-new-diesel-models-coming-in-2019/

Viewpoint

New Opel Corsa GSI in SA soon - at a price

Opel has announced South African pricing for its new Corsa GSI ahead of the vehicle hitting local showrooms in May, but it’s not the pocket rocket that some fans might have expected.

Priced at R365 900, it is just a R30 000 stretch from the far more powerful 147kW Volkswagen Polo GTI, although to be fair the Corsa has some really cool features fitted as standard.

The Corsa GSI is powered by Opel’s 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine, which puts out 110kW and 220Nm, for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.9 seconds and top speed of 207km/h. The engine has been specially calibrated for faster throttle response and it is mated to a short-ratio six-speed gearbox.

The new hatch rolls on 18-inch GSI-specific alloy wheels and features an OPC-tuned sport suspension system that was honed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, as well as upgraded brakes with red calipers.

Moving inside, the Corsa GSI has the coolest seats that you’re going to get for this kind of money, in the form of Recaro racing-style buckets with integrated headrests.

While the Recaros are optional in other countries, Opel has included them in the list price for South African vehicles.

Another GSI garnish comes in the form of GSI sport pedals.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/latest-launches/new-opel-corsa-gsi-in-sa-soon-at-a-price-21008327

RIP OPC...

i want those seats tho!

Seats look yummy.