EURO FIGHTER - Opel Corsa Mk 6
This is the new Corsa and its better than ever
Although it’s only scheduled for a grand debut later this year, it appears that images of the upcoming sixth-generation Opel Corsa have leaked onto the internet.
This new Corsa, will actually be the first Corsa to ride on a PSA platform, and will share its underpinnings with the Citroen DS3 Crossback and the new Peugeot 208. And if you’re asking why a Citroen and a Peugeot, then we would like to remind you that Opel is now owned by PSA Peugeot-Citroen, meaning all future Opels will share its platform, electronics, and mechanicals with its new French cousins. Despite this, the development process has remained at Opel’s base of operations in Russelsheim, and the Corsa will be built at Opel’s Zaragoza facility in Spain.
The new Corsa has a far more conventional shape than its angled predecessor. It’s also much lower overall (down 48mm) than the Mk 5, the intention being to improve dynamics by lowering the centre of gravity and sitting the driver lower in the car to enhance the sense of comfort. It’s also said to weigh over 100 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model, and this translates to improvements in both agility and efficiency.
Opel has endowed it with a sharper steering, and a reduced turning radius, meaning it should be a better city car than before. It is also more spacious than before, thanks to its longer wheelbase, whilst luggage capacity has improved from 285 litres to 309 litres. The new Corsa will also usher in matrix-LED headlights – a first for the supermini segment.
In terms of powertrains, there are expected to be petrol, diesel and electric versions on offer. The petrol offering will be a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.2-litre engine available in a variety of tunes, the diesel offering with be a 1.5-litre turbodiesel, and there will be a fully-electric version based on the Peugeot e-208 as well. There will be a handful of available transmissions too, ranging from manuals to six-speed and eight-speed automatics.
The new Opel Corsa is expected to bow at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, before going on sale in Europe before the end of 2019. Expect it to reach South Africa in the first half of 2020, with pricing and final specification set to be announced closer to its local introduction.
