A spiritual successor to the Corsa GSi, German marque Opel has revealed its first electric hot hatch — the Corsan GSE which it says is “the spiritual sibling of this newer and more powerful” version that was released by Germany marque***Opell** in September.
Between 1994 and 1999, Corsa GSi was sold here as the Holden Barina (the second-generation) GLi; from 2001 to 2005, the third-gen SGi were sold there as “Barinana” SRi.
The ‘injection’ (German for ‘Grand Sport Einspritzung’) badge, which was originally worn by the electric hot hatch as an initial symbol of its brand’s 1970s fuel-injected performance models, is also on the label’. Now, the automaker says the GSE name for ‘Grand Sport Electric’ is a reference to the brand-new car company.
A claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 5 is achieved by its electric powertrain, which generates an estimated 345Nm of torque through the front wheels of its engine. A. second , as opposed to the 9 seconds – 5 sec – A 0-second claim of the 1994 Holden Barina GSi it channels; and an even quicker claim than the 5 — which is also known as “the fastest” (and faster) in its history. In the same year, 7-litre V8 HSV GTS launched a new model of 7.
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No details of the new electric hatchback have yet been revealed, nor has pricing – although it is likely to cost more than $23,310 before on-road costs Holden charged for the Barina GSi 32 years ago – are considered expensive at the time.
The new hero model won’t make it to Australia, with the Opel brand last sold here in 2013. More recently, the brand returned to the New Zealand market in 2022, before its distributor announced earlier this year it was pulling the plug.
The upcoming Peugeot e-208 GTI uses the same underpinnings and powertrain as the Corsa GSE, but hasn’t been confirmed for Australian showrooms.
After Mokka GSE SUV, the Corsa gSE is Opel’s second electric performance model after the same e-CMP architecture and has the identical front-mounted electric motor with similar outputs.
Toned down from the wild, winged 588kW GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car added to the Gran Turismo 7 Sony PlayStation game, the Corsa GSE still adds visual muscle and a more aggressive hot hatch stance to what Opel says is Germany’s best-selling small car.
Opel’s Corsa GSE has been lowered to the normal model (white paint contrasted with black detailing in chunkier bumper, wheel-arch extensions, mirror caps and an integrated rear spoiler) roof of black.
A pair of black-and-chrome 18-inch alloy wheels adorned with Michelin tyres contrast against fluorescent yellow four-piston Alcon brake calipers, while GSE graphics run along the lower front doors of the five-door-only model.
The inside is grey, yellow and black tartan and Black tartans and Alcantara-trimmed sports seats with integrated head restraints as well as bright yellow seatbelt’s, white-stitched door trim (and aluminium pedals).
Three driving modes progressively unlock more performance, with Eco mode limiting outputs to 150kW and top speed to 150km/h.
Normal mode raises power to 170kW and increases top speed to 180km/h.
Sport mode has full 207kW output, where the front wheels are controlled by the low sports suspension, GSE-specific hydraulic dampers, anti-roll bars and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
The 54kWh lithium-ion battery also enables vehicle-to-load charging and 100kW DC fast charging.
Opel has yet to publish a range figure for the Corsa GSE, while the same battery is nearly 430km of range in the regular Corda Electric. Peugeot e-208 GTI 350km range
In the past, Opel was a Spanish-built SB Barina light car offering from 1994 to 2001 under General Motors (GM), which also controlled Holden, and allowed the now defunct Australian brand of its own name.
Corsa GSE alongside a first-generation Corsa GS
This rebadged second-generation Opel Corsa replaced the Japanese-built Barina, which since 1985 had been a rebadged Suzuki Swift – though without a version of the cult-classic Swift GTi hot hatch.
In the SB series, the Barina GSi packed a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and five-speed manual transmission.
The front wheels of twin-tri-spoke 14-inch alloy wheels, while weighing relatively featherweight 968kg and with the weight being sent by it now seem to be a modest 78kW and 148Nm.
In 2001, a flagship 1 was introduced here with the arrival of The XC Barina, an rebadged third-generation Opel Corsa. It was a 8-litre variant of the classic, but in 2005 it replaced the Spanish-sourced range with an original Daewoo Kalos (rebadged version) which is now known as “Spreadsaw” and has been discontinued.
Holden Barina GSi (SB)
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Thanks for reading Opel Corsa GSE hot hatch is a modern-day Holden Barina GSi with electric power
