After we revealed photos of the new Corsa GSi in our last issue, we can now confirm powertrain and performance stats ahead of the first examples arriving in dealer showrooms this autumn (2018).
Built on the most recent Corsa VXR chassis, the new GSi is powered by a punchy 1.4-litre turbocharged engine with 148bhp and 220Nm of torque. The 0-62mph dash takes 8.9 seconds, with strong poke through to a maximum speed of 128mph in factory specification. An ample 220Nm torque allied to a short-ratio six-speed gearbox also helps the GSi – more of a comfortably warm hatch than a hot one – to accelerate from 50-70mph in fifth gear in just 9.9 seconds.
The GSi’s chassis offers all the grip and poise you’d expect from a setup which previously underpinned the Corsa VXR. Optional lightweight alloys wrapped in 215/40/18 tyres complete the package, encouraging an appealing aesthetic as sharp as the car’s handling abilities.
Large air intakes and a sculpted bonnet set the GSi apart from its stablemates, while at the rear, a neat spoiler looks great and adds downforce at high speed. A chrome tailpipe joins dampers and brakes inherited from the now discontinued VXR.
Feedback relating to our reveal of the new GSi has been largely positive, with many of you posting on our social media channels commenting how the cool Corsa packs many of the VXR’s highlights without the earlier car’s associated running costs. Remarks along the same lines have been said of the new Insignia GSi, a model we tested in our previous article.
There are, of course, those of you who long to know whether the reintroduction of subtle GSis is a stop-gap in advance of the launch of hotter VXRs. Vauxhall tells us that its working hard to establish a route for an aggressive, track-friendly VXR labelled line of vehicles utilising thoroughly modern engine technology that can produce big bhp whilst adhering to ever stricter emissions laws. In the meantime, GSi offers spacious, lightweight, quick, well-handling cars, despite power figures and displacement down on outgoing flagship models.
And if that’s anything to go by, the future for performance Vauxhalls – and what we hope forthcoming VXRs might be like – looks very bright indeed.
Order books for the Corsa GSi open in July. Visit your local Vauxhall main dealer for further information. Alternatively, visit vauxhall.co.uk today.
