HERE’S the antidote to bloated soulless SUVs.
A small car with big power and lots of Eighties hot-hatch vibes.
The Corsa GSE is a small car with big power Credit: Unknown
Vauxhall have provided the the antidote to bloated soulless SUVs Credit: Unknown
Thank you, Vauxhall.
This is Corsa GSE.
Sign up for The Jattvibe newsletter
Thank you!
Almost twice the power of a regular Corsa at 281hp and fitted with tartan seats inspired by the old Nova GTE.
You’ll sign on the dotted line before turning a wheel.
WHITE UP MY STREET
New electric Vauxhall Corsa GSE is twice as powerful as a regular car
COR BLIMEY
Inside Vauxhall’s 199mph ‘Gran Turismo’ Corsa with rocket boost & yoke steering
Half a mile down a B-road and you’ll catch yourself nodding because you know you made the correct choice.
Right, let’s start with the name.
GSE stands for Grand Sport Electric. So electric only. No petrol.
Power is easy with an EV but masking its weight isn’t. And that’s where this car impresses most.
You’ll get around 200 miles on a full charge in the real world Credit: Unknown
The best colour is white, like Vauxhall’s old race cars Credit: Unknown
The chassis is a peach.
Lowered suspension, stiffer springs, wider track, additional rear anti-roll bar, 50/50 weight distribution like a BMW 3 Series, all of that good stuff combined with quick-ratio steering, a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, 18in alloys and beefy brakes.
The diff helps the car hold its line through a corner and not wash out sideways.
Think rat and drainpipe.
Fat lad sprinting to Greggs.
In Eco mode, top speed is limited to 93mph to help preserve the battery.
Oh yeah, you’ll get around 200 miles on a full charge in the real world, depending on the weather, tyres, and your right foot.
In Sport mode, braking is 100 per cent friction brakes – no regen – so you’re totally in charge. We like that.
Vauxhall engineers have been itching to spice up Britain’s favourite supermini for years and, finally, the stars aligned. The old Corsa VXR was retired in 2018.
Other positives.
The best colour is white. Like Vauxhall’s old race cars. Makes the black detailing and GSE badging pop. The brakes are from British firm Alcon.
IntelliLux Matrix headlights project a 400m carpet of light onto the road at night.
The central touchscreen does the usual stuff – reversing camera, maps and music – as well as an acceleration timer for track days.
But I do have two leeetle grumbles. If only the digi dash had a speedo and rev counter like a Mk2 Astra GTE. That’d be class.
And why no 12 o’clock stripe at the top of the steering wheel?
I had to nip to Screwfix for some yellow tape.
That aside, Corsa GSE proves that Vauxhall can still make exciting cars.
One of the best I’ve tried all year.
KEY FACTS: VAUXHALL CORSA GSE
Price: £32,995
Battery: 51kWh
Power: 281hp
0-62mph: 5.5 secs
Top speed: 112mph
Range: 232 miles
Charging: 30 mins
CO2: 0g/km
Out: December
