Vauxhall has revealed the new full electric Corsa-e supermini, which will kickstart the brand’s electrification programme when it goes on sale next March with 134bhp and a 211-mile range.
The unveiling of official pictures and details of the EV version of the Corsa – which will also be offered with petrol and diesel powertrains – has been brought forward after images of the Opel-branded version leaked online yesterday.
The new Corsa is the first Vauxhall model that has been developed since the firm was bought by the PSA Group, which also owns Peugeot, Citroën and DS. It shares the PSA Group’s new CMP platform and powertrains with the recently launched Peugeot 208.
The Corsa-e will match the e-208 in having a 50kWh battery to power the electric motor. The powertrain has 134bhp and produces 191lb ft, enough for a 0-31mph time of around 3.1secs.
The Corsa-e will feature three drive modes – Normal, Sport and Eco – with Vauxhall claiming the 211-mile official range can be extended by up to 40% in Eco drive mode. The hatch also features a regenerative braking system.
While based on the same architecture, the car’s bodywork is entirely a Vauxhall/Opel design, with no crossover from the 208. Despite the new platform, the Corsa’s dimensions are closely matched to the outgoing model, while the styling is also similar.
The Corsa-e will have styling close to the combustion-engined version, with a bespoke wheel design and slightly different grille. It features a charging port located where the fuel filler normally is on a combustion-engined car. It will only be offered in five-door form, reflecting current industry trends.
Inside, the Corsa-e will be offered with a 10in touchscreen, with an infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will also offer a range of driver assistance features, including traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and park assist.
The combustion-engined version of the Corsa, which Autocar drove a development version of recently, will be launched at a later date.
Vauxhall will reveal pricing information for the Corsa-e closer to when it goes on sale next year.
As part of the PSA Group's wider plans, Vauxhall will offer a full electric or electrified version of every model in its line-up by 2024. It recently unveiled the Grandland PHEV, and has confirmed the successor to the Mokka X SUV and the new Vivaro van, both due in 2020, will feature battery electric variants.
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Looks attractive and a
Looks attractive and a definite 'maybe' if the range is right.
For me, that needs to be in the Tesla zone: 300-odd miles with a quick-charge facility.
Looks good
I dont have the problem with
I dont have the problem with EVs that many people appear to have. But, it will be interesting to see what price this vehicle is when it hits the dealerships. I suspect it will be in the £20k to £25k price bracketmeaning most people will stick with the petrol version.