Rüsselsheim. There has been much speculation, and now it’s certain: the new Opel Corsa will be introduced this year. It is currently on the home stretch to series production, with the final validation drives in camouflage taking place to test the harmonious fine-tuning of all components. The Corsa E doesn’t just feature the new-generation 1.0 ECOTEC gasoline engine with new six-speed manual transmission, it also boasts a newly developed chassis and superbly tuned steering. Opel engineers were secretly on the road with four validation prototypes in the Palatinate region south-west of Frankfurt am Main. The test vehicles were equipped with the new, powerful 85 kW/115 hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with both Sport and Comfort chassis. For the sake of comparison, the current Corsa 1.4 (74 kW/100 hp) and 1.4 Turbo (88 kW/120 hp) accompanied the test vehicles.
Opel Board Members including CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Vice President Engineering Michael Ableson and Vice President Sales and Aftersales Peter Christian Küspert put the new generation Corsa under the microscope. The feedback is very positive, and the huge leap made from the Corsa D to the Corsa E is clearly noticeable. Praise for the newly developed 1.0 ECOTEC engine is unanimous. The three-cylinder turbo’s strengths – torque, driveability and noise generation – together with the all-new gearbox and chassis, top the list of highlights according to the Board and engineering team.
