Opel has confirmed that the upcoming electric Corsa
will be badged as the "eCorsa." The car, which will be based on a PSA
platform, is set to be released in 2020, with the combustion-engined Corsa
coming next year. The eCorsa will be built in Zaragoza, Spain, and will be the
first car from Opel and Vauxhall to be built on a PSA platform since the French
giant bought both brands from General Motors last year.
The platform in question will be PSA's CMP platform,
which also underpins the Peugeot 208. The electric version of the Corsa will be
built on a variant of the platform called e-CMP, that will underpin four
electric cars that will arrive before 2021. One will be an all-electric DS that
will be shown at the Paris motor show later this year; another will be a
product from Citroen, while the replacement for the current Peugeot 208 will go
electric, too.
Despite the move to French platforms, PSA boss
Carlos Tavares has stressed that Opel and Vauxhall will retain their individual
identities. "There is clear brand positioning," the executive
reportedly said. "Opel will stay German and Vauxhall will stay
British."
As well as the four upcoming electric models,
Opel/Vauxhall has confirmed its intention to introduce an electrified variant
of every single model in its lineup by 2024. The next generation Corsa will
also be the first car to use Opel and Vauxhall's new design language which is
set to be previewed on an upcoming GT concept which was recently teased.
