Opel has kicked off sales in its home market, where
the Corsa GSi becomes the second GSi-badged model in the current lineup after
the Insignia. German customers can have the Corsa GSi for prices that start at
€ 19,960 (US$ 20,850), including VAT.
For that kind of money, Corsa GSi customers get a
1.4-liter turbocharged engine rated at 150 PS and 220 Nm of torque from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm. The four-cylinder unit is hooked to a
short-ratio, six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels.
Performance specs comply with the Corsa GSi’s “warm
hatch” status: 0 to 100 km/h takes 8.9 seconds and top speed is 207
km/h. Remarkably, the small Opel needs just 9.9 seconds to accelerate
from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear — a testament to the engine’s
elasticity.
Perhaps more important is how the Corsa GSi puts the
power down, and the fact that it comes with the OPC’s chassis sounds very
reassuring. The chassis and the disc brakes with red calipers have been honed
on the Nürburgring, with Opel guaranteeing “agile handling and short braking
distances,” especially with the optional 18-inch alloys shod with 215/40 ZR18
sports tires.
Those concerned about fuel economy figures won’t be
disappointed. Opel claims the GSi averages 6.4-6.1 l/100 km (36.7-38.5 mpg UK),
with CO2 emissions of 147-139 g/km. The values are measured according to the
new WLTP standard and converted to NEDC for comparison.
