Official images of the all-new Vauxhall Corsa have been leaked online ahead of the car’s release in early 2020. The brand’s latest supermini, shown here in all-electric Corsa-e guise, is nearing the end of its development programme and is due to reach the UK market in summer next year, with the choice of both fossil fuel and EV drivetrains.
This is our first undisguised look at the new Corsa. Judging by these latest images, the new model will replace the old one’s high-sided styling with lower and wider panelling, while its interior will lift its infotainment system, digital gauge cluster, centre console, switchgear and automatic gearshifter from the Peugeot parts bin.
• New Vauxhall Corsa prototype review
We last saw the new Corsa in heavy camouflage undergoing winter testing in Swedish Lapland. The testing programme focused on fine-tuning the car’s chassis, as well as refining its ABS and traction control systems. Its mechanical and electrical systems have also been extensively tested for durability in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.
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Vauxhall claims its new supermini will strike a keen balance between sportiness and comfort, thanks to its fresh lightweight underpinnings, redesigned bodyshell and new aluminium engines. The brand claims a 10 per cent reduction in weight across the range, with the lightest variant squeezing under the one-tonne mark, with a kerb weight of just 980kg.
The new Vauxhall Corsa’s body will be constructed from a range of high-strength steels, stitched together in the most weight-conscious manner, saving a total of 40kg over the outgoing model. A new aluminium bonnet will also replace the previous Corsa’s steel unit, saving a further 2.4kg.
Under the bonnet, Vauxhall’s latest range of aluminium three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines will save around 15kg over the old Corsa’s four-cylinder units. Inside, 10kg has been shaved off the seats, losing 5.5kg at the front and 4.5kg at the rear. In total, the firm claims a total weight saving of 108kg.
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Despite the weight loss, the upcoming Corsa will be slightly larger than its predecessor, with its bigger body and longer wheelbase unlocking more interior and boot space. Our most recently spied mule is also further evidence that Vauxhall will ditch the Corsa’s three-door body style, because the only prototypes spotted so far have been practical five-door models.
Due to Vauxhall’s recent acquisition by the PSA Group, the new Corsa will be built on Peugeot–Citroen’s latest Common Modular Platform (CMP). The underpinnings are shared with the new Peugeot 208, so it’s reasonable to suggest that the Corsa’s weight savings have also been applied to the French firm’s latest supermini.
Vauxhall claims these revisions will improve both the Corsa’s performance and efficiency, with the firm promising better acceleration and reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The brand has also confirmed that an all-electric version of the new Corsa will eventually feature in the range, alongside its range of conventionally powered versions.
The Corsa’s engine range will consist exclusively of PSA units, shared with the new 208. A new generation of the BlueHDi diesel is being developed, which will downsize from a 1.6 to a 1.5-litre capacity, offering power outputs ranging from around 75bhp to 120bhp, with CO2 emissions as low as 75g/km. However, it’s unknown if it will be offered in the UK.
PSA’s PureTech petrol engine will also get a refresh, with the three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbos offering improved performance and efficiency. A more potent 1.6-litre turbo will also be made available to Vauxhall if it chooses to develop a Corsa VXR hot hatch.
While the vast majority of the running gear will be shared by the 208 and Corsa, the British firm will have its own say in terms of interior and exterior design. One of Vauxhall’s planned features is a set of glare-free LED Matrix headlights. The lighting technology is usually reserved for premium manufacturers and works by automatically adapting to the traffic ahead, “cutting out” oncoming cars from its beam. The system supposedly maintains visibility for the driver and reduces glare for other motorists.
Do you like the look of the new 2019 Vauxhall Corsa? Let us know in the comments section below…