Exciting times ahead for Opel as they debut all new Corsa-e. This is the all new 6th generation Opel Corsa, officially launched on June 4th in Russelheim. It’s based on the Peugeot-Citroen CMP platform and weighs only 980kg. The interior gets a refresh with a new digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen. With driver focus in mind the new Navi Multimedia system with 7 inch or 10 inch Pro touch screens, is curved inwards to the driver.
The 6th generation Corsa will also be powered by a 1.2 litre Petrol engine and a 1.5 litre 100hp Diesel engine. The Corsa will first be available to order in electric form followed by main stream Petrol and Diesel versions.
The Corsa-e is set to offer up to 330km of range from a single charge and deliver up to 100kw (146hp). Charging options are to include high-speed, cable, or wall box charging and the battery is covered by an 8 year warranty.
The 50kw battery will fast charge to 80% in 30 mins. Using the wall mounted charger, a full charge will take 5 hours. And using an AC charging station, 100km range should be available in 30 mins.
Extended connectivity means you can download the Opel app and use it to check on the Corsa-e charging times and costs. You can also use the app to set the cabin temperature before entering the car, enabling heating or cooling for those extreme temparature days. Free2Move and the myOpel app will assist with journey planning for electric vehicles such as the Corsa-e and the forthcoming Grandland X hybrid and the Mokka X and Vivaro successors due in 2020.
Free2Move is a service that gives access to 105,000 charging points across Europe. It advises on the optimum routes based on distance vs available range. It will also advise on the pricing options available for the relevant charging stations.
The driving modes available on the Corsa-e include Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco mode will increase range and as expected Sport will reduce range in exchange for heightened performance (0-50 km/h in 2.8s). A much lower roofline and driving position hints at an enthusiastic drive from the 5 door hatchback.
Opel has included their latest version of the IntelliLux LED system for the first time in the small car segment. The IntelliLux LED system is fed via a high res front camera, whereby the lights adjust to their surroundings adapting to any given situation. The system also reads the traffic signs from your environment to advise of the local speed limits. Active safety systems will include adaptive speed assistance. Also available will be blind-spot assist and Parking assist.
Flank guard assists parking maneuvers using 12 sensors to provide warnings when nearing walls or objects at the side of the car which may be out of the drivers sight. A panoramic rear view camera will provide 180 degree visibility behind the car.
Opel’s first jump into the electric arena was with the Ampera in 2011, a car which never made it to the Irish market but one from which the Corsa-e has benefitted from. Opel have taken what they learned from the Ampera and will use it to further develop the Opel electric range.
Irish prices are yet to be announced, but will fall in line with Renault’s Zoe. In Germany the Corsa-e has been launched with a €29,000 price tag and reservations have opened with deliveries expected in early 2020.