There are quite a few eyes on Vauxhall at the moment, following its takeover by Peugeot and Citroen’s owner PSA earlier this year.
As a result of the change of ownership, plans for a number of the company’s models have been amended, meaning the new Corsa now won’t be revealed until late 2018, over 12 years since the pre-facelift version of the current Corsa made its debut.
But when it does arrive, the new Corsa will almost certainly be Vauxhall’s best-selling and most critical new model.
Here’s what we know about it so far…
New Vauxhall Corsa specifications
Vauxhall has followed a simplified model structure with its latest Grandland X and Crossland X models, so expect that trend to continue. Active, SE, Tech Line and Tech Line Nav are the most likely trim levels to adorn the new Corsa, with a more youth-oriented ‘Sport’ trim level also expected. It’s mooted that Vauxhall will save the SRi badge for a hot hatch that would ultimately replace the VXR.
New Vauxhall Corsa technology
The huge story behind the new Corsa is its drivetrain technology, as the company has already confirmed that an electric Corsa will be a mainstay of the range from its launch – part of Vauxhall’s commitment to introduce EV or plug-in hybrid models to all of its models from 2024.
The new Corsa is likely to be offered as a full EV alongside a choice of petrol engines, though the drop in popularity of diesel in the supermini market mean that an oil burning example won’t be high on Vauxhall’s list of priorities.
A plug-in model is unlikely from launch, as the new Corsa will be based on PSA’s CMP platform, which isn’t large enough to integrate plug-in hybrid tech. However, the electric Corsa is expected to have a decent range of over 200 miles on a charge.
New Vauxhall Corsa interior
Inside, the new Corsa will retain Vauxhall’s family theme, with chunky, nicely-finished controls and a central touchscreen. However, the company’s OnStar app-based concierge service isn’t likely to feature on the new car, as OnStar is a General Motors technology, and while it will continued to be licensed out for use on the Insignia Grand Sport and Astra, it’s unlikely that Vauxhall will feature it on new models as PSA is developing its own in-car systems.
Instead, the Corsa will feature a Vauxhall-branded version of Peugeot’s Connect service, which offers the same emergency assistance functions as OnStar, along with a number of integrated systems. Peugeot’s Mirrorlink and Mirror Screen functions will also be featured, allowing the driver to replicate the screen of their smartphone on the car’s central display.
New Vauxhall Corsa price
The next Corsa will be going into a crowded and very popular area of the market, so it will need to be competitively priced in order to generate sufficient sales. Expect pricing to start at around £11,000 for an entry-level petrol car, rising to just under £20,000 for the pure electric model.
New Vauxhall Corsa release date
The PSA takeover has said to have delayed the Corsa’s launch slightly, but Vauxhall also knows it really needs the car as part of the company’s turnaround plan, so its development is being expedited. Expect it to be revealed late in 2018, potentially at the Paris Motor Show, with the car due in showrooms in spring 2019.
