What's the news?
Following the earlier debut of the first fully electric Vauxhall Corsa-e, the rest of the new supermini's range has been revealed. This sixth-generation Corsa will be available with four different combustion engines, including a spritely 130hp turbocharged unit. We say spritely, as Vauxhall engineers have managed to knock quite a bit of weight from this all-new Corsa. In its lightest guise, the car tips the scales at just 980kg.
Where was the weight saved?
Much of that weight loss is down the more use of aluminium in the engines, knocking 15kg off. A total saving of 40kg comes from the body-in-white alone, while new seat construction saves a further 10kg. All that adds up to help reduce, and more importantly, lower emissions and improve fuel economy.
So what engines are coming?
The petrol range will kick off with a 1.2-litre engine generating 75hp and fitted with a five-speed manual transmission. It will be the only non-turbocharged engine in the lineup and also the only one to use that gearbox. Vauxhall says that all of its performance figures are preliminary conditions, but it quotes between 46.3- and 53.3mpg on a combined WLTP cycle, with CO2 emissions ranging from 128- to 134g/km.
There will be two versions of a turbocharged 1.2-litre engine, using either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic depending on which you choose. Power outputs here start at 100hp, and this engine is the one that should be the favourite model with buyers. It produces 205Nm of torque and should consume between 44.1- and 53.3mpg on a combined WLTP cycle with CO2 emissions of 121- to 137g/km.
For the more powerful version, the performance output increases to 130hp and 230Nm, but emissions also rise to 127- to 144g/km with a combined cycle using between 44.1- and 50.4mpg. This engine is also only available with the eight-speed automatic transmission.
What about diesel?
If you still want to have a diesel engine in your next Corsa, you can, in the form of a 1.5-litre unit that produces 102hp and a useful 250Nm of torque. This engine will be the best performing on emissions, with Vauxhall indicating that it will put out between 104- and 122g/km of CO2. That's partly down to the use of a NOx absorber that acts as a cold start catalyst. Additionally, there is AdBlue injection, an SCR catalyst and a diesel particulate filter.
When will it arrive?
The new Vauxhall Corsa is set to hit the showrooms towards the end of 2019, though there will be a longer wait for the electric Corsa-e, which is due to land in early 2020.
Dave Humphreys - 26 Jun 2019