Vauxhall is channelling the spirit of the cult-classic Nova GSi with the new Corsa GSE – the brand's first traditional hot hatch since the VXR was discontinued eight years ago.
Said by its maker to bring "the sporty GSi genes of the Vauxhall Nova into the future", it has nearly twice as much power as the regular Corsa Electric, plus overhauled suspension and significantly more aggressive styling.
The Corsa GSE turns up the wick to take on rivals in a burgeoning class of electric hot hatches. It faces stiff competition from the Alpine A290 and the Mini John Cooper Works Electric as well as the incoming Volkswagen ID Polo GTI – which Autocar has exclusively driven in the UK – plus a gamut of closely related cars from other brands in the Stellantis portfolio, including Abarth and Alfa Romeo.
As with the new GTi version of its Peugeot 208 twin, the Corsa GSE swaps the regular car's 154bhp motor for the 277bhp unit already deployed in the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce and Vauxhall Mokka GSE.
Its top speed is 12mph lower than that of those cars, at 112mph, yet its 5.5sec 0-62mph time is 0.4sec quicker. And because it is a hatchback rather than a crossover, it is notably lighter, at around 1550kg compared with the Mokka GSE's 1596kg.
Power is delivered to the front wheels through a Torsen limited-slip differential and Vauxhall said it has tuned the throttle and brake pedal responses to emphasise the GSE's sportiness. The car also gets reworked axles front and rear, as well as stiffer anti-roll bars and new dampers with hydraulic bump stops.
The suspension sits lower than the regular Corsa's and the new 18in alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and significant negative camber. Both the weight and feedback of the steering have been increased and the rack is quicker. Stopping power is provided by four-pot Alcon brakes front and rear. Three-spoke alloys hark back to those on the original hot Nova, with a flat-faced design to improve aero performance.
As with the regular Corsa, the GSE features several drive modes that alter the car's character. In its normal setting, it is capped at 228bhp to preserve range. The Eco mode cuts this further - although Vauxhall has yet to confirm to what extent - and limits the top speed to 93mph. Sport mode, said to be designed for track use, uncorks the full 277bhp.
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