2010 Opel Corsa

Press release<

Come January 2010, the Opel Corsa gets a complete re-make, with major engineering changes so numerous that the super-mini family is reshaped. A re-vamped powertrain line-up, chassis improvements and a steering recalibration will give the Corsa better performance and greater fuel economy – as well as superb passenger comfort, excellent handling and exciting driving dynamics.

The Corsa stays faithful to its exciting design, with sporty contours and one of the roomiest and most flattering interiors in its class. It also features innovative technologies that remain exceptional in the small car segment. These include the halogen AFL curve and cornering lights, a heated steering wheel and the integrated bicycle carrier system FlexFix which is unique to Opel. The Corsa, which accounts for some 30 percent of Opel/Vauxhall total sales, is available in two distinctly different variants: the coupé-like three-door and the family friendly five-door model.

Much lower fuel consumption and increased output in the gasoline engine line-up

The Opel Corsa boasts a new gasoline engine line-up that fully complies with Euro 5 standards. All engines have been re-worked to offer more torque while featuring up to 13 per cent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Both the 1.2- and 1.4-liter Twinport variants are each available in two versions with different outputs. Every country selects and offers customers the variants that suit the needs of their region. Some may decide to go for optimal fuel efficiency; other may want to balance it with more performance.
The most popular gasoline powertrains (the 1.0 to 1.4 liter with manual and Easytronic transmissions) now have fuel consumptions between 5.0 and 5.5 liter/100 km, with maximum CO2 emissions of only 129 g/km.

Performance and efficiency improvements were made possible through a number of technical changes:

• A new oil pump optimizes oil pressure and reduces frictions, lowering fuel consumption.
• A newly developed double camshaft phaser on the 1.2- and 1.4-liter engines improves the combustion process, allowing increased power and torque.
• A new management of the thermostat reduces the engine warm-up phase, further lowering fuel consumption and emissions.
• A shift-up indicator in the cluster informs drivers how they can save fuel.

In the 65 hp segment:

The entry level 1.0 liter 3-cylinder now develops 48 kW/65 hp and 90 Nm. This compares with the previous generation, with 44 kW/60 hp developing 88 Nm. At the same time, fuel consumption and emissions on the new entry level engine have been reduced by 13 per cent, at 5.0 liter and 117 g/km (from 5.6 liter/100 km and 134 g/km). This makes the Corsa 1.0 liter the cleanest of all gasoline-powered super-minis.

At this level of power, Opel also offers a new variant of the 1.2 liter 4-cylinder with 51 kW/70 hp and a generous 115 Nm. This is a 5 Nm increase from the previous 59 kW/80 hp variant. Again, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measure 5.3 liter/100 km and124 g/km.

In the 85 hp segment:

At the next level, a new version of the 1.2 liter engine now offers 63 kW/85 hp and 115 Nm of torque. This is compared to 80 hp and 110 Nm on the current Corsa 1.2 liter. At the same time, the new 1.2 liter engine has an 11 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on the manual transmission and a 13 percent cut with the Easytronic manual automated transmission (5.1 liter/100 km and 119 g/km CO2 vs 5.8 l and 137 g).

In the same category, an alternative engine with more torque is also available: A new generation of the acclaimed 1.4 liter engine with a capacity of 1,398 cc (vs 1,364 cc) due to a 2 mm longer stroke now develops 64 kW/87 hp and generous 130 Nm of torque. Its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, however, do not exceed 5.5 liter/100 km and 129 g/km CO2 – another 12 percent improvement compared to the previous 59 kW/80 hp 1.2 liter with a close ratio manual transmission.

In the 100 hp segment:

A second version of this new 1.4 liter engine is also offered with 74 kW/100 hp and 130 Nm of torque – providing more vim and vigor than the previous generation’s 90 hp and 125 Nm, thus with a 12 percent improvement in fuel consumption and CO2.. Requiring only 5.5 liter /100 km (129 g/km CO2), it provides with a top speed of 180 km/h, and accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds.

The sporty versions:

The top-of-the-line turbo 1.6 liter gasoline engine from the Corsa GSi (110 kW/150 hp) and OPC (141 kW/192 hp) versions also offer a significant improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It is achieved through optimizing the engine calibration for Euro 5 and 95 RON (GSi) or 98 RON (OPC) fuels. The average fuel consumption for both variants is now lowered by 9.5 percent to 7.3 l/100 km with CO2 emissions at respectively 171 g/km on the GSI and 172 g/km on the OPC.

Transmissions offer a choice between optimal fuel economy or greater performance

In many cases, the new gasoline-powered Corsa offers a choice between close- and wide- transmission ratios. Traditionally, close ratio transmissions are matched to gasoline engines for sportier, higher rpm gear changes, while wide ratio transmissions in diesel vehicles compensate for a narrower rpm bandwidth and provide more economical driving.

Because all gasoline engines have improved their torque values, especially at lower rpm, it has been possible to also match them with wide ratios transmissions. As they now have the choice between transmissions with performance-oriented short- or economy-focused wide ratios, Opel national entities can best adapt their offer to the driving needs and tastes of their customers and the specific tax regulations in their market.

Diesel engines: New top-of-line 1.7 CDTI 130 hp with 300 Nm and 95 hp ecoFLEX

1.7 CDTI:

The top-of-the-line 1.7 CDTI diesel engine in the Corsa range also gains output and torque while reducing its appetite for fuel. Power increases from 92 kW/125 hp to 96 kW/130 hp while the torque value rises from 280 to 300 Nm at the same engine speed. Emissions, on the contrary, fall 9 percent – at a remarkable 118 g/km CO2 from 130 g/km CO2 for the 3-door version. The Corsa 1.7 CDTI now reaches 200 km/h (5 km/h more than the previous generation) and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds (versus 9.9 seconds on the previous generation). Due to its increased torque, it now accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 5th gear in 9.3 seconds only (compared with 10.4 seconds previously).

While making it Euro 5 compliant, Opel engineers bettered the performance of the 1.7 CDTI by adding a new turbo charger with an actuator position sensor providing a more precise control of the boost pressure. To reduce fuel consumption, they developed a fuel injection system that improves the combustion process; they also switched to low voltage glow plugs that reduce the load on the generator when the engine warms up. A new, lighter intake manifold also helps the Corsa shed weight and an up-shift indicator assists the driver in adopting an economical driving style.

1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX:

The new, lowest emitting Corsa ecoFLEX variant is now powered by a sophisticated, 70 kW/95 hp 1.3 CDTI diesel engine boosted by a turbo with a variable geometry. It is packed with 27 percent more power than the previous generation Corsa ecoFLEX even though fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are slashed by some 10 percent. With its 190 Nm of torque available between 1750 and 3250 rpm, this Corsa ecoFLEX needs only 3.7 l/100 km, releasing just 98 g/km CO2 as a three-door. The five-door Corsa emits 99 g/km. A particulate filter is standard. An up-shift indicator on the dashboard helps the driver optimize fuel economy.

This version replaces the 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX (55 kW/75 hp) with 109 g/km CO2 which was only available in 3-door version.

Chassis and steering have been optimized for even more comfort and fun to drive

Already praised for its dynamic qualities and the fun it delivers while driving, the Corsa receives a number of chassis and steering upgrades.

Steering:

Opel has optimized the steering on all Corsa models. The software controls for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) have been re-tuned and the engineers have installed a new yoke liner in the steering gear for reduced friction. Overall, these measures provide improved feedback and precision with increased on-center feel and stronger return to the middle position after a curve or any input given to the steering for lane changes. Corrective maneuvers result in improved straight-ahead stability.

Chassis:

The changes to the suspension apply differently to the Corsa models.

• On all models except OPC, engineers have modified the rear axle by rotating the torsion profile of the compound crank by 20° - from 15 to 35°. This results in improved stability in lane-change maneuvers.
• On the comfort chassis (from all models except the Sport trim as well as the GSi and OPC versions), dampers in the front and the rear have been re-tuned to further improve the ride comfort without compromising the driving dynamics. At the same time, engineers have opted for new, softer jounce bumpers in the front struts. The ecoFLEX models also get softer jounce bumpers in the rear. All diesel variants are also equipped with new, softer front springs.
• All Corsa equipped with the comfort chassis received a new front anti-roll bar, whose diameter has been increased by 1 mm.
• The mountings of the stabilizer have been re-designed on all variants, resulting in reduced body roll, and compensating for the softer set up of the suspension.