New Vauxhall Corsa GSi to arrive in late 2018

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John McIlroy 2018-02-16 00:01

A new Vauxhall Corsa GSi offering improved performance will sit below the hot VXR in the range, and this is how it could look

Vauxhall has confirmed that it plans to launch a new Corsa GSi before the end of this year, bolstering the supermini's performance line-up with a 'warm' model that can sit alongside the VXR in the range. 

The news was revealed in a press release celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Corsa model, that contained the single sentence: "The sporty Corsa GSi will arrive in Vauxhall showrooms in late 2018." The above image previews how it could look.

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Auto Express understands that the new Corsa GSi will follow the recipe of the recently launched Insignia GSi in targeting performance but in a more usable everyday package than the hardcore VXR models. That means that the Corsa VXR's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is likely to be switched for a smaller, more modest unit in the GSi - perhaps Vauxhall's 1.4 turbo, which is already offered with around 150bhp. 

The rest of the GSi package will be focused on chassis modifications - again, though, with a focus on everyday use instead of track-day performance. That means the mechanical differential offered on some versions of the VXR will not make it across to GSi. We'd expect a stiffer set-up than conventional Corsas, though, to give the GSi greater agility on British roads, and styling mods to make sure it stands out from the rest of the range as a performance-themed edition. 

There's still no word yet on the future of the VXR sub-brand, which has been widely tipped to fade into obscurity after Vauxhall's takeover by Peugeot and Citroen owner PSA. Although if the GSi is a 'warm hatch' instead of a truly hot one, there could yet be scope for the next Corsa - which is likely to be based on PSA's new CMP platform and arrive in dealers in 2020 - to feature both GSi and VXR versions. 

Vauxhall sources say that "late 2018" is likely to translate into early autumn for first deliveries of the GSi. There's no word yet on pricing or specification, but we'd expect it to cost a little less than the VXR, so around £19,000.

Would you buy a Vauxhall Corsa GSi? Let us know in the comments section below...

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