Opel Corsa (2011)

Dampers, springs, anti-roll bars, the rear axle, the steering gear and the software of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) have all been revised to give Corsa greater running refinement, together with a steering and ride quality typical of a vehicle from a more expensive class. The ABS and ESPPlus systems fitted in the Opel Corsa support the internally ventilated front disk brakes and provide additional functions: In an emergency, brake control is activated in addition to brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.

In addition to its athletic, dynamic styling and great driving fun, the Opel Corsa also offers customers top class quality. Germany's DEKRA Quality Report 2010 named the Corsa the overall quality winner, with the lowest defect rate of all the vehicles tested. DEKRA (Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein) is an independent, full-service provider for safe and efficient mobility and Europe's leading technical expert organization.

The Opel Corsa is a highly popular choice throughout Europe among the small cars - or super-minis. It accounts for some 30 percent of all Opel/Vauxhall sales and is among the leaders in its segment. On average, more than 400,000 units were sold annually the last three years.

The Corsa was designed and developed in Rüsselsheim, Germany and is built in Zaragoza, Spain and Eisenach, Germany.

New Face Gives Corsa Expressive, Up-market Tone

The Opel Corsa's new looks build on the strong foundation of its successful design. It still retains its dynamic, friendly character, but now introduces a bold, sporty face in line with Opel's new design language.

The sporty execution is achieved by re-proportioning the upper and lower grilles. The lower grille has become wider and taller, thus visually widening the car. A high degree of attention has been paid to the three-dimensional mesh of the upper grille, which reminds one of the Astra and replaces the previous horizontal bars. The proud, new Opel logo is integrated into a redesigned, larger and sculptured chromed bar, adding to the expressive appearance of the front. Thanks to these changes, the Corsa now has an even more dynamic stance.

Chiseled Opel eagle eyes have been added to the new headlamps along with the typical wing-shaped daylight signature lamp that made its debut in the Insignia and is now featured in all new Opel products. The internals of the lamp have also been refined to create a very jewel-like execution that enhances the sporty look. The new fog lamp units with integrated chrome blade complete the more expressive presence of the Opel Corsa's new face. The look is further enhanced with six new alloy wheel designs and a large, redesigned Opel logo on the tailgate. Three new exterior colors are also integrated in the palette: a delicate off-white Guacamole, an eye-catching Grasshopper green and a warm Henna.

The side profile of the new Opel Corsa retains the charm that has already established it as a market favorite. The curved, aerodynamic silhouette is equally attractive in both coupé-like three and family-oriented five-door versions. The expressive front and rear design, the well-defined upswept waistline, and the optimal body-to-wheel relationship all work together to give a sleek, dynamic impression. Just like the radiator grille, the V-shaped tailgate with the trademark center crease and the large emblem carries unmistakable Opel design elements.

The Opel Corsa's wide stance and pronounced wheel arches clearly reflect the handling agility and driving fun the bestseller offers.

Interior sports contemporary colors, sensuous textures and 21st century technology

The Opel Corsa continues to offer one of the roomiest and most attractive interiors in its class. The welcoming nature of its cockpit has been given a substantial make-over. The layout of the attractive, user-friendly dashboard has been retained, but the surface treatments - a clever blend of matt and high-gloss materials - have been the subject of noticeable upgrades in quality and appearance.

The variety of available finishes, fabrics, and colors helps to differentiate between the trim levels and also ensures that all customers find the perfect trim to match their wishes. Key features of the interiors are the newly decorated center consoles, with the striking patterns and colors of the instrument panel pads, available in modern color combinations that give the interior a young and fresh character.

High quality begins in the Essentia entry level model, showing a premium Punch fabric quality and a new center stack color matt chrome. In addition to the classic charcoal interior, the Enjoy trim level adds a young fresh look with Steel Blue or is available in Tabasco Orange. The lively, colorful interiors are offset with contrasts in material applications such as pearl white on the console, the steering wheel and around the door handles. The colors and instrument panel patterns created through a two-tone effect add harmony to the overall appearance of the interior. The Sport execution shows a center stack held in elegant Japan Black with galvanized air vent decorations. The Cosmo has a new grey high gloss center stack bezel with a contrasting wing insert in the instrument panel, plus beautiful embossed seat fabric to give it a very elegant and upscale feel.

The new "Touch & Connect" infotainment system is a multi-media all-round unit with navigation system that is universally connectible and easy to use. Its many upscale features include dynamic navigation, Aux-in and USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The navigation is menu-driven via a touch screen.

Opel Corsa ecoFLEX: Low Fuel Consumption and CO2, Lots of Driving Fun

The ecoFLEX variant is the lowest-consumption, especially low-emission member in each Opel model line-up. The new Corsa ecoFLEX ideally illustrates Opel's philosophy of developing ecologically responsible cars that are still fun to drive. Opel's new super-efficient Opel Corsa ecoFLEX is powered by the sophisticated, 70 kW/95 hp 1.3 CDTI diesel engine boosted by a turbo with variable geometry and now equipped with Start/Stop technology. Meeting Euro 5 emission standards and equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter that cuts the emissions that are the most detrimental to health, it needs only 3.5 l/100 km and releases just 94 g/km CO2 in its three-door variant (five-door: 3.6 l/100 km and 95 g/km) while delivering powerful and lively performance. With the Corsa ecoFLEX, fleet and private drivers in many European countries may benefit from special eco tax advantages and very low fuel costs without polluting the air with diesel particulates.

The 1.3 CDTI engine in the new Corsa ecoFLEX 70 kW/95 hp uses a turbocharger and delivers up to a plentiful 190 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm.

The engine of the Opel Corsa ecoFLEX combines two strengths: low CO2 and high performance. Opel engineers achieved this by using a turbo with variable turbine geometry, which significantly improves the engine's performance. They also optimized the calibration on the engine to greatly increase low-end torque and peak power, making a new transmission set-up possible: A longer transmission gear ratio was selected for the five-speed unit, to the benefit of fuel consumption and CO2 values below 100 g. The new 70 kW/95 hp Corsa ecoFLEX has a top speed of 177 km/h and needs only 12.3 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill.

Not only powertrain technology, but further engineering measures make the Opel Corsa ecoFLEX super efficient. Aerodynamics have been improved by lowering the car by 20 mm and optimizing the air flows via the air intakes. Wheels are fitted with newly designed, more efficient wheel caps. The Corsa ecoFLEX is equipped with special 175/70 tires that are roll-resistance-optimized and fitted to lighter, flow formed, 14-inch steel wheels, while 15-inch wheels are optional.

Opel ecoFLEX: Start/Stop to reduce CO2 emissions

Opel is progressively making Start/Stop fuel-saving technology available on most ecoFLEX models. After the 55 kW/75 hp version of the Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI in summer 2010, which benefited from 10.8 per cent lower fuel consumption thanks to this system (from 4.5 to 4.0 liter per 100 km), the most powerful version of the 1.3 CDTI now also receives the system. By the end of 2011, all Opel product lines will feature this eco-friendly technology.

The Start/Stop principle is simple: An engine which is not running does not consume fuel. With a Start/Stop system, instead of idling at a traffic light or in a traffic jam, the engine stops when the driver engages the neutral gear and releases the clutch pedal. This is indicated by the revolution counter needle moving to the "AUTOSTART" position, also signaling that the system is ready to restart the engine. When the traffic light turns green or traffic gets fluid again, drivers simply press the clutch pedal to restart the engine, shift into first gear and take off. By eliminating idling time, engines emit less greenhouse gases. In addition, with no engine noise, stops get quieter for the car occupants as well as for pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Naturally, owners see the greatest savings in city driving. In the urban cycle, the 70 kW/95 hp Corsa 1.3 CDTI with Start/Stop emits 8.7 percent less CO2 than the similar version without this eco-friendly technology - or, 4.2 l/100 km, compared with 4.6 l/100 km without Start/Stop. In the combined cycle, the Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI with Start/Stop requires only 3.5 liters of diesel per 100 km.

Of course climate control, power steering and braking capabilities are maintained while the engine is cut off to keep occupants safe and comfortable: The Start/Stop system is not activated if it is unsafe to do so, if it might affect engine operation or if it will reduce cabin comfort for driver and passengers.

The following conditions must be fulfilled to activate Start/Stop:

• the hood is fully closed
• the driver's door is closed
• the seat belt is fastened
• the engine is warmed up
• the battery is sufficiently charged
• engine coolant temperature is not too high
• ambient temperature is not too low (below -10°C), below this temperature the system will not be activated
• brake vacuum is sufficient to ensure optimal braking capability
• the self-cleaning function of the diesel particulate filter is not active

If there is any change in any of these conditions during an automatic engine stop ordered by the driver (AUTOSTOP), the system may restart the engine automatically without the driver's intervention. And as some drivers may prefer to switch the system off, they can press the ECO button located on the center console to manually deactivate it. The deactivation is indicated by the LED in the button turning off.

During an automatic engine stop, features that will be disabled include the electrical rear window defogging and heated outside rear view mirrors. Other features will be switched to a power saving mode and the infotainment system will be voltage protected during cranking. That means that the navigation system does not need to be reset after the engine has shut down.

ecoFLEX: Continuous improvements for the environment

Opel introduced the ecoFLEX label in 2007 and has been pursuing this commitment to environmental responsibility, step by step, ever since.

When launched in 2007, the Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX (55 kW/75 hp) already showed remarkably low fuel consumption of only 4.5 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km (combined). A year later, the values were reduced to 109 g/km and 4.1 l/100 km or even to 105 g and 4.0 l/100 km when models were not equipped with the particulate filter. Starting January 2010, the Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX switched to the more powerful 70 kW/95 hp variant, nevertheless reducing fuel consumption and emissions figures to 3.7 l/100 km and 98 g/km CO2 ( 3-door). Equipped with Start/Stop, the same Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX (70 kW/95 hp) today reaches 94 g/km CO2 and 3.5 l/100 km. Progress in action!

Today the brand features a number of ecoFLEX engineered cars in addition to the Corsa, including the Insignia and Astra, and continues to work on improving all members of this family of especially economical vehicles.

The Insignia ecoFLEX, for instance, boasts a remarkable CD value of 0.26, placing it among the top streamlined sedans in the world. It combines fuel consumption of 4.9 liters diesel per 100 km and 129 g/km CO2 with an output of up to 118 kW/160 hp (Insignia Sports Tourer: 134 g/km CO2 and 5.1 l/100 km).

The new Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX launched in early 2011 has a Start/Stop system that holds its fuel consumption down to 3.9 liter diesel per 100 km and emissions to 104 g/km CO2 (Sports Tourer: 4.1 liter and 109 g).

From Agila to the Zafira, Opel's wide range of ecoFLEX models meets the most diverse needs of drivers in terms of driving profile and type of use while remaining affordable. The energy mosaic offered by Opel includes gasoline, diesel, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Corsa Color Line Shines with Individualized Colorful Performance

The Opel Corsa Color Line has been created because an increasing amount of people look for individual, sporty looks for their car. The Color Line features several models which can fit to different lifestyles and tastes, and still convey the same idea of having a different look from the masses, and a special touch of dynamics and sportiness. A bit like sports shoes which nowadays feature all kinds of designs and expressions and are not only worn for practicing sports but to hang around, shop downtown, go to work or even go out in the evening. The Corsa Color Line simply has an attitude.

Color Edition and Color Race models bring even more panache to the Opel Corsa formula, with bright body colors and design themes presented on 17-inch alloy wheels. They are always combined with the sport chassis, enveloping sport seats, alloyed pedals, dark tail lamps, dark tinted glass and a chromed, oval exhaust pipe. In the interior, the center console is in piano black while air vent rings and stitching on the seat upholstery are color-coordinated with the exterior paint. All variants are available with the volume engines as of the 1.2 liter gasoline unit.

The Color Edition was the first member of the Color Line. It is dynamically color-coordinated inside and out, boasting modern and expressive styling. It sports a black roof, complemented by high-gloss black, five-spoke alloy wheels, and comes in the exterior colors white, yellow, red, black and a new aquamarine.

The Color Race is designed to appeal to real motor sports enthusiasts and comes in yellow, red or white exterior colors. It features special black 17-inch alloy wheels as well as a black roof, while the hood, the tailgate and the lower side panels all receive a bold checkered flag motif that highlight the Opel Corsa's winning personality.

The Linea Pack - available on Enjoy, Sport and Cosmo - is aimed at customers looking for even more individualization. It is available in 9 exterior colors and features two large white or black stripes leading from the hood over the roof to the tailgate. The color of its wheels and side mirror caps is coordinated with the stripes.

The Color Line Series comes in the stylish Opel Corsa coupé-like three-door and family friendly five-door body variants.

Corsa Filled with Innovative Features for Fun and Safety

The Opel Corsa is packed with comfort and safety features to make sure every journey is pleasant and safe. From a panorama sunroof that offers a wide view of the world to the unique FlexFix bicycle carrier for easy and safe bike transport, Opel's super-mini is the ideal companion for fun and uncomplicated travel.

State-of-the-art infotainment system

To stay connected with the world, a multimedia infotainment system with seven 4x20 watt loudspeakers now comes with the Corsa. Called "Touch & Connect," this versatile system features a five-inch color touch screen, full navigation coverage for 28 European countries, Bluetooth, iPod and USB connections. It is universally connectible, simple to use and has every convenience for the 21st century built in. This new offer replaces the two navigation systems offered previously (CD 60 and DVD 100). Proposed at a very competitive price, it offers the functionality of a DVD based system thus covering most of Europe at a cheaper price than the previous CD 60 system, and this with numerous additional functionalities.

The Touch & Connect navigation system is easy and intuitive. Its five-inch touch screen display features both 2-D and 3-D (bird view) maps and SD navigation card. Another feature is an option to choose the most ecological route, helping to save fuel and the environment. Points of interest can also be downloaded by the user.

It also has an intelligent commuter function that uses TMC information to propose alternative routes in case of traffic problems, even when navigation is not active. This function is of special interest to commuters who know their routes but want to be automatically informed of traffic jams on their way.

Bluetooth connectivity allows for safe, hands-free telephoning - even displaying address books on the screen - and is iPhone compatible. It also allows audio streaming and displays music titles on screen. iPODs have full control and browsing capability with no special cables needed. USB sticks can also be used on the new system.

Small car showcases big ideas

True to Opel's philosophy, the Opel Corsa also features innovative technologies at an affordable price, including halogen Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL), a heated steering wheel, Hill Start Assist, a panorama sunroof or the integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier which is unique to Opel.

The small Opel powerhouse's halogen Adaptive Forward Lighting offers more safety with dynamic curve and static cornering light. Dynamic curve light ensures improved illumination around bends by swiveling the headlamps up to 15 degrees right and left of the vehicle into the oncoming curve. Static cornering light illuminates an area to the right or left of the vehicle up to a 90 degree angle, a big help when maneuvering in poorly lit areas. The Corsa's AFL system also comes with parking lights in the rear and darkly tinted headlamps.

A unique comfort feature in this class is the optional steering wheel heating, which quickly warms up drivers' hands. The temperature reaches approximately 34° C to provide ideal steering wheel warmth on cold days.

The Opel Corsa's Hill Start Assist holds the vehicle on grades of three percent or steeper for 1.5 seconds after the brake pedal is released. This technology essentially eliminates "roll-back" on hills when the vehicle needs to be stopped momentarily and ensures easier, confident "drive away" on grades.

The large panorama sunroof allows plenty of outside light in, creating a feeling of roominess and enhanced design to the Corsa. The aerodynamically optimized form with integrated wind deflector also prevents the humming noise that usually occurs, even with the sliding roof fully open. When the roof is closed, the interior noise level is reduced thanks to 2-chamber insulation.

In line with Opel's commitment to offer easy and comfortable fully integrated flexibility, the Opel Corsa is available with the FlexFix carrier system - the optimal transport solution for bicycles. Opel is the only manufacturer to offer the innovative FlexFix system which requires no installation or removal - it simply pulls out of the rear bumper like a drawer. A simple pull of the lever situated near the lip of the trunk and the carrier slides out of the bumper. No special equipment or tools are needed. When not in use, the FlexFix drawer can simply be pushed back to stow away almost invisibly in the rear bumper. The FlexFix bike carrier, which features additional rear lights, can carry up to two bicycles with wheel sizes from 18 to 28 inches. The maximum weight capacity is 40 kg, with each bike weighing up to 20 kg. For optimal safety, an acoustical warning signal engages when the car is in reverse.

A special transportation box with 160 liter load volume is offered as an accessory and can be fitted to the FlexFix system, making it even more flexible.