28 May 2019
5 Mins read

Vauxhall reveals all-new electric Corsa

A new electric-powered Corsa will be coming to showrooms in 2019.

Vauxhall has unveiled its first ever all-electric Corsa, the Corsa-e, that is set for release later this year.

The car is one of the most hotly-anticipated new releases of 2019 and it will be the successor to the brand's Mokka X that has already proven popular.

As part of Vauxhall's PACE! strategic plan to reduce carbon emissions, the company has committed to producing an electrified version of every model in its range by 2024 and this year will mark the Corsa's turn for a green upgrade.

The Grandland X PHEV will follow, then the revamp of the Mokka X SUV and the Vivaro van in 2020.

Corsa has been Vauxhall's best-selling car for some time, having shifted more than 2.1 million vehicles in the UK since its launch back in 1993, so it is perhaps no surprise that we're seeing it getting an environmentally-friendly revamp now.

Buyers of the Corsa-e will find they can choose from three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport, with the former allowing a driving range of 205 miles on its 50kWh battery.

For Sport mode, responsiveness and performance are boosted to cater for those times when you need a little more nippiness, although this does decrease the driving range between charges by around ten per cent.

In Eco mode, all systems are adjusted for maximum efficiency and a 40 per cent increase of range based on Sport mode.

The Corsa-e can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes at a designated rapid-charge station, but it can also be charged at home via a wallbox.

Under the bonnet, you'll find 136hp and a 260Nm electric propulsion system, allowing the car to go from nought to 31mph in just 2.8 seconds and up to 62mph in 8.1 seconds.

What's more, there's a clever regenerative braking system to recover the energy you use braking or decelerating and convert it back into electrical energy to power the car.

We were also interested to see two emergency braking systems to guard against collisions, which is always handy for city driving among pedestrians, bicycles and motorbikes.

The Corsa has always been slightly less roomy than some of its competitors, so Vauxhall fans may also be pleased to know that some adjustment inside the Corsa-e has freed up more space for both passengers and luggage.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, although expect it to be at the higher end of the Corsa line-up, and the release date is scheduled for some time at the end of this year.