25.6.2003
New edition Opel/Vauxhall Corsa: Fresh design and very economical engines

TWINPORT technology lowers fuel consumption by as much as 23 percent. New 1.3 and 1.7 liter common rail turbo-diesels meet Euro 4 requirements. Dynamic looks, agile handling thanks to shorter steering ratio.

The new edition of the Corsa comes with a fresh, dynamic design and a broad range of technical innovations. Highlights include new 1.3 liter and 1.7 liter common rail turbo-diesel engines and a newly developed 1.4 ECOTEC gasoline engine with TWINPORT technology. The Corsa 1.4 TWINPORT requires - depending on the transmission chosen - up to 23 percent less fuel than the previous Corsa 1.4 with the same power.

Electric, speed-sensitive power steering is more responsive and thanks to a shorter steering ratio the new edition Corsa features improved handling. With an expanded range of standard equipment, as well as new options like ESP or Xenon headlamps, the Corsa in its third year of sales is more technically mature than ever. The "Easytronic" automated manual transmission is now available for all gasoline engines up to 1.4-liter displacement and for the new 1.3 CDTI. Besides the new engines, an adaptive service interval indicator makes the Corsa even more economical to operate.

The new edition Corsa's exterior features distinctive 3D ellipsoid headlamps with three cylindrical units for low beam, high beam and indicators. The front and rear bumpers are color-keyed and come with integrated inserts to protect them against minor collisions. In the interior new upholstery material and colors provide a fresh ambience. The Corsa now comes in 15 different colors and together with numerous options, accessories and five equipment packages Corsa customers have a wide range of possibilities to individualize their cars.

From now on, the comprehensive standard equipment of all Corsas includes a Brake Assistant and a "follow me home" light function, which provides exterior lighting after the car is parked. The rear seat bench can now be locked in two different upright positions. Both the seat back and rear seat bench cushions can be folded separately. Even more flexibility in the rear is provided by a 1/3 to 2/3 split rear seat bench and comes as standard equipment beginning with the Enjoy equipment line. On request the electronic stability program ESP, a speed regulator and xenon headlamps will also be available starting in the fall.

TWINPORT: the new formula for gasoline savings in engines with up to 1.6 liter capacity
The engine program of the Corsa consist of six four-cylinder units - four gasoline and two common rail turbo-diesels - ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 liters displacement and from 60 to 125 horsepower. All engines comply with the Euro 4 emission standard. The gasoline engines bring the innovative TWINPORT system to the Corsa program for the first time on a wide basis. This intelligent fuel-saving technology for gasoline engines with displacements up to 1.6 liters, achieves a significant reduction in fuel consumption by using a variable intake manifold in combination with high rates of exhaust gas recirculation.

For example, the new 1.0 ECOTEC TWINPORT engine in the Corsa needs only 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km, that's 0.2 liters or around three percent less than the previous 1.0-liter gasoline unit. Fuel savings are even greater with the newly developed 1.4 ECOTEC TWINPORT engine, which is based on the 1.2 ECOTEC unit. The 1.4 TWINPORT consumes only 5.9 liters per 100 km. That is 0.9 liters or nearly 13 percent less than the predecessor with the same power output and five-speed manual transmission. Compared to the Corsa 1.4 with four-speed automatic transmission offered until now, the new TWINPORT version with Easytronic needs 1.7 liters, or more than 23 percent, less fuel.

CDTI ECOTEC engine: Latest generation common rail turbo-diesels
High operating efficiency is also one of the strengths of the new 1.3- and 1.7-liter CDTI ECOTEC turbo-diesels. Both engines incorporate the latest generation of common rail direct injection technology, meet the stringent Euro 4 emission standards, and feature low fuel consumption in combination with high performance and refinement. The extremely compact 1.3 CDTI ECOTEC is the smallest four-cylinder common rail diesel engine in the world. Thanks to its Multi-Injection system it requires, in the Corsa, only 4.5 liters diesel per 100 km. The 74 kW (100 hp) 1.7 CDTI ECOTEC features a turbo charger with variable turbine geometry and develops a maximum torque of 240 Newton meters. The fuel consumption of the Corsa 1.7 CDTI is only 4.8 liters diesel per 100 km.

Easytronic: Automated manual transmission now also available with a diesel engine
All Corsas come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. As an option the two TWINPORT engines, the 1.2 ECOTEC, the 1.3 CDTI come with the Easytronic automated manual transmission. Easytronic combines the convenience of an automatic with the sporty and economical characteristics of a manual transmission. There is no clutch and the driver can easily switch at any time from manual to automatic gear selection, or vice versa.

The repair- and service-friendly construction, moderate insurance rates and long service intervals (two years / gasoline: 30,000 km; diesel: 50,000 km) make the Corsa economical to run. The new, adaptive interval indicator also takes into account the individual driving profile and informs car owners on a cockpit display when the next service is necessary.