Opel releases updated Corsa in Europe

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Opel releases updated Corsa in Europe

Some new vehicle launches come as a surprise, while others are expected well in advance. After Fiat released the updated Punto Evo, it was only a matter of time until Opel did the same with its Corsa.

Why is that, you ask? Because the Corsa isn't just a competitor to the Punto: it shares the same platform. In fact the platform that underpins the Corsa can also be found in everything from the Alfa Romeo MiTo to the Peugeot Bipper, all courtesy of joint ventures among three major automakers across Europe. It was co-developed between General Motors and Fiat, and underpins some eight different vehicles sold as at Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Citroën, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall dealerships. But even setting the others aside, the Corsa is Opel/Vauxhall's top seller, accounting for some 30 percent of its overall sales. A vital product, then.

For the latest Corsa, Opel has kept things simple. That is to say, simple on the outside. While the exterior remains virtually unchanged, a host of revisions have been carried out underneath the skin. For starters, the engine range – comprised of five gasoline fours from 1.0-liter up to a 1.6 turbo and three diesels – has been revised to deliver more power while consuming less fuel and emitting fewer carbon molecules. The suspension has also been recalibrated for increased ride comfort and the steering comprehensively re-tuned by the company's OPC performance division for greater precision. Full details can be found in the press release after the jump, with high-resolution images in the fresh gallery below.

link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/12/opel-releases-updated-corsa-in-europe/