Vauxhall Corsa

New Corsa SRi warms to task

Meet the Corsa VXR-lite! This, the new half-fat version of Vauxhall’s racy hot hatchback, is the Corsa SRi

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Sam Hardy

18th June 2007

Reviving one of the brand’s famous badges, the newcomer has the same look as the flagship supermini, but a bit less performance. It uses the VXR’s 1.6-litre turbo engine, albeit detuned from 189bhp to 148bhp. Yet that’s still enough for 0-60mph in only 7.6 seconds and a 130mph top speed.

There is a frugal 123bhp 1.7-litre turbodiesel version, too. It can return 58.9mpg and is capable of covering 0-60mph in 9.3 seconds and 121mph.

Both cars have stiffened suspension, lowered by 18mm at the front and 15mm at the rear, plus speed-sensitive power-steering and stability control. Inside, sports seats with red detailing and alloy pedals brighten up the cabin. Available in three and five-door bodystyles, the new Corsa SRi goes on sale in September, costing from about £14,000.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall is offering customers £1,000 off the price of its cleanest new models – if they agree to scrap their part-exchange car. The scheme has been designed to reduce the number of older, heavily polluting vehicles on the UK’s roads.