Corsa SUV spied

Four-wheel drive supermini set to hunt down the Skoda Yeti

Auto Express Car Reviews

Text: Luke Madden / Photos: SB-Medien

13th November 2009

The Corsa is going off-road! These are the latest shots of Vauxhall's new supermini SUV, slated for release in 2011.

Hiding under this Meriva body is a widened Corsa chassis that will be the basis for the upcoming off-roader. A slightly higher ride and widened track are all dead give-aways as to the car's true identity.

Beefed-up looks and rugged off-road capability will introduce the new model into a small SUV market that already includes the Skoda Yeti and looks set to receive many more, including the upcoming MINI Crossman.

Among the new styling changes will be new muscular wheel arches, to accommodate the wider track, a set of roof rails and plastic protective bumpers.

Bosses are keen that the Corsa SUV lose the 'gas-guzzler' image normally associated with 4x4s, so expect to see power coming from a range of low-capacity turbo-charged petrol engines. Additionally, the firm's efficient 1.3 and 1.7-litre diesels will be tuned to give more low-down torque to the baby off-roader.

An entry level two-wheel drive version, as well as a flagship hybrid model are also thought to be in the offing for this latest supermini SUV.

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3 Comments

Wish GM also brings this AWD Vauxhall to India

GM is doing quite well in India and is upbeat about our market. The Yeti is to be launched sometime soon in India. The Vauxhall Corsa can also do well in the Indian market. Of course it may have to be re badged. And Corsa is an old, defunct model of Opel that was marketed in India. So the model name may also change.

By anjanc_2007 on 13 November, 2009, 5:32pm

Hmm that's interesting...
ALL Vauxhalls are nothing more that Opels with griffin badge.
The griffin is actually the only british part of Vauxhall...

By miki123 on 17 November, 2009, 12:15am

caduser12

I've never understood why car manufacturers fit widened wheel arches to modern car designs like the boy racers of old. Is it just a bad marriage of design and availability i.e. we have an up-to-date wide chassis but we want to produce a smaller model so we will cover the wheels with wide wheel arches! Surely it is more practicable to make the whole body to fit the width of the wheel track to be used and thus the customer gets his full monies worth.

By davidlivermore on 17 November, 2009, 11:56am

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