New Vauxhall Corsa GSE:  276bhp electric VXR replacement spied with fat arches

New spy shots have revealed fresh details about the incoming Vauxhall Corsa GSE, a hot all-electric supermini with as much power as an R34 Nissan GT-R. It’s no secret that Vauxhall has plans to fit its Corsa supermini with a high-performance BEV powertrain, but thanks to these new images, we have a clearer idea of just how hot this new model will be. 

The major news is that this prototype won’t just feature just bigger wheels – 19 inches in this case – but also bigger axles and new flared wheelarches to house them. This suggests the GSE will feature completely bespoke front wings and extended rear wheelarches, dramatically changing the look the over standard Corsa models. 

The images also reveal that both the front and rear bumpers will be reshaped, with more aggressive design elements that could well be finished in a contrasting black. These flourishes might channel the previous Vauxhall Corsa VXR, but its high-performance powertrain will instead look to the future.

The Corsa GSE will share the same e-motor and battery package as the upcoming Peugeot e-208 GTi, and Vauxhall’s own Mokka-e GSE. This set-up produces a maximum power output of 276bhp, which is sent through the front wheels only. This should be good for a sub-six-second 0-62mph time, making the GSE significantly faster than any Corsa before. 

This output is also roughly 50bhp more than in the range-topping Alpine A290 GTS, and will be backed up by substantial chassis upgrades, including stiffer suspension, beefier Alcon brakes and a limited-slip differential.

It will come at a cost, though, both in terms of range and price. We expect the Corsa GSE with its 54kWh battery to provide a range of just over 200 miles, or around 180 miles in the real world. Given that we know the Mokka typically costs around £2,500 more than the equivalent Corsa, and the GSE version of that car is priced at £36,995, the high-performance Corsa is likely to start from around £34,500 when it goes on sale later this year. Eligibility for the Government’s Electric Car Grant could bring the price down further, though.

Vauxhall is looking to restore itself to a top-three spot in the UK new-car sales charts – up from its current lowly 11th position – and former managing director Steve Catlin told Auto Express that greater enthusiasm is a key part of sparking interest. That means the GSE influence stretches beyond the sporting range-topper and into the more mainstream models. 

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“I know that in order to reach that ambition, we need to add some further excitement and some emotion into the brand,” he told us, without specifically referencing the Corsa GSE. “We've got the GSE sub-brand launch [with Mokka], which is VXR for the electric age. We need that to filter down to the rest of the range, so that we can add some excitement across the trim levels, as well as the GSE halo.”

Although the naming strategy for the new trims isn’t confirmed, it should follow the likes of Ford’s ST-Line or the BMW M Sport trim levels in offering sportier cosmetic upgrades. “The intention is that you get aspects of that GSE halo,” Catlin continued. 

Vauxhall’s boss said the new breed of sporting models will be better performance icons than the plug-in hybrid Astra GSE introduced in summer 2023. “I think we have to be honest and say that the first launch of GSE wasn’t fitting for the brand, but these [new] models are absolutely the right standard and will carry the GSE name in the right way.” 

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