Vauxhall Corsa-e gets 205-mile range 24 | 05 | 2019

THIS IS OUR first look at Vauxhall’s new full electric Corsa-e supermini, which will have a range of 205 miles on a full charge. On-sale from Scottish dealerships next March, the newcomer will kickstart the brand’s electrification programme. Pricing will be confirmed closer to the sale date. (Related: Vauxhall tops Scots car sales charts)

In addition to the all-electric version, the all-new Corsa — which will only be offered as a five-door — will also be available with petrol and diesel powertrains. These will follow the launch of the Corsa-e. Worth highlighting of course the new Corsa is the first Vauxhall to be developed since the firm was bought by the PSA Group, which also owns Peugeot, Citroën and DS. No surprise then that the Corsa now shares the group’s CMP platform and powertrains which are the core of the recently launched Peugeot 208. (Related: Peugeot unveils all-electric e-208)

And like the e-208, the Corsa-e will be powered by the same 50kWh battery electric motor delivering 134bhp and 191lb/ft. The battery can be charged to 80% capacity in 30 minutes at a rapid-charge station. In town it’ll be a nippy wee thing, capable of 0-30mph in just 2.8secs.

Vauxhall has also given the Corsa-e three drive modes, Normal, Sport and Eco. The company claims the ‘standard’ 205-mile range can be extended by a whopping 40% if driven in Eco mode. Just for good measure, the car also comes with a regenerative braking system.

Though it shares the same architecture as the Peugeot 208, the Corsa’s styling has been penned entirely the the Vauxhall/Opel design team. And Vauxhall is keen to stress there’s no crossover from the 208. Dimensions closely match those of the outgoing model.

There will be subtle styling tweaks to the Corsa-e which will set it apart from the combustion-engined version. Look closely and you’ll spot the all-electric version gets a slightly different grille and a bespoke wheel design. As you would expect, the charging port is positioned where the fuel filler normally is.

Inside the cabin, the new Corsa-e boasts a 10in touchscreen. There’s also an infotainment system which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  A range of driver assistance features, including traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and park assist will also be incorporated.

Related: Vauxhall launches limited edition Corsa

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars

Jim McGill