The “warm hatch” version of Vauxhall’s supermini, the Corsa GSi, has gone on sale with a price tag of £18,995.
The sporty Corsa sits beneath the fire-breathing Cora VXR and is aimed at young people who can’t afford the price or insurance and running costs of the full hot hatch version.
Powered by a 148bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Corsa GSi goes from 0-60mph in a sprightly 8.4 seconds and doesn’t run out of puff until it hits 129mph.
Power is delivered through the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox.
The GSi is based on the same platform as the last generation Corsa VXR, which is no bad thing since that car was one of the best handling hot hatches of its time.
Vauxhall has tinkered with the suspension to create a car that has sportier handling than the standard Corsa but doesn’t suffer from as harsh a ride as the old VXR did.
The Corsa GSi uses the three-door body, along with a raft of exterior design cues to set it apart from the standard car.
Large air intakes and a honeycomb grille dominate the front of the car, while deep sill extensions and carbon-look features adorn its flanks.
At the rear, a deep rear spoiler not only helps the Corsa GSi look the part, but also provides downforce at higher speeds.
A chrome tailpipe and red-painted brake callipers complete the look.
Buyers can also add 18-inch alloys fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres for even higher grip levels.
For the standard GSi model, Vauxhall provides 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear windows, carbon-effect detailing to the exterior, LED daytime running lights, the IntelliLink infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sports front seats and a leather sports steering wheel.
Customers can also plump for an additional GSi Plus pack, which costs £1,900 and adds 18-inch alloys, Recaro leather seats and bi-xenon headlights with cornering function, which lends a more high-end feel to the hatchback.
The GSi is on sale now and starts from £18,995, which is less than the Ford Fiesta ST and considerably less than the Volkswagen Polo GTI – both of which Vauxhall see as the main rivals for the Corsa GSi.
It costs less to insure as well, with the GSi sitting in the 20E insurance group – lower than all of its main rivals.