Opel Corsa Sport- For the Boy Racer in You
Opel is one of the brands that has been on the move this year, and on the way up it seems, with models being launched thick and fast since the end of 2014. Opel Adam , Mokka and the regular Corsa have been launched and now move pretty fast out of showrooms at dealer level.
So it was with excitement that I attended the Corsa Sport launch in George recently. The word Sport always evokes images of racing around tracks or roads at breakneck speed. So I was a little surprised to see that the Corsa Sport was going to be pushing out 110kw, which is way less than other sporty models such as Fiesta ST, Polo GTI etc.
However as the brand manager of Opel- Chris Cradock explained, the Sport is the top of the range Corsa, that will take care of the more enthusiastic driver that hasn’t the means to go to the true hot hatch domain.
The Corsa Sport slots in just above the three-cylinder 1.0 Litre turbocharged Cosmo model and rounds off a Corsa line-up of five models; namely the 1.0T Cosmo, 1.0T ecoFLEX Enjoy, 1.0T Essentia and 1.4 six speed Automatic. The new model is a dynamic and versatile hatch equipped with a 1.4 turbo-charged ecoTEC engine boasting a 110 kW @5000 RPM and 220 Nm of torque @3 000 RPM. The 1.4 Turbo weighs just 118 kg and features a cast iron block and aluminium cylinder head.
SPORTY LOOK.
Lets start with the Corsa,s looks and styling. Coming with subtle OPC kit it definitely lays down a marker to be taken more seriously than the common variants. The standard kit includes front and rear bumper extensions, side rocker mouldings, sporty exhaust tip, and carbon look outside rear view mirror covers.
It has a sporty leather steering wheel and gear knob, aluminium pedals as well as jet black leather handbrake lever.
The cloth covered Moonray Sports seats are designed for comfort and support during spirited driving on the 17 inch Dark Titanium wheels.
More Connectivity.
– Opel’s award-winning IntelliLink infotainment system, which brings the connected world of smartphones and apps into the car, is available as an option on Enjoy and Essentia models, and standard on Cosmo and Sport. IntelliLink is fully compatible with the latest Android and Apple iOS-based smartphones.
– IntelliLink has a standard seven-inch colour touchscreen and its home page provides access to five major functions: phone, audio, gallery, settings and apps. Audio streaming via Bluetooth and USB also includes Gracenote music management and identification technology. A number of app,s are available namely BringGo- the navigation app. It also has Stitcher which allows drivers to listen to programme,s live, once linked to a smartphone.
– With access to a global network of 70 000 radio stations, the TuneIn app has the power to offer entertainment to suit the tastes of every listener. The integration of Apple iOS devices within IntelliLink also enables Siri Eyes Free voice control. This makes it possible for drivers to make calls, play music, send and receive messages and emails with received messages read out aloud, and access calendar functions like set alarms, check reminders or respond to meeting requests – all with their eyes on the road and hand on the wheel.
Engine & Handling
The Corsa 1.4T Sport is dynamite in a small package. It performed admirably over three mountain passes in the George geographical area. Tested to the limit around tight curves, the handling was superb, and gear changes were a breeze through all six gears. The engine propels the Corsa from a standing start to 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, with a top speed of 204 km/h. The 1.4T Sport’s tested fuel consumption is consumption 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres (urban cycle); 5.1 litres (extra urban) and 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle.
Fuel consumption is further reduced by optimizing oil pressure, reducing friction and controlling engine heat up and cooling.
The Corsa Sport comes with a six speed manual transmission with synchronised gears, including reverse, with short shift travel.
SAFETY
The comprehensive list of safety features found standard in the Corsa Sport includes:
An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system which is very progressive in operation. It reacts almost imperceptibly for the driver (sensitive ESC), according to the driving situation, thus avoiding negative effects on the dynamics as much as possible.
Traction Control (TC) is standard in the Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The primary goal of Traction Control is to prevent wheel slip, which is what happens when a tyre freely moves against a road surface without gaining traction. Traction Control prevents wheels that are slipping from spinning during acceleration.
Straight line Stability (SLS) and Brake Assist System (BAS), is a braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. BAS is designed to give the driver a higher deceleration gain than would be possible from the regular brake system booster.
At the touch of a button, the standard-fitment City Mode increases power assistance at lower speeds, which is particularly useful when manoeuvring in congested urban areas.
The Corsa Sport has six airbags and a 5 Star NCAP safety
Pricing:
Corsa 1.4 T Sport R255 200
To sum up the Corsa Sport will appeal to a driver that wants a bit more than the standard fare and also wants a sporty drive and feel. At the price it should find buyers to part with their hard earned rands.