Autoblog

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The new Opel/Vauxhall Corsa's a smart-looking little hatchback that our friends in Europe and the UK get to enjoy while we watch from the sidelines. GM hasn't seen fit to send the little Fit-fighter our way, but with Saturn and Opel tied at the hip now, our hopes for such a thing seem far less unrealistic. After all, at this time last year, the idea of seeing the Astra in the US was a pipe dream -- one that's been fulfilled with the confirmation that it's headed over as a 2008 Saturn.

The latest reason to want a Corsa comes as both divisions release their performance variants. Vauxhall's just pulled the wraps off the Corsa VXR while Opel unveiled the identical Corsa OPC - a three-door pocket rocket powered by a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.6L. Before you scoff at its 6.8-second 0-60 time as being "slow," know also that it has a top end of 140 mph and reportedly delivers a fuel economy of around 30 US miles per gallon in combined use (35.8 imperial mpg). That's a pretty good set of numbers across the board, and it sounds like the turbo Corsa wouldd make for one seriously fun commuter car.



Follow the jump for our final thoughts as well as Vauxhall's press release, and check out additional photos in our gallery.

[Source: GM (OPC photos - GM via Autoblog Spanish)]

GM Europe just took the wraps off its new Corsa three-door hatchback and already the Euro auto scene has been flooded with spy shots of a VXR model being tested under the guise of creative camouflaging. Speculation on how much power the Corsa VXR's turbocharged 1.6L will produce range from 160 bhp to 200 bhp. We're leaning towards the latter figure, as it would put the Corsa ahead of the Renaultsport Clio, if only by a few ponies. 0-60 is said to pass in about six seconds and it will top out on the Autobahn at around 150 mph. Along with a more suitable sports suspension and bigger brakes, the Corsa VXR will don business attire better able to express its intentions that includes flared arches, bigger air intakes and larger wheels.

[Source: AutoExpress, pic courtesy of Channel4]