The latest Corsa which is now on sale in the dealer’s showrooms has been given a great new look by Vauxhall’s styling team which clothes it with a very sophisticated appearance. As you can see from the pictures, the Corsa has adopted some of the styling cues of the bigger cars in the Vauxhall range, especially around the front where it carries echoes of the Insignia and Astra. Read More below.
The styling work was carried out by Niels Loeb, Vauxhall’s Chief Exterior Designer, and the result of his input is that the new Corsa now has a very distinctive look and a lot more presence on the road.
The first thing that drivers looking in their mirrors at a Corsa coming up behind will now see a signature chrome bar stretching across the front radiator grille and this bar carries the latest version of the Griffin badge which is Vauxhall’s traditional logo. You can also see the distinct crease line which runs back from the Griffin badge into the bonnet and this is one of those styling tricks which make the Corsa look what stylists call `taut’. Under the radiator opening is a re-styled front bumper with a more prominent, wider lower grille gives the Corsa a `smiling’ appearance.
Headlamps and tail lights are what are often referred to in the motor trade as `jewellery’ items and a huge amount of time and effort goes into making them look as interesting as possible – long gone are the days when all they had to do was illuminate the road ahead!
On the Corsa and framing its front are what Niels calls ‘Eagle-Eye’ headlamps which have also made an appearance on the Meriva MPV. The units have a chrome finish and include daytime running lights as standard across the range.
Daytime lights have become fashionable on some premium cars such as Audi or Jaguar but are rare in the supermini market. Not only do they look good but also improve safety simply because they are so eye-catching and increase other drivers’ and pedestrians’ awareness of the car.
Completing the picture at the front are new chrome-finished fog lamps and housings nestling down in the front corners.
In either three- or five-door form the Corsa has a very dynamic and energetic profile when seen from the side or front quarter. This is achieved by the bold swage line, that crease which starts in the front wing and then slants upwards into the belt line beneath the windows. This has the effect of making the Corsa look rakish and lower at the front, like a sprinter poised in his blocks ready for the starter’s gun.
Echoing the swage line and running at a very similar angle is the crease on the rear wheel arches. Again, these arches flare out quite dramatically, more so than on most cars and it lends the Corsa a strong, muscular look.
But styling is more than about achieving a good look because it also has to create a practical car. With this mind, you will notice how the large rear hatch dips into a cut-away in the rear bumper. This has been done to lower the height over which you have to lift heavy loads such as bags of shopping, again demonstrating the attention to detail that Vauxhall’s designers go to, not just on the exterior, but interior too.
Wheels are one of the key features of a car’s look and the Corsa benefits from new 16-inch alloy wheels on both SE and SXi models, while the 192PS VXR receives a new 18-inch alloy wheel, modelled on the design of the optional 20-inch wheel worn by the Insignia VXR.
Complementing the Corsa’s fresh look are five new exterior colours in the range. Lime Green pearlescent and Chilli Orange metallic enhance the car’s new look, with Guacamole – a solid hue – completing the pallet of all-new Vauxhall colours. Sunny Melon (a bright yellow) makes a welcome return to the Corsa range, while Pepperdust metallic is carried across from the new Meriva range.
Of course, there is a palette of styling options you can dip into to personalise your Corsa ranging from a set of mudflaps which a dealer might throw in to clinch a sale, to different alloy wheels or on to the full VXR bodykit if you want the performance look.
These styling accessories are probably a lot cheaper than you might think .For example, a set of four 15 inch alloys (fitted) cost less than £400 and can give your car a really sporty look.
The VXR bodykit which aerodynamically enhances the car by modifying the airflow under, around and behind the body, costs just £1,499 – and that includes the cost of fitting it by a dealer. You might not want the performance of a VXR, or be able to afford the insurance, but you can save a lot of money by buying the kit to get the look of one.
