One of the great mysteries of this year’s Paris Motor Show is just how really new the fifth generation Opel (Vauxhall) Corsa is. It was supposed to be an all-new design based on GM’s Global Small Vehicle ‘Gamma II’ platform when the project kicked off, but it ended up using the same SCCS platform (Small Common Components and Systems platform) found on the current car, which was jointly developed by Fiat and Opel.
In all of the unofficial and official spy shots that we’ve seen so far, the Corsa E bears a very strong resemblance to the current model that has been in production since 2006.
When asked about this, Opel chassis development manager Michael Harder told Autocar magazine: “Everything inside the cabin; everything ahead of the A-pillar; and everything downwards of the suspension turrets and outwards from the steering wheel; all of this is new. And all of the body panels, of course.”
It won’t be long before we find out what that translates to in reality, but for now, Photoshop artist Remco Meulendijk of RM.Design has penned these renderings using the most recent camouflaged prototypes as a guide.
By John Halas
Renderings: RM.Design
PHOTO GALLERY
