Opel Planning An All-Electric Corsa Hot Hatch

Opel (or Vauxhall for those living in the UK) is allegedly planning to launch an all-electric hot hatch variant of the Corsa and could introduce it as early as 2021.

Auto Express reports that the vehicle will receive the same electric powertrain which Peugeot is thought to be readying for an all-electric version of the Peugeot 208 GTi.

Limited details about this electric powertrain are known but we know that it will be based around the PSA Group’s new Common Modular Platform (CMP).

The same will be the case with the upcoming Opel Corsa, potentially bringing back the OPC nameplate (or VXR in the UK).

Electrification is coming to the world of hot hatches

“You can be sure that we will have some positive surprises in terms of having emotion as one brand pillar of Opel,” Opel/Vauxhall chief executive Michael Lohscheller said when quizzed about the vehicle.

“I think the electrification point is important; most people think electrification is for green reasons, for CO2 etc. It’s not only that – it’s also fun. I think that’s what we’re thinking of and how we might bring that to more people – but it’s just in the thinking at the moment.

“We’re thinking about how we can bring electrification to a new level in terms of sportiness. This emotional aspect of electrification is important, so its not years away,” Lohscheller said.

Opel/Vauxhall isn’t just planning an all-electric version of the Corsa, with Lohscheller  revealing that the automaker will have four electrified models in its range by the end of 2020. These will include a plug-in hybrid Grandland X, the electric Corsa, an all-electric Vivaro van, and an electric version of the next-generation Mokka X.