Opel’s racing conecpt Corsa GSE Gran Turismo hits 320 kph top speed

Opel is currently promoting its GSE sub-brand and will be focusing entirely on electric performance in the future. In July, the carmaker unveiled the Mokka GSE, the 207 kW top-of-the-range version of the small Mokka Electric crossover. However, fans have been waiting in vain for a sports version of the technically closely related electric Corsa. As the model cycle of the small car introduced in 2019 is slowly but surely coming to an end, it is rather unlikely that a sporty GSE variant will be added to the sixth generation of the Corsa.

However, this would be entirely conceivable for the seventh edition of the small car, which is expected to arrive in 2026. The ‘Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo’ concept car shows in an exaggerated form what something like this could look like. The wide-body flatfish was not designed for road use, but for the virtual racetrack. More specifically, for the seventh instalment of the classic racing game Gran Turismo. Before it becomes available in the racing game next autumn, the concept car, designed in cooperation with Japanese game developers Polyphony Digital, will celebrate its trade fair premiere at this year’s IAA Mobility (9 to 14 September).

The Stellantis subsidiary emphasises that the vehicle is a one-off model developed for digital motorsport. However, with the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo, the Rüsselsheim-based company also wants to demonstrate the design potential of the upcoming STLA Small group platform, on which the seventh generation of the Corsa will be based. In particular, the significantly more angular and streamlined lines compared to the current model could hint at the design language of the next Corsa.

The most prominent design elements are already familiar from Opel’s current model range. These include the glazed Vizor front and Opel’s so-called ‘compass’. In the latter, two axes, usually light strips, intersect in the centre with either the Opel lightning bolt or the brand logo. This design theme can be found on both the front and rear of the concept car, similar to the current Grandland.

Despite its futuristic look, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo also features a few retro touches. The basic shape and window line are vaguely reminiscent of the original Corsa from 1982, albeit in an exaggerated form. The triangular theme, which is also reflected in the wheel design, for example, is a tribute to the Manta 400, the rally version of the cult coupé from the same era. The wheels are 21 inches at the front and an impressive 22 inches at the rear.

Otherwise, the concept car is deliberately over-the-top with its extreme fender flares, active aero elements, large roof spoiler, huge rear window, gaping air intakes in the front apron and monstrous rear diffuser.

The interior looks similar, as important signals to the driver are displayed directly on the dashboard in iridescent colours. There are no screens to be found; the driver is informed exclusively via a large head-up display. Steering is done with a futuristic steering wheel reminiscent of Tesla’s yoke or Formula 1 steering wheels, while the driver sits in a thin, lightweight seat.

The technical data are purely theoretical values that can only be verified in the video game. The show car is a mock-up that is not roadworthy. Opel refers to an electric all-wheel drive consisting of two 350 kW electric motors. The company states the system output as 588 kW – equivalent to a whopping 800 hp. This means that the powerful electric Corsa can reach speeds of up to 320 kph and sprint from zero to 100 in just two seconds. A boost function is available in the game for four seconds, which increases the power by another 59 kW.

Although the battery is said to offer an energy content of 82 kWh, the company still claims a kerb weight of only 1,170 kilograms. Either Opel has a revolutionary battery technology up its sleeve, or it simply wanted to impress with these key figures; the production version of the next Corsa Electric will reveal the truth. If the design is anything like the concept car, it will be impressive.

Este artículo fue publicado por primera vez por Elias Holdenried para la edición alemana de electrive.