By: Jason Woosey
Johannesburg - With hot hatches having become so much more hard-core and brutal, not to mention expensive, there a definite gap in the market for warm hatches that slot between your everyday runabouts and the hotter stuff at the top of the pile.
Enter the new Opel Corsa Sport - it's basically trying to do what the traditional hot hatch once did before it went and overdosed on steroids for the modern age. But don't think for one minute that this new Opel settles for old fashioned technology.
Beneath the bonnet is a 1.4-litre Ecotec turbopetrol motor, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The engine is good for 110kW at 5000rpm and 220Nm from 3000, which is enough, says Opel, to get you from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds and to a top speed of 204km/h. Its maker quotes a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.9 litres per 100km.
To add the necessary visual zing without going too OTT, the Sport is fitted with an OPC Line body kit with bumper extensions, side skirts, carbon-look black mirror covers, a sporty exhaust tip and 17-inch Dark Titanium alloys. You're also spoiled for choice on the colour chart, with 15 hues available.
'Moonray' sports seats set the mood inside, along with a leather-covered flat-bottom steering wheel, alloy pedals and for a final garnish the interior decorators nicked the Corsa OPC's gearknob and handbrake lever.
Opel's IntelliLink infotainment system is fitted as standard. Featuring a seven-inch touch-screen interface, the system is fully compatible with the latest Android and Apple iOS-based smart-phones and allows for audio streaming via Bluetooth.
Opt for the R5000 option pack and you also receive the semi-automated Advanced Park Assist system and Blind Spot Alert. Standard safety kit includes six airbags and an ESP system that GM says is very “progressive” in its operation.
PRICES:
1.0T Essentia - R185 500
1.0T Enjoy - R216 200
1.4 Enjoy AT - R216 500
1.0T Cosmo - R236 300
1.4 T Sport - R255 200
OPTION PACKS:
Essentia Option Pack 1: Radio with Bluetooth & USB, AC - R12 200
Essentia Option Pack 2: IntelliLink, AC, 15” alloy wheels - R15 600
Enjoy Option Pack 1: IntelliLink - R4 000
Enjoy Option Pack 2: IntelliLink, Advanced Park Assist 2 - R8000
Cosmo/Sport Option Pack 1: Advanced Park Assist 2, Side Blind Zone Alert - R5000