Opel Corsa Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary

• 1982 – 2012: 30 years, 4 generations, nearly 12 million Corsa built and sold
• In total around 20 million vehicles including global Corsa derivatives within GM family
• There is always something new in the Corsa range
  
  

  

  Opel Corsa A and sporty Opel Corsa OPC "Nürburgring Edition" complete Corsa story.

  Opel Corsa is celebrating its 30^th birthday on August 30. The production of the first generation Corsa started in 1982 at the Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza, Spain, which was founded for Opel´s first modern, small car. Until 1982, the compact Kadett car (length of the 1979 Kadett D: 3.98 m) was the brand´s entry level model. With the arrival of the smaller and even more affordable Corsa A (length: 3.62 m), Opel entered a new, increasingly popular segment and opened a new chapter in its history.
  
  
  In the last 30 years, nearly 12 million Corsa across 4 generations have been built and sold in Europe. Up to and including August 2012, the Spanish plant in Zaragoza has produced 9.3 million Corsa. In addition, 2.5 million units have been built at the other European plant in Eisenach, Germany. Corsa production began there in June 1993. This makes the Corsa the most popular label in Opel´s history. Its worldwide success is even greater: taking into account all the global derivatives within the General Motors family, around 20 million Corsa based vehicles have been produced or assembled and sold around the world, mainly in Latin America (Chevrolet), Australia (Holden), South Africa (Opel) and in China (as Buick Sail).
  
  
  Since 1982, the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa has been a major player in the European market. It offers one of the widest product ranges in the small car segment and is constantly updated by the introduction of new models, technologies and customized variants. It is now available in three distinct body styles: the coupé-like three door, the family friendly five door, and the commercial variant, the Corsa Van.
  
  
  The Corsa currently accounts for more than 28 percent of all Opel/Vauxhall sales making it the second biggest seller of the brand, trailing very closely behind the Astra (around 30 percent). Since 2008, the Corsa three door has continuously taken the number one spot in the 3 door hatchback B segment in Western Europe with a share of 18 percent (2012 year-to-date). Overall, the Corsa (three and five door) is currently the number three in the Western European B segment with a share of more than ten percent. It boasts the top ranking in Greece and is the number two in its respective segments in Germany, the UK and Belgium. In Spain and the Netherlands, the Corsa is the number three in its segment.
  
  
  30 years of Corsa strengths
  Great looks, a roomy cabin, state-of-the-art technology, a high degree of eco-friendliness and its sporty appeal are very important factors in the Corsa’s success, as are the many international awards it has won over the years. Right after its launch in 1982, the first generation Corsa A received the “Golden Steering Wheel” award in Germany. Later several Corsa generations won numerous national “Car of the Year” awards in various countries. The current generation was voted “Autobest 2007”. In 2009 and in 2010, the Corsa was rated number one in its class in the DEKRA used car quality report among millions of used cars.
  
  
  Eco friendliness as a tradition
  The Corsa has always received a lot of praise for its eco-friendliness. The Corsa ECO 3 prototype unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1995, was the first low fuel consumption, “3-liter” car. It was soon followed by Corsa production cars that made low fuel consumption a reality and accessible to wider customer groups. The latest 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX version with 70 kW/95 hp and Start/Stop technology is currently the most fuel efficient Corsa with diesel consumption as low as 3.5 liters per 100 kilometer (94 g/km CO₂)_.
  
  
  High performance OPC versions for pure driving pleasure
  
  Opel also caters for customers who demand high performance and yet affordable small car motoring. So in 1987 a sporty Corsa GSi was launched already at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with a 100 hp 1.6 liter engine featuring electronic fuel injection. 20 years later at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the top-of-the-line Corsa OPC with a 1.6 liter Turbo engine (141 kW/192 hp) had its debut. A more powerful version has been on offer since 2011: Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition. It is the strongest and fastest Corsa ever. Its 1.6 liter turbocharged gasoline engine has an output of 155 kW/210 hp. Its maximum torque of 250 Nm can be increased by an overboost function to 280 Nm. It boasts a top speed of 230 km/h, while acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h is achieved in only 6.8 seconds.
  
  
  Corsa news every six months
  The Corsa family is always evolving with new innovations. Ever since its launch, the current generation has always been updated twice a year with the introduction of new models and technologies. In 2010, everything under the Corsa’s skin was renewed with a host of improvements, especially on the chassis side and the steering, as well as with an enhanced engine range providing more power, more driving fun and more comfort while using less fuel.
  
  
  The Opel Corsa’s makeover continued into 2011 when it was given a fresh look, a re-designed face and sportier appearance inside and out. It was updated with new colors and decors as well as an extensive offer of customized versions making it more attractive than ever. The 94 g ecoFLEX version was launched and Start/Stop technology was introduced in several models. Updates also included a new, multimedia infotainment system called “Touch & Connect” that features a five inch color touch screen, full navigation coverage for 28 European countries, Bluetooth, iPod and USB connectivity at a very competitive price.
  
  
  In 2012, the powertrain portfolio was expanded with a powerful and efficient 88 kW/120 hp 1.4 liter turbocharged ecoFLEX gasoline engine with Start/Stop. Several new, colorful and attractive three and five-door models have been added to the very popular and successful Color Edition line-up: the sporty and elegant Corsa “Kaleidoscope”, the All Black and All White Color Editions and a new and even more trendy, Color Edition Switch pack.
  
  
  The present Corsa line-up offers many innovative features like no other competitor, including a heated steering wheel or the integrated FlexFix bike carrier. Other features are rarely available in the segment, like halogen Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and a panorama sunroof.
  
  
  The Opel Corsa celebrates its 30^th birthday in the year of another important jubilee: In 2012 Opel marks its 150^th anniversary as a company. Only a few other car manufacturers can boast such a long tradition. This year, there are even two more birthdays to celebrate. The Zaragoza and Eisenach plants will have their 30^th and 20^th anniversary respectively.