Electrification for All: New Opel Corsa Hybrid From €26,100

• Electrified, smart, comfortable: Opel Corsa with 48-volt hybrid drive for the first time
• Hybrid advantage: CO2 emissions and consumption down, purely electric at low speeds
• Well-equipped: Numerous state-of-art technologies plus hybrid-specific displays
• Stylish small car bestseller: With Opel Vizor brand face and new cockpit design

Opel Corsa has been shining in new splendour for a few months now – more modern, digital and diverse than ever with characteristic Opel Vizor brand face and two electric drives. Opel is now expanding drive range for small car bestseller. Opel Corsa is now available for first time as a hybrid with 48-volt technology. New Opel Corsa Hybrid comes with extensive equipment with prices starting at €26,100 (all prices RRP including VAT in Germany).

System features a lithium-ion battery that is recharged automatically under certain driving conditions and new turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines with 74 kW/100 hp and 100 kW/136 hp that have been developed especially for hybrid application. Engines are coupled to a new electrified six-speed dual clutch transmission and a 21 kW/28 hp electric motor.

Hybrid technology offers a wide range of advantages, especially for “electrification novices” who usually travel in urban environments: Compared to its purely conventional counterpart, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by around 18 percent, and Corsa Hybrid customers can drive locally emissions-free at low speeds in the city and enjoy a high level of driving comfort thanks to the optimal coordination of the system. Thanks to the compact design of the hybrid system, no space is lost in the interior – and drivers do not have to recharge their Corsa Hybrid from an external source such as a socket or charging station.

“New Opel Corsa Hybrid enables everyday, economical driving pleasure with a sense of responsibility – simple, efficient and electrified,” said Patrick Dinger, Head of Opel in Germany. “With introduction of 48-volt hybrid technology, Opel offers a practical, easy, fuel-saving alternative to purely conventionally powered models without customers having to get used to it. New Opel Corsa Hybrid, which can be ordered now, complements broad drive portfolio and is another important component in our electrification strategy.”

Efficient, compact, user-friendly: Hybrid system in Opel Corsa

Opel Corsa Hybrid drivers can enjoy particularly efficient and user-friendly driving pleasure. Compared with the similar non-electrified Corsa 1.2 with eight-speed automatic transmission (fuel consumption in the WLTP 1 cycle: 5.5-5.4 l/100 km; 124-121 g/km CO2, both combined), 4 kW/100 hp new Opel Corsa Hybrid with the 48V technology (WLTP1 fuel consumption: 4.8-4.5 l/100 km; 108-101 g/km CO2, both combined) can save nearly 1.0 l/100 km of fuel (around 18 per cent) and also reduce CO2 emissions. Same applies to Opel Corsa Hybrid GS with 100 kW/136 hp, which is available from €30,190. Here too, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by around 18 percent to 4.7-4.6 l/100 km or 106-103 g/km CO2 compared to the non-electrified petrol counterpart (according to WLTP 1).

System offers advantages above all in city traffic. Electric motor assists the petrol engine especially under acceleration, e.g. when launching from a standstill. It also contributes torque, especially at low engine speeds, which benefits driving dynamics and CO2 reduction. At low speeds, the electric motor also enables fully electric driving for up to one kilometre or up to 50 per cent of the time driven in the city (thanks to recuperation) – for example when manoeuvring. During deceleration, the petrol engine stops and the e‑motor acts as a generator to recharge the hybrid system's 48V battery. Compact and space-saving system is optimally coordinated to ensure the best performance at all times with the lowest energy consumption. Depending on their driving preferences, Opel Corsa Hybrid drivers can also choose between the three modes Eco, Normal and Sport.

Information at a glance: Fully digital cockpit with hybrid-specific displays

In the interior of Opel Corsa Hybrid, occupants can enjoy optional fully digital driver information display (standard on Opel Corsa GS). As usual, it displays all important information clearly – with additional helpful hybrid-specific information. Numbers on digital speed display shine white while the petrol engine is running. If this switches off and vehicle is operated purely electrically, display changes to blue. There is also a permanent power display (divided into Power, Eco and Charge) as well as a display that provides information about energy flow between battery, petrol engine and wheels as well as battery charge status. And most important data on distance traveled, journey time, average consumption, remaining range and percentage of route driven purely electrically can be read via the trip summary display when vehicle is switched off.

Opel Corsa Hybrid occupants are well connected with new Opel Corsa multimedia infotainment system including a 10-inch colour touchscreen. They are based on integrated Snapdragon® Cockpit and Auto Connectivity Platforms from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. 2 and enable, among other things, state-of-art graphics, multimedia and connectivity capabilities such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G. In addition, smartphones compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be wirelessly connected to vehicle's multimedia systems and also recharged.

Leading technologies for outstanding comfort and safety

Every new Opel Corsa Hybrid has numerous technologies and assistance systems on board as standard, such as Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control as well as Active Lane Positioning, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition and Drowsiness Detection. There are also other optional electronic helpers that make driving and manoeuvring more relaxed. A highlight is glare-free IntelliLux LED Matrix light, which now has 14 LED elements and makes driving in dark even safer. Range also extends to Side Blind Sport Alert and new, high-resolution Panorama Rear View Camera.

New Opel Corsa Hybrid with a new, highly efficient 48-volt hybrid drive, additional top technologies and a clear, bold design including Opel Vizor will be arriving at dealers soon.

[1] Values determined using more realistic WLTP (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) test method which replaces NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) test procedure. Vehicle not yet available. A vehicle's consumption, CO2 emissions and range not only depend on efficient use of energy by vehicle but are also influenced by driving style and other non-technical factors. Information on consumption and emissions does not refer to an individual vehicle and is intended solely for purposes of comparison between the various vehicle types.

[2] Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

!NEW! Opel CarUnity: Launch of Innovative Opel Carsharing Concept

• “Better off sharing” – New Opel carsharing community CarUnity for everyone
• Free app now available for download
• CarUnity important part of Opel mobility services
• Cooperation with ridesharing platform flinc to be intensified

“Better off sharing“: Opel CMO Tina Müller launched Opel’s new carsharing community CarUnity today.

“Better off sharing” („Wer teilt, fährt besser“) – is the motto of Opel’s new carsharing community CarUnity. The innovative carsharing concept launched by the Rüsselsheim automaker in Germany appeals both to vehicle owners and to vehicle users. CarUnity enables them to offer their own car for rental or to rent a car of their choice quickly, easily and flexibly. It does not matter if the car is an Opel or a different brand. From today, the CarUnity app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. 

Combining forces: Opel CMO Tina Müller (left) and campaign ambassador Bettina Zimmermann present the new CarUnity app.

“We are taking a new approach with CarUnity. Opel is the first automaker to offer carsharing for everyone. CarUnity enables individual mobility everywhere in Germany – at any time and with greatest flexibility”, explains Chief Marketing Officer Tina Müller. “People in Germany can offer their car for rental or rent a car with the free app. Private carsharing fits to our brand – after all, approachable is one of our brand values.“  

The CarUnity app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Carsharing à la Opel has many advantages: car owners all over Germany can earn money with their cars and car renters can use cars in their vicinity for reasonable prices. And with CarUnity, the use of existing cars will be increased, which conserves resources. Fuel costs are covered by the renter. “The slogan ‘Better off sharing’ says it all”, says Dr. Jan Wergin, who as Director Opel Community Carsharing masterminded the development of CarUnity: “Everyone involved benefits from this clever carsharing idea.”

Opel CMO Tina Müller and Dr. Jan Wergin, Director Opel Community Carsharing, presented Opel’s innovative carsharing community “CarUnity” today.

Thanks to the innovative app, car owners can decide who may rent their car. CarUnity users can, for example, offer their car only to their Facebook friends or to people in their personal CarUnity network. The entire transaction takes only a few seconds with the user-friendly app.

Insurance is of course provided for the rental cars. The Opel Bank GmbH developed a comprehensive package for this, and the insurance coverage itself is provided by R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AG.

Marketing for CarUnity is initially focused on the Rhine-Main region and includes cooperation with the radio station FFH, billboards at busy traffic hubs such as main railway stations as well as communication on social media networks. Many private individuals, Opel employees and dealers have already made their cars available to the community for the premiere of CarUnity. Some automotive treasures from Opel Classic can also be found on CarUnity.

Expanding the portfolio of mobility services is an important element of Opel’s plan for the future. “With CarUnity, early on we introduce young people who want to be mobile but do not have their own car to the Opel brand,” says Tina Müller. “In the future it will be increasingly important to develop from a product manufacturer to a mobility service provider with an outstanding network. CarUnity and our new personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar will play an important role in digitalizing the Opel brand.”

Against the background of the increasing importance of mobility services, Opel also announced closer cooperation with the ridesharing platform flinc. From 2016, flinc will provide the technical platform so that ridesharing can also be offered via the car-sharing app. “Just like for CarUnity, we will go our very own way,” explains Jan Wergin. Further details will be announced at a later date.

Just a few months ago, Opel started a successful cooperation with flinc for all employees at the headquarters in Rüsselsheim. “flinc’s technology has the potential to play an important role in Opel’s focus on expanding mobility services for customers throughout Europe,” says Tina Müller.