IAA Premiere: New Opel Corsa Meets Rare Opel Corsa GT

• Predecessor: rare first-generation Opel Corsa GT on Opel stand
• Time-travel: 1987 “young-timer” drives 2,700 km from Portugal to IAA
• World premiere: sixth-generation Opel Corsa in the spotlight at Frankfurt show
• In the tradition: from sporty Opel Corsa GT to battery-electric Opel Corsa-e Rally

New Opel Corsa meets rare Opel Corsa GT

Opel is celebrating three world premieres at this year’s IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). New Opel Astra with high efficiency engines, Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 with e-All-Wheel Drive (WLTP fuel consumption, weighted, combined: 1.6 l/100 km, 37 g/km CO2; NEDC: 1.6 l/100 km, 36 g/km CO2) and the new sixth-generation Corsa in three versions. The best-selling small car (more than 13.6 million units) is going electric and with the Corsa-e Rally – also making its debut at the IAA – even forms the basis of an emissions-free competition car. At the IAA the new Opel Corsa will be joined by a special guest – a rare 1987 Opel Corsa GT in yellow, a testament to 37 years of fun and success. The not-so-old-timer was driven from its last home in Portugal to the Opel Classic Workshop in Rüsselsheim. From there it will drive to the IAA in Frankfurt, where it will contribute tradition and further excitement to the launch of the new Opel Corsa.

Opel the reliable: 2,700km from Porto to Rüsselsheim via Zaragoza

It took a while for Opel Classic to find a scarce first-generation Opel Corsa GT. This particular example, originally registered in Spain, was languishing, forgotten, in a garage in Portugal. Drive to Frankfurt for the small, unassuming Gran Turismo starts from a carpark at the harbour of Porto.

Opel offered the GT from April 1985 until autumn 1987. It was the successor of the Opel Corsa SR, with a 70hp 1.3-litre carburettor engine. Extra power and the subtle spoilers made the GT the sportsman of the first Corsa generation – until the more extrovert GSi arrived in 1988. A five-speed manual gearbox tamed the thirst and the rpm on longer trips.

Even today, keeping up with the traffic in the Opel Corsa GT is surprisingly quiet and effortless. There is no unnecessary firmness in the chassis, no slack in the steering and no superfluous information in the instrument panel: apart from the usual dials, only a rev counter and an oil pressure gauge. Fuel consumption matches the official figures of the time – more than six litres per 100 km is hardly ever burned. 750 kg kerb weight is a big help here, and also allows a power-to-weight ratio of 10.71 kg per horsepower.

On the way from Portugal to Rüsselsheim, GT drops in at Zaragoza, where it was built in 1987. The car is even allowed to visit the production plant. As the yellow Opel Corsa stops at the assembly line, lots of employees come over as if to greet a long lost friend.

Journey east goes past Barcelona, across France and from Basel along the Rhine. A total of 2,700km for a 32-year-old Opel Corsa that was ripped out of peaceful retirement in Portugal – without any repairs for the long road trip. As the GT pulls up in Rüsselsheim, the Opel Classic team is waiting eagerly.

Project “IAA 2019”: From plucky pensioner to show star

The warm sunshine in Spain and Portugal has been good for the Opel Corsa GT. A life without salty roads means no rust, no rot. Yellow oldie is still in good condition. TÜV agrees and after the check-up for German registration the inspectors put their precious sticker on the licence plate. But now comes the much higher hurdle: the experts from Opel Classic give the new arrival a thorough examination. Several pairs of beady eyes discover numerous more or less serious imperfections – dents in the roof, non-original badging, scratched glass, worn out seat cushions. Even the horn sounds wrong! In the end the car is taken apart completely.

Opel Classic team get together with their colleagues from the Service Workshop. “Project IAA 2019” is formed, under the leadership of Thorsten Götz and Dieter Eder. Piece by piece they rebuild the Corsa puzzle. First the reconditioned engine, followed by the suspension, shock absorbers and springs. Freshly painted body gets new trim and the correct GT badges. Then come the original light-alloy wheels. Finally the windows are installed, thanks to a friendly Opel dealer who has them in stock, of course.

Opel Corsa GT is now ready for its second life that will begin in grand style – at the 68th IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show. Visitors can admire the freshly restored Opel Corsa GT on the Opel stand D31 in hall 11.0. World premiere of the sixth-generation Opel Corsa is bound to benefit.

Opel Grandland X rolls off the line in Eisenach

• Investments in Eisenach: Modernization of the location and localization of the Groupe PSA EMP2 platform 
• Clear future prospects: Long-standing Opel Grandland X production 
• Further step in the electrification of the Opel brand: From the beginning of 2020, Opel Grandland X will also be produced as a hybrid

Today marks the beginning of a new era for the Groupe PSA plant in Eisenach: Production of the compact SUV Opel Grandland X in Thuringia has officially started. Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller and Yann Vincent, Groupe PSA Vice President Manufacturing & Supply Chain, opened the extensively rebuilt assembly line at the site on Wednesday in the presence of Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow.

"Today is a great day for all our employees here in Eisenach, for the entire region and for Opel customers. With the production of the Opel Grandland X we open a new chapter for the location. Because the car is not only in a growing vehicle segment at the start, but will be produced as a hybrid version here from next year and thus contributes to the electrification of Opel. Popularity of the Opel Grandland X has increased steadily in recent years and we are sure that this model will create a sustainable future for the plant, "said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Thuringia's Prime Minister Ramelow welcomed the clear future prospects for the employees: "We are pleased that the company has invested in the location. Factory belongs to Eisenach like the Wartburg and is an important economic factor - far beyond the region. "

Opel Grandland X: Assembly in Eisenach plant

Conversion work at the Eisenach plant, which localized the Groupe PSA EMP2 platform, started in May of this year. In the past few months, almost no stone was left on the other. Among other things, the "wedding" - the connection of chassis and body to a single unit - has been completely modernized, and a more efficient and environmentally friendly painting process has been introduced.

Opel Grandland X: Assembly in Eisenach plant

Yann Vincent thanked the staff in Eisenach for their efforts in the extensive conversion and training phase: "Team has shown a high level of commitment and prepared Eisenach for the future. I am convinced that all employees will produce the Opel Grandland X for our customers in outstanding quality. Groupe PSA brings the latest technology to the Eisenach plant with the Opel Grandland X and the EMP2 multi-energy platform."

First Opel Grandland X from Eisenach production - Topas Blue with 1.6-liter turbo-gasoline direct injection and 133 kW / 180 hp (fuel consumption: urban 7.2-7.1 l / 100 km, out of 5.0-4, 9 l / 100 km, combined 5.8-5.7 l / 100 km, 132-130 g / km CO2 , fuel consumption according to WLTP: combined 8.0-7.1 l / 100 km, 181-161 g / km CO2 ) - handed over to Michael Lohscheller, Yann Vincent, Eisenach Lord Mayor Katja Wolf and Opel brand ambassador Eva Padberg to the Museum Automobile World Eisenach, where the vehicle will soon take a place of honor.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller and Opel brand ambassador Eva Padberg

Since its launch, the Opel Grandland X has sold more than 160,000 copies. And the trend is pointing upwards. This trend will intensify, because the Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 will not only be the first electrified Opel "made in Germany". Compact SUV from Eisenach will also be the spearhead of Opel's comeback in the Russian market this year, flanked by the new Opel Vivaro and the new Opel Zafira Life.

World Premiere IAA: Opel First Carmaker to Present Electric Rally Car

• ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup: world’s first rally brand cup for electric cars
• For customer sport: New battery electric rally car based on Opel Corsa-e
• Good cooperation: Opel and ADAC continue their successful partnership
• Tradition: Opel has won seven European and one world rally championship

New Opel Corsa-e: Electric Rally Car

Opel is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer a battery-electric vehicle for customer rally sport. Electric competition car is based on the Opel Corsa-e, which is already available to order, and will make its world premiere at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). In 2020 Opel and the ADAC will start the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup for electric cars in the world.

With the new series, Opel and the ADAC are continuing their successful partnership. In the past years, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup has been the perfect entry ticket to rallying for around 100 young drivers from 18 countries. Fastest also displayed their talents internationally in the ADAC Opel Junior Rallye team. Opel juniors won the European championship four times in succession (2015 to 2018) with the Opel ADAM R2. New Opel Corsa-e now replaces Opel ADAM on the rally stages. New competition car produces 100 kW (136 hp) and develops 260 Nm of torque from a standstill.

“Opel Corsa-e is the electric car for everyone – fully suited to everyday use and absolutely affordable, attributes that equally apply to motor sport. New Opel Corsa is also fun to drive and particularly dynamic. Using the production car as the basis, we are the first carmaker in the world to have developed an electric rally car” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Hermann Tomczyk, President ADAC Sport, added: “With the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup we are bringing electric drive for the first time to mainstream sport and especially to young-driver support. The innovative concept and the cooperation with Groupe PSA opens new possibilities for us, especially in the support of young drivers. I am certain that the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will point the way ahead for motor sport far beyond the borders of Germany.”

Initially the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will take place during rounds of the German Rally Championship and other selected events. Series is scheduled to begin in summer 2020. At least ten qualifying rounds through 2021 will form a so-called “Super Season”. A pyramid of support for young drivers is part of the concept, which also foresees a new edition of the successful ADAC Opel Rallye Academy, established in 2016, as the first level. At the time, more than 1,000 youngsters showed their interest in the unique “rally casting”, which led straight to the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup for the most talented participants. This successful concept will be continued and expanded into the top international echelon of the sport.

In the next step after graduating from the academy and the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the best young drivers will progress to the European Junior Rally Championship with the new Opel Corsa R2. Integration of Opel in Groupe PSA offers additional possibilities for top talents: sister-brand Peugeot competes with powerful FIA R5 machines and Citroën even with world rally cars – excellent opportunities for rising to the very highest level of international rally sport.

“Opel has traditionally strong connections with rallying” said Lohscheller. “We can look back with pride on numerous successes, including seven European championship titles as well as the World Rally Championship in 1982 with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer in the Opel Ascona 400. Now we are moving forward with electric drive and fans will be amazed by the performance of our e-cup rally car”.

Development of the Opel Corsa-e Rally in Rüsselsheim continues at a rapid pace. Fifteen cars are planned for the 2020/2021 ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup. Price for customer cars from Opel Motorsport will be significantly less than €50,000 (net).

Electric motor: Synchronous

Power: 100 kW (136 hp)

Torque: 260 Nm

Battery: Lithium-ion, 50 kWh

Transmission: Front-wheel drive with Torsen differential

Suspension: Rally suspension

McPherson strut with uniball joints front

Wheels: 7 x 17; ET20

Steering: Electric power steering

Brakes: 4-piston brake calipers, Interior ventilated 332x28 mm front discs, 264x12 mm rear discs Hydraulic brake pressure adjustable at rear, especially adapted for recuperation, adapted brake management and recuperation, hydraulic “fly-off” handbrake

Chassis: Lightweight body-in-white with integrated roll-cage, underbody protection for engine and transmission, electric fire extinguisher, dry battery (standard in engine compartment), quick-release fasteners for bonnet and tailgate

Electrical system: ESP, traction control (TC) and ABS deactivated, motorsport display with data-logger, newly developed high-voltage (HV) safety warning system

Optional: Tripmaster & additional lighting

Dimensions: Length: 4,060 mm

Width: 1,770 mm (5.0 mm wider than production)

Height: 1,440 mm (5.0 mm higher than production

Wheelbase: 2,540 mm (2.0 mm longer than production)