Opel Corsa GSi - Little Criminal | Auto Class Magazine

Opel Corsa GSi – Little Criminal

7 October 2019 Redazione News, Pink Drivers, Tested

OPEL CORSA GSI

G.S.I. – CRIME SCENE

Words by Giorgia Rossi / Photos by S. Lomax

I learned to drive at the wheel of an Opel Corsa and so reviewing the most interesting version available on the market today is something special for me. Of course, we have to say that in the meantime Opel has already presented the new generation, but for now it is only available as a five-door and without these three magical letters: GSI. G.S.I. – Crime Scene, I joked with my colleagues at the office and not just for the yellow color similar to the tapes that mark the murder scene and that makes it stand out in the middle of a Ferrari parking lot (I swear I’m not kidding) where everyone seems intrigued by the unusual sportswear that “my” Corsa likes to show. It is easy to guess that it is not a traditional model, but rather a spicy hot-hatch with a great desire to entertain, but here Opel has not exaggerated and therefore I find myself dealing with a car who can really be able to be the so-called one car for every occasions, while still ready to draw a smile on the face of those who hold the steering wheel.

The acronym GSI does not obviously refer to some tragic murder, but traces back to the Grand Sport Injection which will certainly sound familiar to those who lived the golden years of the first small-sized sports cars. A sort of tribute that is placed one step before what you’d expect in the form of an OPC, the well-known sports division by Opel, making a car that at least on paper has nothing to envy to the more peppery cousins. The 4-cylinder under the hood is a 1.4 turbocharged with 150 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque, traction is obviously on the front axle and the gearbox is a 6-speed manual. The ingredients, as you can see, are all here. Add to this an overall weight of just 1,200 kg and you can imagine how the Corsa GSI will be agile between the curves, also thanks to its very small dimensions and a chassis enhanced by the collaboration with Koni, maker of shock absorbers able to adapt to the type of driving and to the type of road surface, becoming more rigid when the pace gets serious and enhancing comfort in the most relaxed driving moments. It is in this case that the Corsa GSI has proven to be able to juggle in every situation, resulting comfortable over long distances and without forcing for extra stops at the gas station – just 5.9 liters declared by the Brand in order to travel 100 km in mixed cycle, a value that does not differ at all from reality, provided you do not call into question the most exuberant side of the small yellow lightning bolt.

Yes, this Corsa is yellow, very yellow. And its body is made even more captivating by a more aggressive front bumper and hood, by carbon look inserts scattered here and there, by the rear spoiler and by its new chrome tailpipe, while the standard 17-inch wheels can be replaced by the optional 18″. The 1.4 emits a pleasant sound, never too intrusive, even when you increase the rhythm. It is however between tight bends that one really understands how much the GSI is also able to be an excellent sports car, not feeling excessively the lack of a bunch of horses more, just thanks to contained weight and dimensions and provided that you’d keep the needle of the tachometer in the middle of its run towards the red line. The gearbox is precise and the steering is more communicative if you leave the Eco mode alone, but that was obvious. And then the Recaro sports seats are the icing on the cake, not only beautiful to admire, but also comfortable and restraining your body when it is necessary to keep it in place. The Corsa GSI is an old school hot-hatch, it must be driven hard to give emotions and at the same time, without too many frills it is also happy to accompany you to the grocery or take the dog to the vet. It has three doors and starts at € 19.400, waiting for the new generation to bring us its sporty-hot version and hoping that it will keep the multiple capabilities of this little yellow criminal.