All-electric new Corsa on the charge with promise of 200-mile range
AN all-electric new Corsa heralds the new generation of Vauxhall’s small car, promising a range of 205 miles, brisk acceleration and speedy charging – all for under £27,000.
The Corsa-e zero emissions version of one of Britain’s most popular cars is now available to reserve with a deposit of just £500, but buyers will have to wait until next year to get behind the wheel.
However the first 500 customers to put down their cash will receive a free home charging kit when they take delivery of their Corsa-e.
Priced from £26,490, including the government’s £3,500 Plug-in Car Grant, the Corsa-e will be available in two highly-specified trims, both of which will come as standard with a 7-inch touch screen, 11kWh on-board charger, satellite navigation, LED headlights, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and DAB radio.
Also standard will be the peace of mind that comes with the Corsa-e’s battery warranty, which guarantees that at least 70% of its capacity is maintained for 100,000 miles, or eight years.
Full specifications and range pricing will be available when Corsa-e receives its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, before series production starts in January.
The fully-electric model is the flag-bearer for the completely new Corsa range, based on Vauxhall’s advanced CMP Multi-Energy Platform.
With a lusty 136PS from its 50kWh battery and acceleration from 0-62mph in just 8.1 seconds through automatic transmission, the Corsa-e’s punchy performance will appeal to a broad range of drivers who may not have previously considered an electric car.
And with a generous range of 205 miles, using the new, more stringent Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) test, the manufacturer says Corsa-e will aim to normalise electric car ownership.
That range should be readily easily accessible too, with the capability of charging to 80% of its capacity in just 30 minutes using a public fast-charger that will cost a great deal less than topping up with petrol or diesel – and some businesses are offering free charging.
There will be the other financial attractions of zero road tax costs, freedom to enter low emission zones without fear of financial penalty
For those wary of committing a considerable sum of their cash to a still fast-developing technology, Vauxhall is offering a personal contract purchase package (PCP), starting at £270 per month for 47 months, with a customer deposit of £5,549.40, Vauxhall deposit contribution of £2,615 and an optional final payment of £9,123.
These costs are based on an SE model with optional Orange Fizz paint (£650), with a 5% fixed rate of interest (5.1% APR) and including the government plug-in grant.
