Vauxhall Corsa SRi – will it be the next HSV?

HSV have already confirmed that they won’t be using any of Holden’s Korean sourced cars for the basis of their vehicles a stance which is frankly not surprising.

What we wouldn’t mind speculating is that HSV will been having a long hard look at the Vauxhall Corsa SRi, little brother to their current VXR hot-hatch. Vauxhall/Opel whipped the covers off their new pint-sized Corsa SRi at the recent Barcelona Motor Show and as you can see from the picture it appears to share a lot of VXR DNA. It’s fair to say that its got ‘the look’.

The new SRi model is available in a three and five-door format and uses a 110Kw 1.6-litre ‘low powered’ turbo engine which is enough to see the SRi scamper from 0-100km/h in around 7.6 seconds and top 200 km/h.

In Europe the Corsa SRi is also available as a ‘performance diesel’ which means you get a 92kw 1.7 CDTi turbo-diesel that averages 3.99 L/100km (enough to make a Prius owner choke) and still manages to get you from 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds! As usual don’t expect to see this option make it to Australia anytime soon.

The Vauxhall Corsa SRi is being pitched at the younger driver, interested in a performance car but not wanting to spend the cash required to buy and run a VXR. In order to appeal to the cash sensitive VXR wannabes the SRi shares a number of styling cues including a similar body kit, 17-inch alloys, tailgate spoiler and chrome exhaust extension. The interior is a combination of boy-racer-esque red and chrome with sports seats, a leather sports steering wheel and alloy pedals along with somewhat suspect sounding red seatbelts…

The steering has been retuned to be more responsive and the suspension has been lowered by 18mm at the front and 15mm at the rear to improve the SRi’s stance and aid handling.

Given fuel prices and the fact that HSV already sell the VXR the Corsa SRi seems like a logical move to us and one that may encourage more females to buy into what is traditionally a male dominated brand. That would open up a whole new market to HSV. Don’t be surprised…