Opel Revamping Corsa for 2010; Better Performance, Lower Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions
19 November 2009
The Opel Corsa is receiving a complete re-make for 2010, with major engineering changes, re-vamped powertrain line-up, chassis improvements and steering recalibration to give the Corsa better performance and greater fuel economy as well as comfort, handling and driving dynamics. The Corsa, which accounts for some 30% of Opel/Vauxhall total sales, is available in three-door and five-door variants.
Gasoline engine line-up. The new gasoline engine line-up for the Corsa fully complies with Euro 5 standards. All engines have been re-worked to offer more torque while featuring up to 13% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Both the 1.2- and 1.4-liter Twinport variants are each available in two versions with different outputs. Every country selects and offers customers the variants that suit the needs of their region. Some may decide to go for optimal fuel efficiency; other may want to balance it with more performance.
The most popular gasoline powertrains (the 1.0 to 1.4 liter with manual and Easytronic transmissions) now have fuel consumptions between 5.0 and 5.5 L/100 km (47 to 43 mpg US), with maximum CO2 emissions of 129 g/km.
Performance and efficiency improvements were made possible through a number of technical changes:
A new oil pump optimizes oil pressure and reduces frictions, lowering fuel consumption.
A newly developed double camshaft phaser on the 1.2- and 1.4-liter engines improves the combustion process, allowing increased power and torque.
A new management of the thermostat reduces the engine warm-up phase, further lowering fuel consumption and emissions.
A shift-up indicator in the cluster informs drivers how they can save fuel.
For the 65 hp segment, the entry level 1.0-liter 3-cylinder now develops 48 kW/65 hp and 90 N·m (66 lb-ft). This compares with the previous generation, with 44 kW/60 hp developing 88 N·m. At the same time, fuel consumption and emissions on the new entry level engine have been reduced by 13%, at 5.0 L/100 km and 117 g/km (from 5.6 L/100 km and 134 g/km). This makes the Corsa 1.0 liter the cleanest of all gasoline-powered super-minis, GM Europe says.
At this level of power, Opel also offers a new variant of the 1.2 liter 4-cylinder with 51 kW/70 hp and 115 N·m (85 lb-ft). This is a 5 N·m increase from the previous 59 kW/80 hp variant. Again, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measure 5.3 L/100 km (44.4 mpg US) and 124 g/km.
In the 85 hp segment, a new version of the 1.2 liter engine now offers 63 kW/85 hp and 115 N·m (85 lb-ft) of torque. This is compared to 80 hp and 110 N·m on the current Corsa 1.2 liter. At the same time, the new 1.2 liter engine has an 11% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on the manual transmission and a 13% cut with the Easytronic manual automated transmission (5.1 L/100 km (46 mpg US) and 119 g/km CO2 vs 5.8 L and 137 g).
In the same category, an alternative engine with more torque is also available: A new generation of the 1.4-liter engine with a capacity of 1,398 cc (vs 1,364 cc) due to a 2 mm longer stroke now develops 64 kW/87 hp and 130 N·m (96 lb-ft) of torque. Its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, however, do not exceed 5.5 L/100 km and 129 g/km CO2—another 12% improvement compared to the previous 59 kW/80 hp 1.2 liter with a close ratio manual transmission.
In the 100 hp segment, a second version of the new 1.4-liter engine is also offered with 74 kW/100 hp and 130 N·m of torque, up from the previous generation’s 90 hp and 125 N·m, and with a 12% improvement in fuel consumption and CO2. With fuel consumption of 5.5 L/100 km (129 g/km CO2), it provides a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph), and accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds.
A sporty, top-of-the-line turbo 1.6 liter gasoline engine from the Corsa GSi (110 kW/150 hp) and OPC (141 kW/192 hp) versions also offer a significant improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This is achieved through optimizing the engine calibration for Euro 5 and 95 RON (GSi) or 98 RON (OPC) fuels. The average fuel consumption for both variants is now lowered by 9.5% to 7.3 L/100 km (32 mpg US) with CO2 emissions at respectively 171 g/km on the GSI and 172 g/km on the OPC.
Transmissions. In many cases, the new gasoline-powered Corsa offers a choice between close and wide transmission ratios. Traditionally, close ratio transmissions are matched to gasoline engines for sportier, higher rpm gear changes, while wide ratio transmissions in diesel vehicles compensate for a narrower rpm bandwidth and provide more economical driving.
Because all gasoline engines have improved their torque values, especially at lower rpm, it has been possible to also match them with wide ratios transmissions. As they now have the choice between transmissions with performance-oriented short- or economy-focused wide ratios, Opel national entities can best adapt their offer to the driving needs and tastes of their customers and the specific tax regulations in their market.
Corsa Gasoline Line-up | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Current Corsa | New Corsa - Jan 2010 | |||
Engine | Fuel L/100km / CO2 g/km | Engine | Fuel L/100km / CO2 g/km | |
1.0L 60 hp / 88 N·m (CR*) | 5.6 / 134 | 1.0L 65 hp / 90 N·m (CR) | 5.0 / 117 | |
1.2L 70 hp / 115 N·m (WR) | 5.3 / 124 | |||
1.2L 80 hp / 110 N·m (WR*) | 5.8 / 139 (MT) 5.7 / 137 (MTA) |
1.2L 85 hp / 115 N·m (WR) | 5.3 / 124 (MT) 5.1 / 119 (MTA) | |
1.2L 80 hp / 110 N·m (CR) | 6.1 / 146 | |||
1.4L 87 hp / 130 N·m (WR) | 5.3 / 125 | |||
1.4L 87 hp / 130 N·m (CR) | 5.5 / 129 | |||
1.4L 90 hp / 125 N·m (WR) | 5.8 / 139 | |||
1.4L 90 hp/125 N·m (CR) | 6.1 / 146 (MT) 6.5 / 154 (3d.-AT) 6.6 / 158 (5d.-AT) |
1.4L 100 hp/130 N·m (CR) | 5.5 / 129 (MT) 5.7 / 134 (3d.-AT) 5.9 / 138 (5d.-AT) | |
1.6L Turbo 150 hp / 210 N·m | 7.9 / 189 | 1.6L Turbo 150 hp / 210 N·m | 7.3 / 171 | |
1.6L Turbo 192 hp / 230 N·m | 7.9 / 189 | 1.6L Turbo 192 hp / 230 N·m | 7.3 / 172 | |
WR: Wide Ratio CR: Close Ratio MT/AT: Manual/Automatic Transmission MTA: Easytronic Automated Manual Transmission |
Diesel line-up. The top-of-the-line 1.7 CDTI diesel engine in the Corsa range also gains output and torque while reducing fuel consumption. Power increases from 92 kW/125 hp to 96 kW/130 hp while the torque value rises from 280 to 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) at the same engine speed. Emissions fall 9% to 118 g/km CO2 from 130 g/km CO2 for the 3-door version. The Corsa 1.7 CDTI now reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) (5 km/h more than the previous generation) and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds (versus 9.9 seconds on the previous generation). Due to its increased torque, it now accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 5th gear in 9.3 seconds (compared with 10.4 seconds previously).
While making it Euro 5 compliant, Opel engineers bettered the performance of the 1.7 CDTI by adding a new turbocharger with an actuator position sensor providing a more precise control of the boost pressure. To reduce fuel consumption, they developed a fuel injection system that improves the combustion process; they also switched to low voltage glow plugs that reduce the load on the generator when the engine warms up. A new, lighter intake manifold also helps the Corsa shed weight and an up-shift indicator assists the driver in adopting an economical driving style.
The new, lowest emitting Corsa ecoFLEX variant is now powered by a 70 kW/95 hp 1.3 CDTI diesel engine boosted by a turbo with a variable geometry. It is packed with 27% more power than the previous generation Corsa ecoFLEX even though fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by some 10%. With its 190 N·m (140 lb-ft) of torque available between 1750 and 3250 rpm, this Corsa ecoFLEX needs only 3.7 L/100 km (64 mpg US), releasing just 98 g/km CO2 as a three-door. The five-door Corsa emits 99 g/km. A particulate filter is standard. An up-shift indicator on the dashboard helps the driver optimize fuel economy.
This version replaces the 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX (55 kW/75 hp) with 109 g/km CO2 which was only available in 3-door version.
New Corsa Diesel Lineup | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX |
1.3 CDTI | 1.3 CDTI | 1.7 CDTI | |
Output (kW / hp) | 70 / 95 | 55 / 75 | 66 / 90 | 96 / 130 |
Torque (N·m) | 190 | 170 | 200 | 300 |
Transmission | MT5 | MT5 | MT6 | MT6 |
Combined cycle fuel consumption (L/100km) | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.5 |
CO2 combined (g/km) | 98 / 99* | 114 | 129 | 118 / 119* |
* 3-door / 5-door |
Steering. Opel has optimized the steering on all Corsa models. The software controls for the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) have been re-tuned and the engineers have installed a new yoke liner in the steering gear for reduced friction. Overall, these measures provide improved feedback and precision with increased on-center feel and stronger return to the middle position after a curve or any input given to the steering for lane changes. Corrective maneuvers result in improved straight-ahead stability.
Sooner we see the conversion from measurements of CO2 g/km
to a measure of real toxic emissions g/km (CO, SO4, CH4 etc.)the more meaningful it will be for people.
As the repositioning out of climate change continues - it is still helpful to let consumers know the volume of real toxic substances a vehicle emits. This becomes a new measure of a car's "greenness." Obviously the lower the real toxic emissions the greener the vehicle. Of course EPA's bogus CO2 "finding" is $hitcanned.
The whole repositioning of climate to energy is a not-too difficult change in PR nomenclature. Not that hard.
Posted by: sulleny | 19 November 2009 at 02:05 PM
Yeah..GM needs to lose these guys ASAP.
Posted by: fred | 19 November 2009 at 05:34 PM
fred,
The German workers have been desperate to lose GM as well so you should expect a mutually beneficial outcome here?
Sulleny,
as usual full of it.
Posted by: arnold | 19 November 2009 at 07:08 PM
I agree with Sulleny - we have gone from worrying about local pollution (HC, CO, NOx etc.) to global pollution (CO2).
The result of this in Europe has been a switch to diesel cars, which while having low CO2 levels, have higher local pollutant levels, which are expensive to reduce.
What we need is a combined "local + global" pollution metric, preferably a single number. (That is why the CO2 metric took off - it is a single number and easy to understand / compare).
Devising that "all pollution" metric would be difficult (or difficult to get agreement on), but would be worth doing.
Here is an attempt:
You normalize local pollution so that the average car generates a score of about 130.
Then you add this to the CO2 number and divide by 2.
This is your metric.
Posted by: mahonj | 20 November 2009 at 12:10 AM
mahonj, Europe was big on Diesel long before Global Warming came along (and long before Diesel was as clean as it is now). This was due to their interest in conservation, mostly out of interest of reducing oil dependence and had very little to do with the environment. Now that Global Warming has come along, it turns out Diesel is a good solution to this problem too. Hybrids haven't caught on in Europe because Diesel offers just as good a solution to Global Warming and has already been prevalent for 20-30 years. Yes, hybrids are cleaner in terms of other forms of pollution, but Diesels are much cleaner than they used to be and most Europeans seem happy with this compromise. Hybrids carry a larger premium over a gas engine car than Diesel does. I've lived in Europe, the sky is not black.
Posted by: Peter9909 | 20 November 2009 at 07:49 AM
.....The air is relatively clean in major cities in Europe. The irony is that the main culprites tend to be large buses which spew out a lot of soot. Some of the worst streets for air quality are those which are dominated by buses.
Posted by: Scott | 22 November 2009 at 02:42 AM