Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

Vauxhall Corsa GSE Is Coming to Reignite the Griffin’s Hot-Hatch Flame

Eight years is a long time in hot-hatch exile. That’s how long it’s been since the last Vauxhall Corsa VXR snarled off the production line, taking with it the kind of torque-steering, front-tire-melting mischief that once defined Vauxhall’s performance reputation. Now, the griffin is sharpening its claws again.

Vauxhall has confirmed that a performance version of the Corsa—badged Corsa GSE—will arrive later this year, marking the brand’s first proper hot hatch of the electric era. And this time, the fireworks will be powered by volts rather than boost.

GSE Means Business Now

The GSE badge isn’t just a sporty trim anymore. Relaunched last July as a sub-brand for genuinely performance-honed EVs, it made its first modern statement with the 276-hp Vauxhall Mokka GSE. That car nearly doubled the output of the standard Mokka Electric and backed it up with meaningful chassis upgrades—proof that GSE now stands for more than black wheels and contrast stitching.

Expect the Corsa GSE to follow that template, only with less mass and more attitude.

Vauxhall’s teaser image reveals little beyond swollen arches and bespoke 18-inch alloys, but the visual message is clear: this won’t be your local delivery-spec electric supermini. If the Mokka’s playbook is reused, we’re likely looking at the same 276-hp front-mounted motor (shared with the Abarth 600e), plus a proper limited-slip differential to keep the inside wheel from vaporizing under full throttle.

The Mokka GSE also gained uprated anti-roll bars, stiffer rear bushings, bigger brakes, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport EV rubber. Transplant that hardware into the lighter Corsa, and suddenly the Mokka’s already brisk 5.9-second 0–62 mph time looks vulnerable. A mid-five-second sprint wouldn’t be out of the question—and in a small front-driver, that’s properly rapid.

A GTi Rival, Electrified

The Corsa GSE will line up squarely against the upcoming Peugeot e-208 GTi, its Stellantis cousin. Platform sharing is inevitable, but differentiation will be critical. Vauxhall’s design team appears ready to lean into aggression.

Clues can be found in the wild Vauxhall Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept unveiled last August. While its towering rear wing and dramatic diffuser are fantasy-league material, its sharper interpretation of Vauxhall’s Vizor front fascia could preview the production car’s face. Design boss Mark Adams has already hinted that elements of that look are under evaluation for road use.

Translation: expect something meaner, lower, and more purposeful than the standard Electric 156PS.

Heritage, Recharged

Vauxhall boss Eurig Druce says the brand “has a proud heritage of hot hatches,” and he’s not wrong. From the scrappy Vauxhall Nova GSi to the riotous Corsa VXR, small, fast Vauxhalls have long punched above their weight. The difference now? No exhaust crackle, no manual gearbox—just instant torque and the faint whir of electrons being hurled rearward.

Purists may grumble, but if the chassis tuning is right—and if that limited-slip diff does its job—the Corsa GSE could deliver the kind of front-end bite and lift-off adjustability that made its predecessors cult heroes.

Pricing and Positioning

Expect the Corsa GSE to start around £35,000, nudging above today’s range-topping Electric 156PS Ultimate (£33,720). That premium should buy not just extra power, but real hardware: brakes that can survive repeated stops, suspension that resists roll without wrecking ride quality, and steering calibrated for something more than supermarket duty.

If Vauxhall gets it right, the Corsa GSE won’t just be the brand’s first electric hot hatch—it’ll be a statement that the fun isn’t gone, merely rewired.

And after eight years of silence, the griffin’s bark is about to go electric.

Source: Vauxhall

NEW CARS

Lepas L8 Targets RAV4 and CX-5 with Cut-Price PHEV Punch in UK Debut

When a new brand lands on British shores promising premium feel for mainstream money, skepticism is part of the job description. But that’s exactly the pitch from Lepas, which has confirmed that its L8 SUV will be the first model it sells in the United Kingdom.

If the name sounds unfamiliar, the backstory shouldn’t. Lepas is owned by Chinese heavyweight Chery and sits alongside sibling brands Omoda and Jaecoo. The name itself is a carefully engineered mash-up of “leopard,” “leap,” and “passion”—marketing poetry that signals ambition, if not subtlety.

A Flagship with Familiar Targets

The L8 arrives as a five-seat, mid-size SUV aimed squarely at Europe’s family-car sweet spot. Think of the territory currently occupied by the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4—only with a price tag expected to undercut both. That means going head-to-head with established players from Mazda and Toyota while dangling the promise of extra kit for less cash.

Under the skin, the L8 rides on Chery’s modular T1X platform, shared with its Omoda and Jaecoo cousins. That’s not necessarily a drawback; economies of scale are the not-so-secret weapon of every rising brand with global ambitions.

Plug-In Power, with EV to Follow

Although full UK specs remain under wraps, clues come from markets where the L8 is already on sale. In Indonesia, it’s offered exclusively as a plug-in hybrid, pairing a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and an 18.3-kWh battery. The combined output stands at 204 horsepower, and the electric-only range is quoted at 56 miles—enough to cover most weekday commutes without waking the petrol engine.

Given that the UK-market Jaecoo 7 uses the same setup, expect the L8 to follow suit. An all-electric version is also likely waiting in the wings, especially since the T1X architecture already supports full EV applications in related models. In other words, Lepas appears to be hedging its bets—PHEV now, EV soon.

Clean Cabin, Big Screens

Inside, the L8 leans heavily into the minimalist playbook. A portrait-oriented 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the center stack, while a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster handles driver duties. Refreshingly, Lepas hasn’t gone full touchscreen purist: physical climate buttons and a proper volume dial remain. There’s also a wireless phone charger, because of course there is.

The brand promises “next-generation driving assistance,” though details remain vague. Expect the usual suite of lane-keeping aids, adaptive cruise control, and collision mitigation tech, but we’ll reserve judgment until the spec sheet drops.

More to Come

Full UK-market details are due in the coming weeks ahead of a summer launch. And the L8 won’t be alone for long. According to Autocar, Lepas also plans to bring its L4 and L6 crossovers to Britain, offering a mix of pure internal-combustion, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains.

For now, the L8 represents the opening salvo: a family SUV with premium aspirations and a value-driven pitch. If Lepas can deliver on price without cutting too many corners, the established order in Britain’s hyper-competitive SUV class may have reason to glance nervously in its rearview mirror.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

Opel Corsa YES Special Edition

For five consecutive years, Germany’s best-selling small car hasn’t worn a VW badge. It’s been the Opel Corsa—a quietly competent, sharply priced supermini that’s built its empire on sensible virtues. Now, Opel is asking a different question: What if sensible could also shout?

Enter the Corsa YES special edition, now dipped in something called Koral Orange. And no, this isn’t your garden-variety traffic-cone hue. It’s metallic, it’s saturated, and it’s unapologetically attention-seeking. In a segment where grayscale still dominates dealership forecourts, Opel has essentially handed its bestseller a highlighter.

Orange Is the New Sensible

The new Koral Orange paint doesn’t arrive alone. A carbon-black roof and 16-inch BiColour Diamond-cut alloys in black and silver give the Corsa a bit of visual tension—like it’s wearing a tailored suit with bright sneakers. The effect works. It’s sporty without trying too hard, youthful without veering into cartoon territory.

Inside, Opel keeps the theme cohesive. The black “Banda” seats wear a premium leather-look finish with orange stitching and stripes that echo the exterior. Matching accents stretch across the doors and instrument panel, while a black headliner adds a touch of seriousness to balance the flair. It’s coordinated in a way that suggests actual designers were involved, rather than a parts-bin color experiment.

And yes, the steering wheel—flat-bottomed and wrapped in vegan leatherette—comes standard. In 2026, sustainability isn’t a bonus feature; it’s table stakes. Opel knows this.

Digital by Default

The real surprise here isn’t the paint—it’s the standard equipment list. Unlike many special editions that lean heavily on cosmetic upgrades, the Corsa YES brings substance.

Every version, whether petrol, hybrid, or fully electric, now features fully digital displays as standard. That means a 10-inch central touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital driver display. No analog dials sneaking in on the cheaper trims. No “upgrade required” asterisks. Just screens, everywhere.

Connectivity and infotainment are baked in, not bolted on. It’s the kind of move that keeps a volume seller competitive in a segment where buyers increasingly expect their €24,000 hatchback to feel like a downsized luxury car.

The Price Stays Put

Here’s the part that feels almost rebellious: despite the new metallic paint and the expanded equipment list, Opel hasn’t raised the price. The Corsa YES still starts at €24,340 in Germany.

That’s a bold play in a market where “special edition” often translates to “special invoice.” Opel is effectively refreshing its top seller without punishing the buyer. For a car that already dominates its segment, that’s less a tweak and more a strategic flex.

Add-Ons Without the Guilt

If you’re the type who treats an options list like a buffet, Opel offers a couple of reasonably priced packages.

The €150 Comfort Pack adds an electric parking brake (standard on the electric version), a center armrest with storage, and a second remote key. It’s the kind of practical upgrade that feels underpriced in today’s market.

Then there’s the €700 YES Tech Package, bundling a 130-degree reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, and keyless start. It’s not groundbreaking tech, but in a B-segment hatch, it nudges the Corsa closer to compact-class comfort.

And if Koral Orange feels like too much caffeine for your taste, Opel also offers the YES edition in Eucalyptus Green—still coordinated with matching interior accents—for the same €700 premium over standard colors.

Standing Out in a Sea of Small Cars

Opel’s Patrick Dinger calls the Corsa a customer favorite, and the sales charts back him up. But success in the small-car segment isn’t static. Buyers want value, yes—but they also want personality.

The updated Corsa YES doesn’t reinvent the formula that made it Germany’s small-car champion. Instead, it amplifies it. More color. More digital hardware. More standard features. Same price.

In a class defined by compromise, the Corsa YES makes a simple statement: you don’t have to blend in just because your car fits in.

Source: Opel