Reviving old car marques is very in vogue right now.
The last few years have seen car makers like Renault, Volkswagen and Peugeot all breathing new life into models that were previously retired.
In 2025, Vauxhall, known as Opel in Europe, revived its GSi subbrand for the electric age. Rebranded to GSE, the moniker was previously reserved for the company’s sportiest, most dynamic models.
The first model to launch from the brand’s revived marque was the Mokka GSE, but the company has just revealed a far more exciting and intriguing car: the super cool Corsa GSE.
Here’s everything you need to know about it.
The new Corsa GSE channels the spirit of the cult-classic Nova GSi, which was named the Corsa A GSi in Europe. It’s the first traditional hot hatchback since the VXR went out of production eight years ago.
Opel says it brings “the sporty GSi genes of the Nova into the future”. Indeed, it boasts almost twice as much power as the regular Corsa Electric and gains an overhauled suspension and a more aggressive exterior design.
The Corsa GSE is positioned to take on a new collection of rivals in a growing market of performance electric cars. It will tackle the Alpine A290 and the Mini John Cooper Works Electric, plus the new Volkswagen ID Polo GTI. Other models from parent company Stellantis will also follow, from brands including Abarth and Alfa Romeo.
As with the new GTi version of its Peugeot 208 twin, the Corsa GSE swaps the regular car's 154bhp motor for the 277bhp unit already deployed in the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce and Opel Mokka GSE.
Its top speed is lower than that of those cars, at 180km/h (112mph), yet its 5.5-second 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time is 0.4 seconds quicker. And because it is a hatchback rather than a crossover, it is notably lighter, at around 1550kg compared with the Mokka GSE's 1596kg.
Power is delivered to the front wheels through a Torsen limited-slip differential and Opel said it has tuned the throttle and brake pedal responses to emphasise the GSE's sportiness. The car also gets reworked axles, front and rear, as well as stiffer anti-roll bars and new dampers with hydraulic bump stops.
The suspension sits lower than the regular Corsa's, and the new 18in alloy wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and significant negative camber.
Both the weight and feedback of the steering have been increased and the rack is quicker. Stopping power is provided by four-pot Alcon brakes front and rear. Three-spoke alloys hark back to those on the original hot Nova, with a flat-faced design to improve aero performance.
As with the regular Corsa, the GSE features several drive modes that alter the car's character. In its normal setting, it is capped at 228bhp to preserve range.
The Eco mode cuts this further - although Opel has yet to confirm to what extent - and limits the top speed to 93mph. Sport mode, said to be designed for track use, uncorks the full 277bhp.
The exterior tweaks that distinguish the Corsa GSE from regular variants are more subtle than with the previous VXR. Indeed, its treatment with black contrasts around its vents and wheel arches echoes the relationship between the early 1990s Nova GSi and its stablemates.
Inside, it is clear that the GSE is a more focused proposition than the standard Corsa, with chunky tartan bucket seats, green seatbelts and an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel. The pedals, meanwhile, are finished in aluminium.
A range figure has yet to be disclosed, but the Mokka GSE can go 328km (201 miles) per charge when fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres - harder than the 4S compound used on the Corsa GSE. However, the Corsa is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient than its high-riding counterpart, suggesting it will return a similar figure.
Move Electric’s sister publication Autocar understands the Corsa GSE will be followed by a high-performance variant of the larger Astra, which may reprise the same powertrain but in a more family-friendly package.
This model will look to capitalise on the gap in the market left by the discontinued Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R, while also trading blows with the Cupra Born VZ and the Kia EV3 GT.
