New Five-Door Opel Corsa

Press Release

Roominess and Ingenuity in Small-Car Segment

• Opel again sets standards in versatility

• World premiere of flexible integrated carrier system “FlexFix”

• New “living-in-style” interior design: From exciting red to luxurious piano lacquer

The young generation of the Opel model range has a new family member - the all-new five-door Corsa. It is distinctively different from the three-door version, following the same philosophy Opel successfully realized with the Astra and Astra GTC. While the coupé-like three-door Corsa has inherited a bold sporty character, the five-door’s concept makes it an ideal family and leisure-time car. Both Corsa versions have their own unique personality, while sharing the new model generation’s increased space, agile chassis and remarkably high level of quality, as well as clever ideas such as the flexible integrated rear carrier “FlexFix”, which makes its world premiere in a production car.

With the Corsa’s flexible carrier system fully integrated in the rear bumper, Opel now sets a new standard in exterior versatility, after already having established the interior benchmark with the Zafira’s “Flex7” seating system. The completely retractable “FlexFix” also provides full “on-board” functionality, eliminating the need for cumbersome assembly, dismantling or storage of parts. The new three and five-door Corsa models make their world premiere in London at the British International Motor Show (July 20 – 30). The new Corsa can be ordered beginning July 18, and will available at dealerships from October 2006.

Characteristics

Design: Friendly, flowing lines and bold athletic contours, strong stance thanks to large wheels and wide tires (starting from 185); increased dimensions (length: 3999 mm, plus 183 mm / width: 1707 mm, plus 61 mm / height: 1494 mm, plus 52 mm) and a more spacious interior; all new “living-in-style” interior design, from blue to exciting red and luxurious piano lacquer surfaces – optional / subject to equipment level; panorama sunroof

Chassis/Engines: Newly-developed agile chassis; ESP with braking at all four wheels if required; ABS with Cornering Brake Control (CBC); three gasoline and two common-rail turbo-diesel engines with 1.0 to 1.4-liter displacement, output from 60 to 90 hp; new 125 hp, 1.7 CDTI with diesel particulate filter as standard available soon; five or six-speed manual transmission; Easytronic or automatic transmission available

Innovations: Clever ideas for leisure time activities such as the world exclusive flexible integrated carrier system “FlexFix” (similar to the clever feature in Opel’s 2004 Trixx concept car), easy to use, simply pulled out from the rear underbody like a drawer, carries two bicycles and completely retracts into bumper when not in use; “DualFloor”, stable double cargo floor that can be set in two height positions, allows horizontal partitioning of luggage compartment (luggage capacity: 285 – 1100 liters) as well as flat load floor to front seat backs when rear seat back is folded down and load floor is in higher setting; special feature for space-saving stowage of luggage compartment cover; additional details such as electrically-heated steering wheel and halogen Adaptive Forward Lighting

Opinions on Corsa’s innovations

Hans Demant, Opel Managing Director: “‘We set the trend’, that was our motto for the new Corsa. Many believe that progress is only made in big cars, and then filters down to smaller ones. Innovations like the unique ‘FlexFix’ flexible integrated carrier system prove that this can work the other way around too.”

Bryan Nesbitt, Executive Director Design, GM Europe: “For me, dynamics and functionality are not mutually exclusive. Our new five-door Corsa, like its big brother Astra, renders a completely unique design for the three-door versus the five-door. In short, these are tailor-made cars for different types of customers.”

Alain Visser, Executive Director European Opel Marketing: “It is often the small things that make the difference, and make life easier. For instance, in its higher setting the Corsa’s DualFloor makes storing bulky objects in the trunk much simpler than in the load area of a car with a conventional, lower fixed floor.”