Skip advert
Advertisement

New Vauxhall Corsa-e to race in e-Rally Cup

Electric supermini will hit the tarmac in selected rounds of the German Rally Championship

Vauxhall has plans to take its new Corsa-e e-rallying, in the freshly created e-Rally series co-organised with the ADAC, in 2020. Called the ADAC e-Rally Cup, the series replaces the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup collaboration that helped introduce fresh talent to rallying. The new series will run in conjunction with selected rounds of the German Rally Championship in 2020, but form a Super Series, running through until 2021.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Corsa-e Rally car itself shares an identical powertrain to that of the road-going hatchback, featuring a 136bhp synchronous electric motor mounted where the traditional internal combustion engine would normally sit under the front bonnet. The 50kWh battery pack is also carried over, which should help the e-Corsa complete more than a couple of special stages without needing a top-up.

What has changed is the suspension package, with new motorsport-specification springs and dampers. The layout is as per the standard car, with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam rear. Helping meter the electric motor’s 190lb ft of torque is a new Torsen limited-slip differential on the front axle, while a new brake package with four-piston calipers on the front axle will help slow everything down.

Aside from its livery, the Corsa-e looks largely the same as its road-going counterpart, save for a new set of motorsport wheels and tyres.

Beyond rekindling Vauxhall’s correspondence with German rallying, the new Corsa-e rally car does also foreshow what a hot road-going version could look, and feel like. Without any official word of a hot GSi or VXR Corsa, it’s a definite possibility that if there is to be a hot Corsa in future, it will come with a plug.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The Volkswagen ID.GTI could be the hot hatch that changes everything
Volkswagen ID GTI Concept N24
News

The Volkswagen ID.GTI could be the hot hatch that changes everything

The ID.GTI Concept previews a future compact electric hot hatch, and we've taken a look at the 2025 Nürburgring 24 Hours
1 Jul 2025
Kia EV6 GT 2025 review – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N parts make for a genuinely fun EV
Kia EV6 GT
Reviews

Kia EV6 GT 2025 review – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N parts make for a genuinely fun EV

Kia’s EV6 GT has gained some Ioniq 5 N-esque toys and the results are compelling
19 Jun 2025
Skoda Elroq vRS 2025 review – a sheep in sheep’s clothing
Skoda Elroq vRS – front
Reviews

Skoda Elroq vRS 2025 review – a sheep in sheep’s clothing

The swiftest-accelerating Skoda yet is an excellent electric family car but lacks excitement to back up its vRS badge
16 Jun 2025
The Alpine A390 is France’s answer to the Porsche Macan
Alpine A390
News

The Alpine A390 is France’s answer to the Porsche Macan

A battery-powered Porsche Macan rival with an emphasis on driving dynamics is the second model in Alpine’s EV offensive, and its made its debut at Le …
13 Jun 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025
New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement
Ferrari Amalfi front
News

New 2026 Ferrari Amalfi revealed – physical buttons return in the 631bhp Roma replacement

The Ferrari Amalfi picks up where the Roma left off, as a more capable, debugged super GT that’s finally brought back buttons
1 Jul 2025