It’s obvious that the Brazilians who designed the new Opel Corsa bakkie intended it to be taken seriously. The Opel’s payload is nearer three-quarters than half a tonne, with the diesel variants being rated to carry 790 kg and the petrol versions 680 kg. The Corsa boasts the healthiest ground-clearance — 214 mm compared with the 194 mm of the Ford Bantam and the 145mm of the old Corsa. And it’s also the longest and widest in the sub-one-tonne class. It has the biggest cab and its bin — at 520mm — is the deepest around, giving it a 1,19 cubic-metre capacity.
The Corsa line-up now consists of 1,4 litre petrol and 1,7 litre turbodiesel models, both being available in Base or Sport specification levels. All come with power steering, 14″ wheels, immobilisers, height adjustable driver’s seats, rev counters, remotely operated external rear view mirrors, and driver and passenger headrests. Additionally, the Sport model offers air conditioning, remote central locking, a radio/CD player, colour-coded wheel-arch mouldings, mirror housings and bumpers, alloy rims, sports seats, front fog lamps, a high-mounted brake light, a roof spoiler, a rear sliding window and a sunglasses case. General Motors says market research shows that South Africans aren’t too bothered about things like airbags and ABS brakes, so they’re not an option in any of the models.
The 1,4 litre engine in the petrol bakkie is only marginally more powerful than that of the earlier model, with 66 kW of power and torque of 115 Nm. Still, that’s no handicap as the earlier Corsa was a lively performer that was also economical. The big news, though, in terms of power plants, is that the diesel Corsa now utilises an intercooled turbodiesel instead of the lacklustre naturally aspirated 1,7 litre oil-burner that (dis)graced the previous model. The force-fed unit offers 55 kW and 165 Nm instead of the 42 kW and 105 Nm previously available —increases of 31% and 40% respectively — and performance with this engine is most satisfactory.
Prices begin at R78Â 240 for the 1,4 litre base model, with the 1,4i Sport being priced at R107Â 270. The base model turbodiesel Corsa bakkie sells for R108Â 860, while the 1,7 DTi Sport goes for R132Â 000. According to General Motors a 1,8 litre petrol engine will become available in the second quarter of next year.