As Opel celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Corsa in South Africa, we went behind the scenes to uncover some of the brand’s lesser-known history, and to discover how Opel’s budget minicar has blossomed into a truly South African icon.
Although 2022 was the official anniversary year for Opel, 2023 is the milestone year for one of the brand’s biggest bestsellers in South Africa.
The Opel Corsa (which officially premiered in 1982) was first launched in South Africa in 1993, revolutionising the small car market at the time. Today, in its sixth generation globally, it is more in demand than ever, officially becoming Germany’s most popular small car and the best-selling car in the UK.
A WOMAN’S TOUCH
To fully understand the impact of the Corsa since its debut here, let’s first take a look at the brand’s history after its founder, Adam Opel, passed away in 1895, and how his wife laid the foundations for the company’s success in the 21st century.
After marrying into the Opel family, Sophie Marie Opel soon involved herself in her husband’s business, investing her inheritance in the company, making it possible for the young enterprise to purchase a new steam engine. Her sisters Dorothée and Elise Scheller also invested in Adam Opel works in Rüsselsheim, and she managed the transformation from sewing machine and bicycle production to an automobile factory.
Lovingly referred to as ‘Mother Opel’, Sophie became the biggest shareholder in the company after Adam’s death. She is widely considered the driving force behind Opel’s success in the early 20th century, developing the company into a leading European carmaker with over 1,000 employees before she passed away in October 1913.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Opel’s first successful small car, the Kadett, was launched in 1936. This little 3.8 m-long car was designed to bring mobility to more people at a time when owning a car was considered a luxury. Over the decades, as customers became more discerning as their prosperity increased, the small Kadett expanded in size and power, moving closer to the compact class with each new version and creating a slot below what had become Rüsselsheim’s classic entry-level model.
By 1982, the first-generation Corsa rolled off the production line at the newly built car plant in Zaragoza and was met with almost instant success. Known as the Corsa A, the new car’s success was mainly due to the many top technologies introduced in Opel’s smallest car.
The Corsa A featured close-coupled proportions within its short 3.62-m length. It had bold, flared wheel arches like a rally car and an exceptionally low drag coefficient. The highlight of the range was the 74 kW Corsa GSi, and in 1985, a five-door model was added. The Corsa A became a highly acclaimed top seller with 3.1 million units built.
A SOUTH AFRICAN CLASSIC
By 1993, the first Corsa was replaced with the Corsa B and entered the local market. Despite the original’s success, a decision was made to position its successor as a real “ladies’ darling”. Opel’s design chief at the time, the legendary Hideo Kodama, created a much rounder, softer design with appealing ‘saucer-eye’ headlamps that perfectly matched the car’s cute looks.
The Corsa B was 10 cm longer and more spacious than its predecessor and introduced higher safety standards to its segment, including ABS brakes, side-impact protection, and front airbags. Petrol engines already had fuel-injection technology and catalytic converters, while the GSi featured 16 valves and diesel power was now turbocharged.
Recognising the need for a better-priced entry-level car, Opel introduced a pared-down version of the three-door Corsa, calling it the Corsa Lite. The little city car exuded personality, quickly captured the hearts of South Africans, and offered an affordable, reliable, and efficient alternative to the Volkswagen Citi Golf.
ACT THREE: OPEL CORSA C
Consciously deciding to stick to their winning formula, Opel again commissioned Hideo Kodama to design the Corsa C, who oriented its styling towards its successful predecessor. Again the Corsa grew by 10 cm to a total length of just under 3.84 m and had a wider stance with a longer wheelbase, significantly increasing its interior space.
For the first time, the body was fully galvanised. A sophisticated four-valve ECOTEC petrol, and new direct-injection turbodiesel engines ensured robust power, low fuel consumption, and low emission values. The Corsa C also became a star performer and sold 2.5 million units.
NEW DIRECTION FOR CORSA
With the introduction of the fourth-generation Corsa, three- and five-door versions were given distinct personalities. With its unique, coupé-like styling, the three-door Corsa was aimed at sporty customers, just like the original Corsa A, while the five-door variant became a spacious, fully-fledged family car. Still fewer than 4 m long, the Corsa offered an exciting design with sporty and athletic contours, an all-new chassis, a new high-quality interior with plenty of space, and a ‘feel good’ ambience.
Five distinctive models were available then, with a sixth model – the performance-focused Corsa OPC – joining the line-up in early 2008.
OPEL CORSA E
Dynamic, practical, and stylish, the Corsa E was another sales triumph for the brand from 2014, selling around 1.3 million units.
The small star grew beyond the 4 m mark for the first time, offering improved comfort and leading technologies. A heated steering wheel and heated seats as well as automatic climate control were offered for the first time, as was a front camera, Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keep Assist. Corsa drivers were also treated to the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible IntelliLink infotainment system that included a 7” colour touchscreen. The small car’s sporty top-of-the-line model was, initially, the 152 kW Corsa OPC and later the Corsa GSi with 110 kW.
READY FOR THE FUTURE
With Corsa number six unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, Opel showed that it is ready for the future with a car packed with new-generation technologies. It is also available, for the first time, with a full-electric version for European markets.
Highlights of the new Corsa – which arrived in South Africa in 2021 – include adaptive glare-free Intelli-Lux LED Matrix lights and numerous state-of-the-art assistance systems such as Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking and pedestrian detection, as well as radar-based Adaptive Speed Control. With a length of 4.06 m, the five-seater Corsa’s handling, clear layout, and practicality remain exemplary, while its coupé-like form is 48 mm lower than its predecessor.
LAST WORD IN LITE
Just like the affordable and popular original Corsa Lite won the hearts of South Africans in 1996, the Lite nameplate returns to the sixth generation of Opel Corsa.
The new entry-level Opel may be Lite in name, but it is far from light in specifications, including its use of Opel’s 74 kW 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that it shares with the middleweight Corsa Edition model. Moreover, the Lite’s performance continues to benefit from some of the best aerodynamics and fuel efficiency in its class.
The Lite is also not light on comfort or safety. Riding on 16” alloys, the new Corsa range-starter is impressively equipped with front electric windows, air conditioning, Eco LED headlamps, and safety features such as tyre pressure monitoring and Active Lane Keep Assist. Drivers will also enjoy the 7” touchscreen radio and the latest in connectivity from the IntelliLink Infotainment system.
For those who cherish nostalgic moments with the classic Corsa Lite, the revival of this legendary model serves as a heart-warming tribute to a bygone era, where life revolved around relishing the journey. With its stylish aesthetics and up-to-the-minute capabilities, the latest Corsa Lite is poised to leave a lasting impression on an entirely fresh cohort of drivers.
Report by Nicky Furniss | Images © OPEL AG / OPEL SOUTH AFRICA / WIKIPEDIA
