Vauxhall has confirmed it will launch the new Corsa GSE, a fully electric, high-performance version of Britain’s best-selling small car. It’s set to sit at the top of the Corsa range and will be available to order later this year.
The idea is simple. Keep everything people like about the Corsa day to day, then add a proper dose of GSE punch and sharper driving feel, with motorsport know-how behind it.
What is the Corsa GSE?
GSE stands for Grand Sport Electric. Vauxhall first used the badge on plug-in hybrid versions of the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and Grandland, before switching the performance focus fully electric with the Mokka GSE.
Now the same approach is coming to the Corsa.
Vauxhall says the Corsa GSE will be based on the current production model, but will take inspiration from the engineering behind the Mokka GSE Rally. That matters because it points to more than just a styling pack. Think tuned suspension, stronger braking performance, and a more focused set-up aimed at drivers who want a bit more excitement without giving up practicality.
A hot hatch nameplate with history
If you’ve ever had a soft spot for Vauxhall’s pocket rockets, this is one worth watching.
The Corsa has form here, with past favourites like the Corsa GSi and the Corsa VXR. Vauxhall even highlights the early 1990s Corsa GSi as the car that helped the model earn its “pocket rocket” reputation, turning everyday small-car running into something a bit more fun.
The new Corsa GSE is positioned as the modern, electric continuation of that hot hatch line.
Motorsport influence you can actually use
Vauxhall is leaning hard into the motorsport link, and not just for marketing.
The brand has been involved with the ADAC GSE Rally Cup, described as the world’s first electric one-make European rally championship, which has been running since 2021. Vauxhall will also return to motorsport for the 2026 season, entering the all-electric Mokka GSE Rally with British driver Ioan Lloyd.
For road cars, rally programmes often feed into how a car handles repeated hard use, how it puts power down, and how it stays composed over rougher surfaces. If the Corsa GSE borrows even a slice of that thinking, it should mean a more confidence-inspiring drive than a standard model.
When can you order one?
Vauxhall says the Corsa GSE will be available to order later this year, with more details to follow. Specs, performance figures, pricing and trim details are still to be confirmed.
As soon as those are announced, we’ll have a clearer picture of where it sits against other small electric performance cars, and what it offers for day-to-day value.
Looking for a Vauxhall Corsa car lease deal now?
If you like the idea of a Corsa but don’t want to wait for the GSE to land, you can still get behind the wheel sooner.
