Vauxhall’s Corsa EcoFLEX just got even greener with a new fuel economy rating of 85.6 mpg and emissions as low as 88g/km-an improvement of 2.4 mpg and 6g/km over the old model.
Even the five door model achieves 83.1 mpg and emits just 89g/km CO2-breaking new ground for the UK-based brand and bringing it hot on the heels of the competition and even beating the current Skoda Fabia with its lowest emission rating of 89g/km CO2 but behind the Kia Rio with its emission rating of 85g/km.
A number of enhancements have been made to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in the latest version of the Corsa. This includes the turbodiesel drivetrain which has been fitted with a a variable displacement oil pump that delivers only the necessary oil pressure. It varies oil volume depending on the load in order to reduce the energy needed for oil circulation. The use of special low-viscosity transmission oil also contributes to efficient fuel consumption. These measures are rounded off by an adjustment of engine mapping in the engine control module.
From this November, the Corsa will also feature a new generation of Opel/Vauxhall engineered manual transmissions with a more precise and smooth gear change action. The base transmission was comprehensively re-worked with new gears and modified parts, including the shift rods and fork shaft. The end result is high shift comfort and optimised operation in cold and warm conditions. New 185/65 R15 low-rolling-resistance tyres also add to the Corsa’s eco-friendliness.
“In just five years, from the first Corsa ecoFLEX to today, we have been able to reduce consumption and CO2 emissions by 26 per cent, while at the same time increasing performance by over 26 per cent,” said Mike Ableson, Vice President Engineering at Opel/Vauxhall. “Our customers appreciate this, as does the environment.”
But all this extra economy doesn’t come at the expense of performance, Vauxhall asserts. The new Corsa ecoFLEX achieves maximum torque of 190Nm, available between 1,750 and 3,250rpm. The 95PS turbodiesel engine allows the Corsa to accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds and takes it to a maximum speed of 109mph.
Like all Vauxhalls, the Corsa ecoFLEX is finished off with Vauxhall’s Lifetime Warranty which which provides first owners with comprehensive cover for the life of their car, or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Faye has been writing about cars and environmental issues since 2007. A suspected eco-warrior working on the corporate inside, Faye mainly likes the weird, quirky vehicles that show a distinct environmental advantage. Her ideal car has enough room to fit a bale of hay in the boot. When not working, she likes nothing better than to head out on her bicycle and explore the countryside.
Faye Sunderland
October 16, 2012
Filed under: Vauxhall
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