A new benchmark for compact performance cars
Vauxhall has introduced the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo, a concept car built for both the road and the virtual track. Scheduled for debut at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, the vehicle will also appear in Gran Turismo 7 later this year. The project connects motorsport design, gaming culture, and electric engineering in one high-profile showcase.
With 800 horsepower, 800Nm torque, and a 0–62 mph time of two seconds, this compact electric car shows what the brand’s GSE performance division intends to achieve in future production models.
Performance engineering: compact size, extreme numbers
The Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo packs its performance into a body close to the size of today’s standard Corsa. Its footprint measures 4.19m long, 1.87m wide, and 1.4m high, with a 2.65m wheelbase. The concept weighs only 1,170kg, thanks to lightweight materials, and uses an 82kWh battery to power dual 476hp motors, one on each axle.
Key performance figures:
- Power output: 800hp (596kW)
- Torque: 800Nm
- Acceleration: 0–62mph in 2.0 seconds
- Top speed: 199mph (320km/h)
- Weight: 1,170kg
- Battery capacity: 82kWh
The all-wheel-drive setup improves stability, while a boost function adds 80hp for four seconds. Recharging that boost requires four 20-second cycles, with progress shown directly on the steering wheel.
Aerodynamics built for speed
To keep the car steady at high speed, Vauxhall engineers applied a package of active aerodynamic solutions.
- Aero bonnet and blade skirts reduce drag.
- Wheelarch extensions smooth airflow around the tires.
- Aerodynamic alloy wheels limit turbulence.
- Active diffuser and spoiler adjust downforce depending on conditions.
The rear spoiler doubles as an airbrake, a feature typically reserved for top-tier race cars. Both front and rear design elements integrate flush turn indicators and triangular details, drawing from Vauxhall’s historic motorsport design language.
Exterior design: racing heritage, modern execution
The Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo takes the familiar Corsa hatchback proportions and reinterprets them with a wider, lower stance. The look combines motorsport cues with sharp technical lines.
Front details include:
- A next-generation Vizor front face.
- An illuminated Griffin emblem integrated into the Vauxhall Compass design theme.
- Lighting bars and three-dimensional glass blocks creating a futuristic signature.
At the rear, edge-lighting technology forms a Compass-shaped taillight. Large VAUXHALL lettering sits across the back glass, reinforcing identity.
Color and material strategy:
- Pearl white body paint.
- Yellow accents on aero parts like the spoiler and diffuser.
- Black lightweight elements made of Bcomp flax material, a sustainable alternative to carbon fiber.
- 21-inch front wheels and 22-inch rear wheels, finished in contrasting black-yellow and white-yellow color schemes.
Interior: stripped down for focus
The interior emphasizes lightweight construction and driving focus. A single head-up display provides essential data, reducing distraction.
Notable features:
- Suspended driver’s seat with six-point harness.
- Illuminated fabrics that signal hazards like blind-spot activity.
- Minimalist steering wheel designed to leave full visibility for key information.
- Integrated roll cage for safety in both racing and simulation contexts.
The lighting-based warning system, described as “painting with light”, first appeared in the 2023 Vauxhall Experimental Concept. In this car, it signals approaching vehicles and enhances driver awareness without extra screens.
Motorsport DNA meets digital racing
The car is both a design study and a virtual racing machine. Players of Gran Turismo 7 will be able to test the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo’s performance starting this autumn on PlayStation 4 and 5.
The crossover between physical prototype and gaming model strengthens Vauxhall’s engagement with younger audiences. It also highlights the brand’s motorsport past while tying it to the future of electric performance cars.
Positioning within Stellantis and GSE strategy
Vauxhall, part of Stellantis, has been expanding its electric lineup rapidly. The company already offers an all-electric version of every model in its portfolio. The GSE sub-brand focuses on performance-oriented models, blending efficiency with output numbers typically reserved for larger vehicles.
The Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo demonstrates:
- What compact electric platforms can achieve with advanced engineering.
- The flexibility of Stellantis’s STLA Small platform.
- How gaming culture can expand brand awareness ahead of production launches.
Pricing outlook and real-world context
While no production version of this concept has been confirmed, pricing context helps frame its role. Comparable electric performance cars, such as the Tesla Model 3 Performance ($54,000 USD) or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($66,000 USD), deliver around half the power of this concept at roughly double the weight.
If a future GSE model borrows from this prototype, costs could exceed $80,000 USD given its engineering and material profile. That would place it above the current compact electric market but below dedicated electric supercars such as the Rimac Nevera ($2.2 million USD).
