Vauxhall is doubling down. The brand wants to expand its GSE hot car range. But there’s a catch. They’re not just throwing stickers on plastic bodies.
They’re tuning cars specifically for UK roads.
Marc Fetzer, Vauxhall and Opel’s VP of current products, didn’t mince words to Auto Express. The engineers are already here. The test cars are coming over. Almost immediately. The goal is simple: refine the ride. Fix the suspension. Make it feel right at home, not just in Germany.
It’s a smart move. Vauxhall holds a unique spot in the Stellantis empire.
Look around. Peugeot? They only have the upcoming 208 GTi. Alfa Romeo is betting everything on the Junior Veloce (which you can lease for £349/month, by the way). But Vauxhall? They’ve got two.
The Corsa and the Mokka.
Two cars. One powertrain. Two very different souls. Fetzer calls it “the beauty” of the setup. The hatch is extreme. Sporty. Sharp. The Mokka? More comfortable. Different vehicle. Different customer.
“We have the beauty of two cars… They are different vehicles.”
This isn’t a repeat of the past, though. Remember the VXR days? Vauxhall threw the hot badge at everything. The Meriva. The Zafira. It worked sometimes, but it felt cluttered. Too extreme? Maybe. Fetzer admits they probably went too far back then.
No more of that. GSE won’t permeate every model in the lineup. It’s exclusive by design. But it won’t be just the Corsa and Mokka either. Fetzer wouldn’t spill the beans on what’s next. He calls the Mokka “the beginning.” That’s all.
And don’t expect a power race to 400hp. 280 horses in a small electric car? Fetzer says that’s already near the limit. It’s enough. They’re focused on chassis tuning instead. Hours of work. Real engineering pride. Not just adding spoilers.
Which brings us to the powertrain.
GSE stands for Grand Sport Electric. Logic says everything should be battery-electric. Fetzer doesn’t completely shut the door on hybrids though. Maybe the Astra gets a hybrid GSE treatment? The Grandland? He wouldn’t commit. He wouldn’t promise anything. “Who knows,” he says.
A vague answer, but honest.
So what are we left with? A brand trying to prove that electric can be emotional. That it can be tailored to potholed British B-roads. Not just spec sheets and horsepower figures.
Will it work? Probably.
The question remains though. Can you actually feel the difference when you’re sitting in traffic, staring at the rear of the car ahead, while waiting for a green light? 🚗💨
