Vauxhall engineers have used the long polar winters in Swedish Lapland for intensive testing on frozen lakes and on snow-covered roads in the vicinity of their testing grounds. Pre-production cars have been lapping the tracks at the test centre to refine the handling and have also undergone electrical tests in the laboratory, within the Arctic Circle.
Intended to fulfil customer expectations, the most dynamic Corsa ever is said to deliver a typical Vauxhall balance between sportiness and comfort. Thanks to its lighter-weight engineering, the all-new Corsa’s bulk has been reduced by more than 10%, when compared with the outgoing version. The Corsa will also be offered, for the first time, as a battery electric vehicle, when the range goes on sale later this year.
Vauxhall’s engineers have been testing the next-generation Corsa for the past few months in Swedish cold weather. Experts from the chassis control department have been using the harsh extremes of the environment to put the car through intense chassis tuning programmes to improve handling and overall comfort levels, as well as refining electronic stability, traction control and anti-lock braking systems on slippery surfaces. They have been working in temperatures as low as minus-30 degrees Celsius. All control functions of the new Corsa must function reliably regardless of climatic, or geographical demands.
The new car offers higher levels of safety, comfort and driving dynamics, under the guidance of the test engineers, all of whom strike a balance between the ‘fun-to-drive’ qualities expected of the Vauxhall brand, with the limits and functionality set by the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system. Optimisation is the end result and testing with camouflaged cars (as you see in the photographs) commenced in Swedish Lapland last November. From January to March, the ice on the frozen lakes was around one metre thick, so that the test cars, snow-ploughs and water sprinklers could drive on them.
During the long polar nights, the engineers benefitted from Vauxhall’s lighting technology, just as customers will, with the road-ready car. The adaptive IntelliLux LED matrix headlights are available for the first time on the new Corsa. The glare-free matrix pattern adapts automatically and continuously to prevailing traffic conditions and surroundings. Approaching traffic and preceding vehicles are simply ‘cut out’ of the illuminated area ‘magically’. Glare is minimised and drivers enjoy optimised visibility for the first time in the small-car market segment.
The all-new Corsa has also undergone around-the-clock laboratory testing to check for electrical compatibility, as it is packed with highly advanced electronic equipment, which includes the aforementioned ESP system and a brand-new infotainment hub. Of course, testing is also carried out on both roads and the test track within the vicinity of the Russelsheim (Rhineland-Pfalz) factory, with hot weather testing taking place in Spain, North Africa and other locations worldwide.
