New Vauxhall Corsa-e apes retro style of 80s Nova SR - Select Car Leasing
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New Vauxhall Corsa-e apes retro style of 80s Nova SR

Vauxhall has revealed a special new electric Corsa-e designed to mirror the iconic Nova SR hot-hatch from the 1980s.


The Corsa-e Anniversary Edition comes with all the mod cons you’d expect from a new car, including a 222-mile range from its 50kWh battery and 100kW rapid charging capabilities. Not sure what that translates to? Take a look at our guide to find what kW and kWh really means.

Yet it also pays homage to the old Nova SR - now a collector’s item - by featuring the iconic Tartan bucket seats from yesteryear as well as two-tone black and red styling.


(Original Nova SR, above, credit Kieran White)

The Nova SR famously wore a distinct black lower half, complete with more aggressive bumpers on the front and rear.

Here the Corsa-e Anniversary Edition flips things on its head by wearing its black paint on the roof rather than the down low.

And the new Corsa-e also arrives 40 years after the first Novas started to appear in the UK in 1982.


A Vauxhall spokesperson says: 

“Completing the Anniversary Edition’s transformation is a black dashboard strip and interior number plate highlighting the Nova and Corsa’s 40-year heritage in the UK.
Approximately 500,000 Novas were sold in the UK from 1983 to 1992, before its successor, the Corsa ‘B’, was launched in 1993. Now in its fifth generation, more than two million Corsas have been sold in the UK to date.”

The current Vauxhall Corsa is going great guns, too, having been the best-selling car in 2021 while the Corsa-e was the UK’s best-selling electric supermini in May this year.


The original Nova SR was powered by a 1.3-litre engine with power of 70hp. That’s pretty feeble compared with most modern cars and it took more than 10 seconds to hit 60mph. You might consider it a ‘warm’ hatch than a bona fide hot hatch to compete with the likes of the Peugeot GTi.

The new Corsa-e, on the other hand, wipes the floor with the SR in terms of performance.

You get power of 134 hp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.6 seconds. Like the Nova SR, it’s a fun, nippy car that’ll really appeal to youthful lease customers who appreciate the ‘grin factor’ when the get behind the wheel.


Corsa-e Anniversary Edition is available exclusively with a ‘Record Red’ metallic paint finish, inspired by the ‘Carmine Red’ from the original Nova.

There’s a blacked-out grille, 17-inch black alloys, heated chequered front sports seats and lots of kit as standard - including front and rear parking sensors, a 180-degree panoramic rear-view camera, blind-spot alert, lane keep assist and automatic emergency city braking.

The infotainment system has a 7 inch colour touchscreen and sat nav.

When it comes to the aforementioned 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes to complete.


You can lease a Vauxhall Corsa-e with Select Car Leasing from around £300 per month*

*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 21/06/22.


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Monday, 04/11/2024