Opel’s electric hot-hatch faces charging realities on near-1,000-mile trip
Stellantis brand Opel trumpeted the abilities of its hot-hatch Corsa GSE, as it took the electric car on a long road trip, nearly 1,000 miles, from Spain to the Paris Motor Show. However Opel’s account of the trip ends up being a stark reminder of the limitations of short-range EVs, even in Europe.
The car was driven from its production plant in Zaragoza, Spain, to the French capital in three days with two overnight stops — a trip an internal combustion engine vehicle can complete in under 11 hours, as the Stellantis Oct. 14 release reports.
Its test route took in the challenging mountain roads of the Pyrenees that mark the border between the two countries, rising up through the seaside resort of Biarritz, then Bordeaux and, eventually, the crowded streets of Paris.
When WardsAuto requested more details about the trip’s charging logistics, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the test vehicle required nine recharging stops, including an overnight session at the team’s hotel, to complete the 1,555 km (966-mile) journey.
“It was always meant to be a nice travel story linked to the ongoing Paris Motor Show, and not one to test any aspects of the car in detail,” the spokesperson said in an email.
The model claims a power output of 281 hp with 254 ft-lb of torque, with front-wheel drive and a claimed 0-to-62 mph sprint time of just 5.5 seconds, the fastest of any of the brand’s current models.
The Corsa GSE also gets a lowered sport suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.
The Opel Corsa GSE’s official range rating with its standard performance tires is 220 miles. That’s according to the WLTP standard, which can produce a number 20% or more higher than the EPA cycle. Factor in 20%-80% fast-charging stops at as little as 27 minutes each, according to Opel, and even in Europe this becomes a lesson on how for long trips with EVs — even speedy hot-hatches — still require some extra patience and planning.