Review – Opel Corsa Rally Electric, how much fun is an electric rally car?
Opel Corsa Electric Rally in the rain
Rallying secretly has a large fan base. Logical too, as it is a particularly fun form of motorsport. Accessible, approachable and always entertaining. When it rains, conditions are completely spartan. You can already feel it coming… During our ride in the electric Opel Corsa Electric Rally, the rain came down relentlessly from the sky, resulting in a nice amount of blubber and slippery asphalt. Top!
Integrated sound module
But what makes a rally car so much fun? Blowing off the turbo? The thickly flared wheel arches? The looks of the cars? It is probably a combination of factors. But such a Vauxhall Corsa Electric Rally doesn’t really make noise. Well, there’s a button in the interior to give the audience some “sound” via the Integrated sound module, but beating a rumbling Subaru boxer or high-revving Lancer Evo four-pit can’t beat an EV powertrain. Yet such an electric rally car is more fun than you think.
The price
The Opel Corsa Electric Rally is based on the Opel Corsa Electric and features a 100 kW (136 hp) and 260 Nm electric motor. The Corsa Electric Rally is equipped with the same 50 kWh lithium-ion battery as the Corsa Electric production car. Of course, the car fully complies with FIA regulations thanks to an integrated roll cage, fire extinguisher and safety harnesses. The purchase price for an Opel Corsa Electric Rally is 53,900 euros excluding VAT. So the current Opel Corsa Rally Electric is relatively quite affordable. Per kilometer you pay about 7.50 euros, versus 15 euros for an internal combustion engine rally car.
Performance and range Opel Corsa Electric Rally
Naturally, you’re curious about more specifications. The top speed of the 1,700-kilogram car is 150 km/h and the 0-100 time comes out to about 7.5 seconds. In “competition” mode, the car can drive about 60 kilometers on a full charge of electricity. But those who act smart will immediately switch to Eco mode after a hell of a drive, because then the car has a range of 337 kilometers. In theory, then, it is possible to ride out a rally on a load of electricity.
Charging via Charging Grid container system
Otherwise, Opel’s charging network will provide the power needed to still finish a rally. In fact, fast charging can be done with 100 kW via a CCS plug and DC system. That charging is done via a Charging Grid. You may think of this as a container system with inverter and eighteen charging points. This facility uses the normal power grid, so no diesel generators. It had to be sustainable, of course. Car batteries are always kept at a favorable temperature for performance and fast charging.
Special battery protection
The 50 kWh lithium-ion battery has specific battery protection on the bottom of the car in the form of an aluminum plate 6 mm thick. The car further has energy recovery on board. So driving smart also means recovering energy that you can use again in “the heat of the moment.
Specific features
Uniquely, Opel Motorsport has never had a problem with the battery or electric motor since the beginning of the branded cup. This is largely because it is simply the same technology used in the street version. So the technique is pretty fool proof. To efficiently transfer all the power to the surface, the Opel Corsa Electric Rally features an automatic limited slip differential and a dedicated driveshaft. Things like ESP, traction control and ABS are completely disabling. Bilstein suspension completes the party. Of course, such a rally car must also meet specific safety requirements. For example, the high-voltage system is switchable both inside and out so that emergency responders can work safely when needed. Fortunately, that has never been necessary.
Valuable knowledge
Opel is using all the knowledge gained in this electric brand cup back in production models. In fact, the rally events are valuable test miles for Opel. Because every meter is driven at the limit and rally drivers put the powertrain to the test. The FIA WRC is also watching, as an EV Rally 5 FIA class is in development. In that sense, the Corsa Electric Rally Cup is something of a blueprint for that new rally class. We are curious! Want to know how such an electric rally car drives? Then be sure to check out the video below! A taste: it feels very pure and is more fun than you think!