£500 — that's the entire gap between the new Vauxhall Corsa GSE and its technical twin, the Peugeot E-208 GTi. £34,495 is the official starting price for the most powerful Corsa ever built, on sale in the UK. Peugeot's version packs the exact same numbers — 281hp, 345Nm, 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds — yet costs £34,995. As for the £32,995 figure, don't celebrate just yet: that's a hope, not a confirmed price.
The reason is Britain's Electric Car Grant. The standard Vauxhall Corsa Electric qualifies for Band 2, worth up to £1,500 off. But the scheme's rules are stricter than they look: a new variant of an already-approved model doesn't automatically inherit the grant — it needs its own separate approval. So £32,995 is what Vauxhall is banking on, not what's already in a buyer's pocket.
Mechanically, the Corsa GSE really is close to a clone of the E-208 GTi. The front electric motor produces 207kW (281hp) and 345Nm, drawing from a 54kWh battery with 51kWh usable. Kerb weight is 1,554kg, top speed around 112mph. Where it splits from the standard Corsa: a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential, a retuned, lowered chassis, four-piston Alcon brakes and 215/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. This isn't an electric hatchback for the sake of it — it's a car built to bite through corners.
Range is where Vauxhall goes quiet. And the gap to Peugeot is noticeable: the E-208 GTi is officially rated at up to 375km WLTP on Hankook tyres, and around 352km on the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Peugeot is also already taking UK orders, and with its grant confirmed, costs £33,495. If the Corsa GSE does land the same £1,500 discount, Vauxhall keeps its £500 edge. If not, that price gap could flip on its head.
For now, Vauxhall's official site only lets you register for updates ahead of a launch later in 2026. Orders are expected to open in September, with first deliveries following in winter. In continental Europe, the same car will be sold under the Opel badge.
