The automotive world has witnessed 35 Vision Gran Turismo concepts since their inception in GT6 in 2013, predominantly showcasing audacious designs. However, the emergence of a Vauxhall Vision GT, especially one bearing the Corsa badge, was largely unexpected, yet it has arrived as a magnificently deranged creation.

This Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is an all-electric powerhouse, propelled by two electric motors that collectively produce a staggering 800bhp and 590lb ft of torque. All-wheel drive contributes to its frankly barmy acceleration, allowing it to sprint from 0-62mph in a mere two seconds, reaching a top speed of 199mph. While it is set to debut in Gran Turismo 7 this autumn, this concept is more than just high-end conceptual lunacy confined to the video game realm. The "GSE" in its name signifies a broader intent, as Vauxhall actively redefines its performance sub-brand for the electric era.

Despite its comically steroidal appearance, the concept is underpinned by the group’s new STLA global BEV platform, offering subtle hints at the design language for the next Corsa production car. This next-generation Corsa, expected in 2027, will offer both petrol hybrid and pure electric powertrains, with only the EV variant receiving the sporty GSE designation. The wild yellow and black 'racy stuff' on this life-sized concept has been specifically dialled up for the game, while the white sections, excluding the exaggerated wheel arches and the slim visor-like light signature, are indicative of the future production model.

The design of the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo masterfully channels Eighties Group B WRC vibes alongside the obligatory Gran Turismo techno slam. It plays brilliantly fast and loose with Vauxhall’s (and Opel’s) ‘bold and pure’ design philosophy, resulting in a product of both fun and hard-won sharpness. Its exterior features interlocking forms, with audacious yellow sections scything through pearl white areas. The front is an ingenious shovel-nosed reimagining that capitalizes on the absence of an engine, with batteries cleverly placed under the floor. The visor nose treatment, a long-standing Vauxhall feature, reaches a new peak here. An illuminated Griffin emblem sits at the centre of a fresh design signature, the ‘Compass’, which emanates outwards, providing the car’s visual backbone. This 'Compass' motif is echoed at the rear, expressed in the Vauxhall badge and the brake light, though it might be overshadowed by the giant yellow diffuser and active rear spoiler designed to capture attention.

The car's aerodynamics are highly advanced, with the active spoiler adjusting downforce and doubling as an airbrake, capable of extending 25cm to increase downforce on long straights and flipping up for braking. A profusion of triangular elements is evident throughout the design, including the striking wheel design that echoes the alloys found on the Eighties Nova SRi. These aero wheels are 21 inches upfront and 22 inches at the rear, finished in black and yellow for the front, and white over yellow for the rear, though they are not fully faired-in to preserve brake performance. Other callbacks to the original Nova/Corsa include blistered arches, which are designed to manage turbulent airflow and are crafted from a more sustainable flax-based composite material supplied by Bcomp, offering 40 per cent greater sustainability than carbon fibre.

Inside, the car is unapologetically racy and powerful. Occupants climb over fat sills into a seat with its upper part fixed to the roll cage. The driver peers through an oblong steering wheel at a head-up display. The interior is deliberately minimal, with adjustable pedals compensating for the fixed seat position. Other crucial information is projected onto the illuminated fabrics covering the dashboard and door inserts, a technique its creators call ‘painting with light’. Visible structural elements and exposed screw heads further reinforce the raw, technical aesthetic, mirroring the exterior’s approach. The yoke-like steering wheel also features a red ‘rocket’ boost button, providing an additional 80bhp for up to four seconds, with four illuminated squares on the wheel indicating its charge status, which can be recharged in four 20-second segments via regen.

Regarding its technical specifications, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo houses an 82kWh battery and maintains an overall weight of just 1,170kg. Design chief Mark Adams explained the creative process, noting, "We threw it open to the design team, really encouraged them to express themselves," about a year prior to its reveal. The initial concepts were narrowed down to five or six, which were then rapidly built into CAD models. Adams further stated that this project "isn’t just about the next Corsa; we’re hinting at other things in the future portfolio. We’ll bring some of the surfacing you can see on this car and the graphic elements into future models." This Vision Gran Turismo concept serves as a strategic way to connect with a younger, gaming-centric audience, particularly in key markets like the UK and Germany, while signaling Vauxhall's commitment to "hard-edge performance" for its GSE sub-brand, moving beyond the current GSE cars which are described as "nice but not hard-edge performance." An 800bhp, 199mph electric Corsa will certainly do for now.