Five-door Opel Corsa Sport here

GMSA has launched a more practical five-door model to its Corsa range although it comes with the potency of the detuned OPC motor.

Using a detuned version of the turbocharged 1.6-litre powering the fire-breathing Corsa OPC, this engine generates 110 kW and has a peak torque figure of 210 Nm.

The athletic new Corsa is equipped with exterior fittings to further convey its sporty ambitions.

A front lip spoiler, rear apron lip and tailgate spoiler, side sills and a chrome tailpipe take the exterior appearance up a notch. Inside the cabin with its dramatic red accents, sport seats, a leather steering wheel, chrome-rimmed instruments and aluminium look pedals complete the look.

But this Corsa is certainly not go without the show… The car features a lowered sports suspension, 17-inch light alloys with grippy low profile tyres and its braking system is carried across from Corsa OPC. Other safety systems include ABS with brake assist and ESP.

The performance figures are appealing, too, with Corsa Sport being good for a 0 - 100 km/h sprint

time of 8.1 seconds and a top end of 210 km/h. Fuel consumption, as quoted by GMSA, is 7.9 l/100 km on the urban cycle.

Comfort has been considered too, and Corsa Sport's occupants enjoy the use of an audio system that is MP3 compatible and has seven speakers and an auxiliary input, air conditioning, remote central locking. The steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach.

Safety features include satellite audio controls on the steering wheel and front and side airbags.

The Opel Corsa Sport costs R219 990.

As an aside, the 1.3 CDTI has been dropped from the local Corsa range. GMSA product communications manager Tim Hendon cited the prohibitive costs of importing and selling the little diesel and its low volume compared with other models in the range as the key reasons for this decision.