Vauxhall has told EV Powered that “it would be foolish” not to look into reintroducing its Calibra and Zafira as part of its all-electric, GSE performance sub-brand.
Speaking at the launch of its all-new Corsa GSE and Mokka GSE, Vauxhall UK‘s marketing director, Phil Douglass, explained that the Stellantis-owned brand aims to strengthen the relationship that it has had with the British public since launching its first car – a 5bhp, single-cylinder vehicle- in 1903.
“Around 74% of our retail customers are returnees, which is absolutely best in class – it’s unbelievable,” Douglass said. “But we need to bring fresh customers, and putting this GSE sub-brand at the top of things is really, really a key part of that. Still, a lot of people spent their childhoods in their granny’s car, or their dad’s car, which was a Vauxhall, and that’s such a powerful brand entity that I need to keep.”
While its early days were dominated by hatchba, the EV landscape has since opened up to a variety of body styles, including low-slung electric coupés and MPVs. The most notable here include the Audi e-tron GT, while the affordable electric MPV was made mainstream by the Kia PV5 early last year.
When pressed on introducing an electric Calibra coupé or a Zafira MPV into its future GSE line-up, Douglass added: “I think it would be foolish not to look at the market and use that heritage [we have].”
Should either nameplate come to market, both would almost certainly ride on Stellantis’s new STLA One architecture, which was unveiled in May 2026 and can be used for any B, C, or D-segment vehicle.
Adding strength to Douglass’s suggestion that two of Vauxhall’s most-loved nameplates could be part of any future roster are Stellantis’ claims that STLA One will underpin more than 30 models by 2035. STLA One will debut with the next-generation Peugeot E-208 supermini in 2027.
The STLA One running gear is built around Stellantis’ ‘STLA Brain’ supercomputer, which allows for 800V architecture, ultra-rapid charging times, cell-to-body battery integration, drive-by-wire steering, and fast over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Douglass stressed Vauxhall will endeavour to emphasise its own unique DNA in future models.
“From my perspective, it’s always better to wait a little more to wait and see if you have the right recipe for your dedicated customer base,” Douglass continued. “We waited to ensure the Mokka GSE and the Corsa GSE were done properly, so we have this group of ingenious people who spend a lot of hours fine-tuning the steering wheel set-up, which is something absolutely unique for these vehicles.
It’s the same as the chassis setups and the sound generator on the Corsa. In the Mokka, we developed the seats with Vauxhall/Opel Engineering, because we want you to be able to get into our cars and just drive them, but also enjoy them. As a brand, we had to retain a sense of practicality. ”
“This all took quite a while with a lot of discussions, but the product[s] we have now are what we really want you to experience, and you are very happy with what we’ve done.”
Stellantis has not confirmed its plans for Vauxhall. Yet alongside the STLA One-based Peugeot E-208, it has confirmed that an Alfa Romeo C-segment hatchback, likely to be dubbed the Giulietta, will ride on the same running gear is likely to make its debut by the end of the 2020s. If Vauxhall continues to impress with its GSE sub-brand, don’t bet against either the Calibra, the Zafira, or even an Astra GSE making it to light.
The Calibra was produced from 1989 to 1997, and gained a cult following for its engine line-up spanning from a 1.8-litre 16-valve unit to a 2.5 L V6. With a drag coefficient of 0.26cD, it was the world’s most aerodynamically efficient production car until be usurped by the Honda Insight in 1999.
Built from 2001 to 2005, the Vauxhall Zafira GSi, Vauxhall’s seven-seater MPV, gained a similar following. With 189bhp and a top speed of 144mph without mapping, it was the fastest seven-seater on sale in Europe during the course of its life. When it was renewed in 2005, it was replaced by the similar performance-focused Zafira VXR.
