It has always been one of Europe's best-sellers - now here are the first pictures of the model Opel hopes will be as popular as its new Astra.
Despite the maker's attempts to disguise it as a Fiat by mimicking taillights from a Punto and a drawn-in window line, the shape of the newcomer is obvious. The new Corsa gets the Opel family look - a more angular bonnet and larger headlights.
At the rear, the tall roofline and more vertical tailgate suggest that interior space is high on the development team's list of priorities.
Our spy shots show a three-door model, which will have a sleeker, sportier look than the five-door.
As with the Astra, the rear bodywork of both versions will vary significantly, in a bid to make them appeal to different types of customer.
The five-door car is expected to have a longer wheelbase, which will also go on to underpin the next-generation Meriva, scheduled to arrive in 2008.
The new Corsa, expected to make its debut at next year's Geneva Motor Show, will hit forecourts in around 18 months. It will share many of its mechanical components with the new Fiat Punto, which will be built on the same platform when it begins production at the end of this year.
Other shared parts are likely to include the suspension systems, steering and braking components, as well as the much lauded 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine, which already appears in the current generations of both cars.
Opel's petrol units will differ from Fiat's, though, starting with an updated version of the 1-litre three-cylinder engine in today's entry-level Corsas. Other options will include the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre Twinport units, along with an updated version of the 1.7 CDTI diesel from the Astra.
Opel also hopes to make the Corsa one of the safest superminis in its class, with airbags all-round, electronic brakeforce distribution and other driver aids. These improvements will come at a cost, however, as the newcomer is expected to be slightly more expensive than the model it replaces.