An ad, featuring a 5-star rating which they gave to themselves. Obviously.
Corsica C900
from 1992-1998
After the 1981 launch of Corsica, the C900 full-size sedan started development in 1983. The name comes from a naming scheme which would have been used on every Corsica passenger car. This scheme however stuck around for just two models; the C900 and later the C700.
Kenneth Carmichael and his team were given the task of designing this model and the final version was frozen in 1988. A sleek and low design was chosen as the main design theme, and that stuck with it until production. The front of the C900 features the main grille inside the bumper, aiding aerodynamics and making the vehicle look more futuristic.
As a successor to the old Oakwood, the engineers and designers made sure to make this model highly more advance. Underneath the bodyshell lies a monocoque chassis, with MacPherson strut suspension in the front and Multilink at the rear. Unlike the Oakwood, just 5 seats can be found inside, a choice that was inspired by German and Japanese full-size sedans.
A fatal flaw with C900 owners has always been the rust. Due to the Sisten Motoring Corporation cheapening out, the body and chassis are made of cheap metal with just a slight hint of rustproofing.
Three trim levels were available through its lifetime: The V8, the Exclusive and the Classic.
Standard equipment on the V8 was a sunroof, a premium looking cassette deck as well as a 4- speed TranShift automatic gearbox and front foglights.
The Exclusive trim made the option of having a wood finish on the dashboard standard. By 1994, an aluminium finish was also available to choose. Other standard features include power adjusted mirrors and an automatic interior boot release. The gearbox and engine remained the same.
The high-end trim, the Classic, came standard in a black color, though other colors were on offer. The three panel design in the front between the headlights was now painted chrome and on the sides, each wheel had whitewalls. The whitewalls were removed for the 1997 model year. Inside, the cassette deck was now even more high-tech and soon, a CD player came standard alongside the cassette player. Each seat was made of either velour or leather, buyer’s choice.
Each version came with the same engine and transmission. For the engine, it was the same modified version of the GTA2 engine also used in the Altair. Outputting 252 horsepower and 376 Nm of torque, 0-100 km/h was achieved in 7.3 seconds. The transmission was a 4-speed TranShift unit mentioned above. Nothing special about it really. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the C900 still stuck to a rear-wheel drive platform.
Sales of the C900 were considered a success, being the second best selling vehicle in their fleet by 1994. It met its end in 1998 however, when the smaller, mid-size C700 took its place.
SPECIFICATIONS
Summary
Corsica C900 | V8, Exclusive & Classic |
---|---|
Engine | |
Engine Type | GTA2 |
Horsepower | 252 |
Torque | 376 |
Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
Performance | |
Top Speed | 235km/h |
0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds |
80-120 km/h | 4.6 seconds |
Fuel Economy | 15.2 MPG |
Car | |
Weight | 1518kg |
Price (Adjusted) | from $38,120 (V8) |
1992 would be the first year where in Corsica would launch 2 new models. After the C900, the Yosemite SUV followed with its announcement just a few months later.