1992 would be a hugely successful year for the now 10+ year old Corsica. Earlier in the year, the C900 sedan went into production and became a decent sales success for them. However, the next model from 1992 would become the best-selling car for Corsica starting from 1995 and staying at that position for nearly every year to follow.
Development of a new, light-truck platform started development in 1985 and would be finished by the 1992 announcement.
Corsica Yosemite I
from 1992-2000
Extended production from 2001-2012
Introduced in 1992 for the following model year, the 1st generation Yosemite was a big leap for Corsica. With it being an SUV, the supposed “sporty” image of the brand was on the edge of fading out - despite that, it was still a momentous sales success for them. Being one of the first modern American SUV’s to go on sale, it gained an advantage in front of a lot of the competitors who had yet to put out a big Utility Vehicle such as this one.
The Yosemite I, along its stablemates from Sisten and Taluvec, rode on the DE65 platform. Improvements included better off-road readiness and a more compact design. This platform, a successor to the older DA65, was once again a success for the Sisten Motoring Corporation. Among the three versions, the Sisten became the leading seller with the Corsica following closely behind in 2nd and the more niche and upmarket Taluvec model following in 3rd. These three models helped Sisten get out of some of the financial worries it had gathered up during the 70’s and 80’s, but this wouldn’t last for long.
The three models were manufactured at the Sisten plant in East Detroit, alongside the second generation Cheetah and the Sisten Sunburst. Production lasted there until 2000 when the next generation models were introduced. However, the production equipment was carried into a plant in Mexico where the original Yosemite continued production until 2012 under the name “Corsica Yosemite Classic”.
A total of 1,596,388 first generation Yosemite’s were produced in the US, not counting the later Classic versions.
For the duration of its lifetime, 4 trims were available from launch with a 5th one added in 1995. Two engines were offered and just one transmission option covered every engine.
The base model was the El Capitan, offered with just the CET7 2.8 liter V6. Making 170 horsepower, the 0-60 time was 10.5 seconds. Standard equipment included a PHELPS cassette deck and ABS, Traction Control became an option for the '94 model year.
One step up was the Mojave trim. Essentially the El Capitan trim with a 4.5 V8, most of the equipment stayed the same. A two-tone paintjob also now became standard and the suspension was stiffened up slightly.
The Mojave Deluxe trim came standard with traction control alongside some other standard features. Essentially being the mid-line version, the Mojave Deluxe was consistently the best selling version of the Yosemite.
The highest end version was the High Pass. Still using the same V8 engine and 4-speed automatic gearbox, equipment additions included a better and more expensive PHELPS cassette deck with 7 speakers. The wheels were now alloys and not steelies. Additionally, the brake sizes were also increased to keep up with the weight.
In 1995, the R A D (terms may apply) Yosemite Surf was introduced. A base Mojave was colored in beautiful 90’s teal blue and livery was added to the rear and sides. A roofbox was added and that’s about it, really. The Surf was in production from 1995 to 1999.
When the production of the DE65 platform ended in 2000, the tooling was sent from Detroit to the Sisten factory in Ramos Arizpe. Some design elements were changed before the model went into production, such as a new front grille and the addition of an outboard spare wheel with an integrated license plate. In 2001, the factory started making and selling these Yosemites under the Yosemite Classic name in parts of South America.
The engine was modified slightly to meet emissions regulations, this would be the last car to use the GV 4.5 liter V8. The Classic was made until 2012 when it was discontinued.
SPECIFICATIONS
Summary
| Corsica Yosemite DE65 | ‘El Capitan’ V6 | ‘Mojave/M. Deluxe/High Pass’ V8 | Sth. American ‘Classic’ V8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | |||
| Engine Type | CET7 | GV COR04 | GV COR045 |
| Horsepower | 270 | 244 | 254 |
| Torque | 240 | 343 | 359 |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive | – | – |
| Performance | |||
| Top Speed | 187km/h | 211km/h | 214km/h |
| 0-100 km/h | 10.5 seconds | 7.9 seconds | 8.1 seconds |
| 80-120 km/h | 7.9 seconds | 5.8 seconds | 5.9 seconds |
| Fuel Economy | 19.7 MPG | 11.4 MPG | 11.6 MPG |
| Car | |||
| Weight | 1557kg | 1640kg | 1759kg |
| Price (Adjusted) | $27,400 | from $29,000 | $22,350 |
