Opel unveiled the second generation of the Corsa in 1993 and offered it on the European market with a choice of three- and five-doors bodyworks.
The first Corsa’s generation was sold in the U.K. as Vauxhall Nova, but GM used the same nameplate for both sides of the English Channel with the second generation. It other countries around the world under Vauxhall, Holden, or Chevrolet badges. Its affordable price and low maintenance costs transformed it into a massive success for General Motors.

Hideo Kodama designed the vehicle in Russelsheim, Germany, and the result was one of the best examples of bio-design cars in its segment. At the front, there was a mild blend of straight lines and curved corners. Its wrapped-around plastic bumper was black for the lower trim levels and body-colored for the upper ones. The rounded headlights with corner-mounted turn signals were narrower on their inner side. A narrow grille with a horizontal slat sported the Opel badge in the middle. In the three-door version, the little Corsa featured a fixed window for the rear passengers.

Inside, the carmaker made room for two adults at the front and three in the back. Although, only for very short distances since there was minimal knee room. On the dashboard, depending on the engine and trim level, the carmaker installed an instrument cluster with four dials for the upper trim levels or just three for the lower ones. Since it was built to fight for the top position in the European sales charts, the Corsa received an air-conditioning unit as an option.

Opel offered the small-sized vehicle with a choice of diesel and gasoline engines. The top-spec version was the GSI, which featured a 1.6-liter unit that provided 106 hp.