my dads got a 1.3 ctdi corsa, they only have 69bhp standard iirc so less than a 1.2 not a 1.6, even mapped they only get 90-95bhp. but they do feel lighter than the clio despite being about 90kg heavier than a mk2 1.2 and pull well in gear, but handle really crap- very skitish and understeer galore.
any way ive heard the 1.2 tce are pretty good, but i dunno tbh they should get rid of the non turbo engine, you need the extra power to compensate for the 100+kg the new clio has over the old one.
and i know what you mean about the modus, they are horrid, fair enough the one i drove had steerign failure, so i was going very sedately and i was nearly falling out the seat. i'd be inteseted in driving a 1.4 and a 1.2 tce back to back and see how they compare. the tce has about 2bhp more and is 30kg lighter, which begs the question why even have the 1.4 any more?