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Opel GSE 27FE Revealed in Final Formula E Livery Ahead of 2026 Debut

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Opel has officially unveiled the final race livery of the Opel GSE 27FE, marking another major milestone in the German manufacturer’s preparations for its debut in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The all-electric GEN4 race car will make its public appearance in its definitive colours at the Paris Motor Show on October 12, 2026, just weeks before Opel begins its first Formula E campaign.

The new livery transforms the aggressive prototype design used during testing into a distinctive visual statement for Opel’s return to top-level electric motorsport. Finished in a combination of black, metallic silver and Opel GSE Yellow, the GSE 27FE combines references to Opel’s motorsport heritage with a design language intended to communicate speed, energy and efficiency.

Alongside factory drivers Mitch Evans and Théo Pourchaire, Opel will use the Paris reveal to introduce its Formula E challenger to the public for the first time in final specification. Test and development driver Sophia Flörsch will also play a role in the programme.

Opel Takes GSE Performance Into Formula E

The GSE 27FE represents the beginning of a new chapter for Opel’s performance brand. GSE, which has increasingly become associated with Opel’s high-performance electric models, is now being transferred from road cars to the highly competitive world of Formula E.

“GSE stands for performance born in motorsport, engineered for the road and experienced far beyond it,” said Opel Vice President Marketing Rebecca Reinermann. “With Formula E, our performance brand is now entering the world’s fastest all-electric racing championship, at precisely the moment a new era begins with the GEN4 generation.”

For Opel, the timing is significant. The manufacturer is entering Formula E as the championship moves into its GEN4 era, bringing a new generation of electric racing technology and an opportunity for the brand to establish itself from the beginning of a new technical cycle.

The company says the final GSE 27FE livery reflects its ambition to become an important competitor rather than simply participating in the championship.

Black, Silver and Yellow Define the Opel GSE 27FE

Designed by Opel’s Global Brand Design team in Rüsselsheim, the GSE 27FE’s final appearance is based around three principal colours: black, silver and yellow.

The combination deliberately recalls some of Opel’s most recognisable historic motorsport designs, while giving those visual cues a distinctly modern and electric interpretation.

The graphics are not simply decorative. Opel says the design was created to represent three fundamental elements of Formula E: airflow, energy and efficiency.

“Airflow becomes linework, energy becomes colour and efficiency becomes precision,” explained Pierre-Olivier Garcia, Opel Global Brand Design Manager.

The result is a series of flowing graphic elements that follow the contours of the GEN4 car. Rather than covering the aerodynamic surfaces with excessive graphics, the design uses lines and colour blocks to emphasise the car’s proportions.

That should also make the GSE 27FE highly recognisable at speed, whether viewed from trackside, in the pit lane or through television and digital coverage.

New Silver Spine Becomes a Signature Element

One of the most significant additions to the final Formula E livery is a metallic silver spine running along the centre of the car.

Opel describes the feature as the visual backbone of the GSE 27FE. Beyond its aesthetic purpose, the silver element is intended to symbolise the relationship between driver and machine — combining human instinct with the precision of electric racing technology.

The philosophy extends to the smallest details.

A discreet “Designed in Germany” signature reinforces Opel’s German engineering identity, while the “Opel GSE 27FE” designation identifies the manufacturer’s first Formula E machine.

According to Garcia, every element has been deliberately positioned rather than added simply for visual effect.

“Every graphic element has a clear position, a clear function and a clear reason to exist,” he said.

That philosophy fits particularly well with Formula E, where aerodynamic efficiency, energy management, software and data are just as important as outright power.

GSE Yellow Represents Electric Energy

The most dramatic element of the design is undoubtedly Opel GSE Yellow.

The bright yellow graphic sections cut through areas of exposed carbon fibre, giving the GSE 27FE a strong visual identity while connecting it directly to Opel’s growing GSE performance family.

“In Formula E, energy decides the race – and for Opel, energy has a colour: GSE Yellow,” Garcia said.

The colour is intended to communicate movement and energy without making the car look unnecessarily aggressive. Opel’s designers have instead used yellow as a precise visual accent against the darker carbon and metallic surfaces.

The effect is particularly important for a Formula E car, where distinctive liveries need to remain recognisable despite the high speed of racing and extensive television coverage.

Lightspeed Stripes Bring Electric Technology to Life

Another important part of the design is Opel’s Pixelated Lightspeed Stripes.

The stripes sweep across the bodywork and are intended to visualise something that normally remains invisible: the movement of energy, data and software through an electric racing car.

The concept builds on the design language Opel introduced with the Mokka GSE Rally in 2025, but the Formula E application takes the idea into a much more technologically advanced environment.

In this interpretation, the pixelated graphics represent the instantaneous response of an electric powertrain and the digital character of modern motorsport.

It is a fitting visual theme for a championship where success increasingly depends on software, energy strategy and sophisticated control systems as much as traditional mechanical engineering.

Mitch Evans Says the Opel GSE 27FE “Looks Fast”

Opel’s factory drivers have already seen the car extensively during its testing programme, but the final livery has made a strong impression.

Mitch Evans, one of Formula E’s most accomplished drivers, believes the finished car successfully develops the prototype design.

“I think the final design looks fantastic,” Evans said. “It builds on our concept and testing livery in a more refined way, while still feeling unmistakably Opel.”

The addition of silver is particularly important to the overall appearance, according to the New Zealander.

“The additional silver gives it a sharp and sophisticated appearance – and, most importantly, it looks fast.”

That is no small endorsement from Evans. With 16 Formula E victories, he is the most successful driver in the championship’s history and brings considerable experience to Opel’s new factory programme.

Evans will share the Opel GSE Formula E Team’s race seat with French driver Théo Pourchaire, while Sophia Flörsch takes on the role of test and development driver.

Opel Connects Formula E With Its Road Cars

The Formula E programme is not being presented as an isolated motorsport project.

At the Paris Motor Show, Opel will place the GSE 27FE alongside the new Opel Corsa GSE, which is already available to order. The pairing is designed to demonstrate the relationship between Opel’s electric racing programme and its growing range of high-performance road cars.

The Corsa GSE effectively brings the GSE philosophy to the road, while the GSE 27FE demonstrates how that performance identity can be expressed at the highest level of electric competition.

Opel is also using the same design language throughout its Paris Motor Show stand. The Lightspeed Stripes and broader GSE visual identity will influence the exhibition design, creating a direct connection between the race car and production models.

Opel Formula E Debut Set for December 2026

The unveiling of the final livery comes as Opel moves into the final stages of preparation for its first Formula E season.

Since announcing its Formula E entry in March 2026, the team has conducted private testing alongside extensive simulator and test-bench development. The programme will intensify with the official Formula E test week scheduled for mid-November at Jarama in Spain.

The real test comes shortly afterwards.

Opel will make its competitive Formula E debut at a double-header in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 18 and 19, 2026.

Its first World Championship campaign will consist of 21 races across 13 cities and four continents, providing the new Opel GSE Formula E Team with an extensive international test of its car, drivers and technical operation.

The team’s home event will come later in the season, with the Berlin E-Prix scheduled for May 8 and 9, 2027.

For Opel, that race should carry particular significance as the German manufacturer competes in front of its home fans.

A New Motorsport Identity for Opel

The GSE 27FE is more than Opel’s first Formula E car. It is the clearest expression yet of where the company’s performance strategy is heading in the electric era.

The black, silver and yellow livery deliberately combines Opel’s motorsport heritage with a futuristic interpretation of electric racing. The Lightspeed Stripes, silver spine and GSE Yellow accents all serve the same purpose: making energy, speed and precision visible.

Opel’s Formula E debut will ultimately be judged by results rather than graphics, but the manufacturer has made its intentions clear. Entering Formula E at the beginning of the GEN4 era gives Opel the opportunity to build its programme around the latest generation of electric racing technology from day one.

With Mitch Evans and Théo Pourchaire behind the wheel, Sophia Flörsch supporting development, and 21 races ahead, the Opel GSE 27FE is about to move from design statement to genuine championship contender.

The first chapter begins in Jeddah in December.

Source: Opel

CONCEPT CARS

Renault E-Space Concept Could Bring the Minivan Back as an Electric Rival to the VW ID. Buzz

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Renault is preparing to revive one of the most important names in European automotive history. The French automaker will unveil the new Renault E-Space Concept at the Paris Motor Show, presenting an all-electric interpretation of the pioneering Espace minivan that helped redefine family transportation in the 1980s.

And while Renault is officially describing the vehicle as a concept, there is already good reason to believe that the E-Space could become a production model. If Renault follows the development strategy it has used for several recent concept cars, an electric Espace could reach European roads within the next two years.

More importantly, the E-Space could give Renault a direct rival to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz while bringing something increasingly rare to the European market: a purpose-built electric family vehicle focused on space, practicality and distinctive design rather than simply being another SUV.

Renault E-Space Brings Back the Spirit of the Original

The original Renault Espace arrived in 1984 and quickly established itself as one of Europe’s most innovative family vehicles. Its boxy proportions, lightweight construction and exceptionally flexible interior made it possible to carry passengers and luggage in a way conventional cars simply could not match.

More than four decades later, Renault is attempting to reinterpret that formula for the electric era.

Renault describes the E-Space Concept as a “future-facing version of the original,” and the connection to the 1984 model is immediately apparent. Rather than simply applying an electric powertrain to an existing SUV, Renault appears to have designed the concept around the fundamental advantages of the minivan: maximum interior volume within a relatively compact footprint.

The design features a short hood and upright front end, giving the E-Space the characteristic proportions of the original Espace. Modern LED lighting and an illuminated Renault diamond provide the futuristic element, while the steeply angled windshield adds a surprisingly sporty character.

Along the side, a completely horizontal waistline runs toward the upright rear section. The design is visually clean, but the engineering logic is obvious: keeping the body tall and the rear vertical helps maximize usable cabin space.

Renault has yet to reveal detailed interior specifications, but the concept appears to feature two rows of seats. Previous Espace generations were available with two- and three-row configurations, while some versions offered highly flexible seating arrangements, including front captain’s chairs capable of rotating 180 degrees.

Whether any of those ideas return remains to be seen.

A 4.7-Meter Electric Family Car

Renault has so far kept technical information about the E-Space Concept relatively limited. The company has confirmed that the vehicle measures approximately 4.7 meters in length.

That puts the concept in a familiar size category for European buyers, with an overall footprint roughly comparable to vehicles such as the Honda CR-V. However, the E-Space’s boxier architecture could allow it to offer considerably more usable passenger and cargo space than a similarly sized crossover.

That could become one of its biggest advantages.

While the European market has moved heavily toward SUVs and crossovers, the fundamental need for spacious family transportation has not disappeared. A vehicle with a relatively compact exterior but a highly efficient interior could therefore offer a compelling alternative to the increasingly large electric SUVs now entering the market.

New Renault RGEV Platform Could Be Key

Underneath the E-Space Concept could be one of the most interesting elements of Renault’s next-generation electric strategy.

Renault has previously announced its new RGEV architecture for compact electric vehicles. The platform is expected to use an 800-volt electrical system and could cost around 40 percent less to manufacture than the architectures currently used by the automaker.

That could be particularly important for a vehicle like the E-Space.

Large electric family vehicles remain expensive because of their battery capacity, weight and manufacturing complexity. A lower-cost platform could allow Renault to offer a spacious electric vehicle without pushing pricing into premium territory.

The associated electric motor is also expected to provide significantly more power than the current equivalent, with output of up to 275 hp compared with approximately 220 hp.

Renault has also discussed a range-extender version of the architecture. According to the company’s earlier information, such a system could increase electric driving range from around 750 kilometers to as much as 1,400 kilometers.

If those figures ultimately make it into a production E-Space, the model could become an unusually versatile long-distance family vehicle.

Could the Renault E-Space Reach Production?

The biggest question surrounding the E-Space Concept is not whether Renault can build it, but how quickly.

Renault has demonstrated that its concepts can move from show-car status to production surprisingly quickly. The Renault 5 concept required around three years to become a production model, while the latest Twingo followed an even faster development program and reached the road in approximately two years.

The Twingo’s development was accelerated with assistance from Chinese partners, demonstrating Renault’s willingness to use international engineering resources to reduce development times and costs.

If the E-Space follows a similar path, a production version could potentially arrive in Europe within two years.

That would put Renault in an interesting position as demand for electric family vehicles continues to develop.

Renault Could Challenge the Volkswagen ID. Buzz

The most obvious competitor would be the Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The German electric van has already demonstrated that there is still an appetite for vehicles combining retro-inspired styling with modern electric technology. Renault could take a slightly different approach with the E-Space, however, positioning it somewhere between a traditional MPV and a crossover.

That could make the Renault more attractive to buyers who want the practicality of a minivan without the commercial-van appearance traditionally associated with large people carriers.

It would also allow Renault to capitalize on the growing popularity of its retro-inspired design language.

The electric Renault 5 has already shown that the company is willing to revisit its heritage rather than simply abandon it. The E-Space could represent the same philosophy applied to the family-car segment.

The Espace Name Has Come Full Circle

There is an interesting irony in Renault’s decision to revive the Espace concept.

The Espace nameplate itself has survived, but the current-generation model is no longer a conventional MPV. Renault transformed it into a three-row SUV powered by an internal-combustion engine, reflecting the dramatic decline of traditional minivans in the European market.

The E-Space Concept effectively reverses that transformation.

Rather than turning the Espace further toward the SUV formula, Renault appears ready to return to the original idea: a highly practical family vehicle designed around interior space and flexibility.

Whether consumers are ready for that philosophy to return is another question.

But the success of vehicles such as the Volkswagen ID. Buzz suggests that there may be a market for something different from another conventional electric crossover.

Renault’s Paris Motor Show Lineup Goes Beyond the E-Space

The Renault E-Space Concept will be one of several major attractions on the company’s stand at the Paris Motor Show.

Renault is also expected to showcase the Gordini 8 electric coupe concept, giving the historic performance name an electric interpretation. The company will also introduce the electric Twingo subcompact featuring the new “Twingobay” panoramic glass roof.

Updated versions of the Scenic and Megane will add further substance to Renault’s growing electric lineup, while the 4 JP4x4 concept will provide another example of the company’s willingness to experiment with its heritage and future design direction.

For Renault, however, the E-Space could prove to be the most significant of them all.

The Electric Minivan Could Be Making a Comeback

The Renault E-Space Concept is more than a nostalgic design exercise. It represents a potentially important question for the European automotive industry: after years of SUV dominance, could the practical family MPV finally make a comeback in electric form?

The original Espace succeeded because it offered something conventional cars could not. Renault now appears to believe that the same principle could work again in the electric era.

With a 4.7-meter footprint, potentially up to 275 hp, an 800-volt electrical architecture and the possibility of extremely long-range range-extender technology, the E-Space could combine old-school family practicality with some very modern engineering.

If Renault can keep costs under control and move quickly from concept to production, the E-Space could become one of the most interesting new electric family cars in Europe.

And if the company really does put the original Espace alongside the new concept at the Paris Motor Show, expect the nostalgia factor to be just as powerful as the electric technology underneath it.

Source: Renault

News

Tesla Has a New Halloween Trick for Its Owners

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Tesla is getting into the Halloween spirit with a new software update that transforms its electric vehicles into rolling haunted houses. The latest Tesla Halloween Mode adds spooky graphics, sounds and lighting effects, giving owners a seasonal dose of entertainment through the company’s familiar Toybox feature.

Announced in early October, the update introduces a redesigned vehicle visualization and a series of Halloween-themed effects. Tesla describes the experience as a “haunted house on wheels,” turning the car’s central display into a digital playground filled with ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons and other Halloween imagery.

Tesla Halloween Mode Adds Ghosts, Pumpkins and a Haunted Graveyard

The most obvious change appears on the central touchscreen, where the vehicle visualization can now wear a ghost costume. Instead of the usual representation of the Tesla, the car is covered by what looks like a classic white sheet, complete with a distinctly Halloween-inspired appearance.

Tesla has also added a new “Trick or Treat” function. When activated, the vehicle can play spooky sounds while switching its exterior lights on and off as someone approaches the car. It is a simple feature, but one that fits neatly with Tesla’s long-standing habit of hiding playful software features inside its vehicles.

The parked-car display receives an even more dramatic makeover. Tesla’s videos show the vehicle sitting in a virtual graveyard beneath a full moon, surrounded by glowing pumpkins. A haunted house appears in the distance, while a skeleton and a mysterious hand emerging from the ground complete the scene.

It is considerably more elaborate than a simple change to the vehicle icon and demonstrates how Tesla continues to use software as a way of adding new experiences to its cars without changing any physical hardware.

Tesla Continues Its Toybox Tradition

Halloween Mode is the latest addition to Tesla’s Toybox collection, which has become one of the company’s most recognizable software features.

Tesla has previously used Toybox to introduce a variety of Easter eggs and seasonal features, including Santa Mode. That holiday-themed mode turns the vehicle visualization into a festive experience and has remained available beyond the Christmas season.

The arrival of Halloween Mode raises an interesting question: will Tesla continue expanding its collection of permanent seasonal themes?

If Santa Mode is any indication, Halloween Mode could remain inside the Toybox menu after October ends. That would allow Tesla owners to activate the spooky graphics and effects whenever they want rather than limiting the feature to Halloween.

For Tesla, it is another example of how software can give an otherwise familiar vehicle a completely different personality.

Tesla Takes Inspiration From Rivian

Tesla is not the first electric vehicle manufacturer to experiment with Halloween-themed vehicle software.

Rivian has offered similar seasonal features for several years. In 2024, the American EV manufacturer introduced three Halloween-themed “costumes” for parked vehicles.

Rivian’s implementation went beyond simple graphics. Pedestrians shown on the vehicle display could be transformed into zombies, while cyclists and motorcyclists could appear as Headless Horsemen.

Tesla’s approach is somewhat different, but the idea is fundamentally the same: use the vehicle’s cameras, displays and software to create a temporary digital world around the car.

As electric vehicles become increasingly software-defined, features like these are becoming another way for manufacturers to differentiate their products. They may not improve range, acceleration or charging speed, but they can make the ownership experience more entertaining.

Not Every Tesla May Get the Full Halloween Experience

There is one important technical limitation to Tesla’s Halloween update.

The most sophisticated full-screen 3D visualizations require the more powerful AMD Ryzen-based computers fitted to newer Tesla vehicles. Older models equipped with Intel processors are therefore not expected to support the complete graveyard scene shown in Tesla’s promotional material.

That does not necessarily mean older Teslas will miss out entirely. Other Halloween-themed additions, including some of the visual and audio effects, may still be available depending on the vehicle’s hardware and software configuration.

This is becoming increasingly relevant as Tesla continues to add software features that rely on increasingly powerful in-car computing hardware. While over-the-air updates allow Tesla to add new capabilities years after a vehicle has left the factory, hardware differences can determine which features older cars are able to run.

Tesla Teases Halloween With Optimus

Tesla began building anticipation for the update in early October with a post on X featuring the message “Halloween is coming.”

The short video showed a pumpkin, a Tesla dressed as a ghost and the hand of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot rising from the ground in zombie-like fashion.

The teaser fits Tesla’s broader strategy of turning software announcements into events of their own. Rather than simply listing the functions included in an update, the company has increasingly used visual Easter eggs and social-media teasers to generate interest among its owners and followers.

With Halloween Mode, the car itself becomes part of the celebration.

A Software Feature That Shows Tesla’s Unusual Approach to Car Ownership

Tesla Halloween Mode is not a feature that changes the way a Tesla drives. It does not increase performance, improve efficiency or add driving range. Instead, it illustrates another aspect of Tesla’s approach to automotive software.

Traditional carmakers typically rely on physical equipment, accessories and styling packages to differentiate vehicles. Tesla can use an over-the-air software update to give thousands of cars a completely different visual identity almost instantly.

That flexibility has become one of the defining characteristics of the modern Tesla ownership experience.

Whether owners actually use the Halloween features for more than a few minutes is another question. But features like these help reinforce Tesla’s reputation for treating its vehicles as software platforms as much as conventional automobiles.

And if Halloween Mode follows the same path as Santa Mode, Tesla owners may soon have a growing collection of seasonal personalities to choose from whenever they open the Toybox menu.

For now, however, Tesla’s latest software update gives its electric cars a suitably spooky makeover—complete with ghosts, graveyards, pumpkins, skeletons and a few tricks waiting for anyone brave enough to approach the car.

Source: Tesla via Instagram

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