Tag Archives: Opel

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Opel Mokka GSE: The Hotshot EV That Wants to Rally Your Commute

You know what’s better than a small SUV that looks good? One that looks good and thinks it’s a rally car. Enter the new Opel Mokka GSE, the fastest all-electric production Opel ever—and the company’s cheeky way of proving that “green” doesn’t have to mean “granny”.

Design: Detoxed but Delicious

The regular Mokka was already one of the better-looking crossovers in its class—angular, confident, and wearing Opel’s now-signature Vizor face like a grin that knows something you don’t. But for 2025, the designers have turned up the spice. Chrome? Gone. Instead, it’s all about clean surfaces, smart aero tweaks, and GSE-specific yellow accents that shout “performance” louder than a teenager’s tuned Corsa at a retail park.

Inside, it’s modern minimalism done right: twin 10-inch screens, vegan steering wheel, and seats clad in Alcantara so sticky you’ll swear they’re part Velcro. Everything feels focused, almost Scandinavian in its restraint—but with just enough flair to remind you this is still a German hot hatch at heart, only taller.

Power: Rally Genes Meet Real Roads

Now to the good stuff. The Mokka GSE packs 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Nm of torque, all available the instant you so much as breathe on the accelerator. Zero to 100 km/h? 5.9 seconds. Top speed? 200 km/h. Those are proper performance-car numbers, not “eco crossover” fluff.

The chassis has been re-engineered, too: a Torsen limited-slip diff, bespoke suspension setup, and hydraulic dampers pinched straight from the rally playbook. The brakes—complete with yellow four-piston calipers—could probably stop a freight train, and the steering wheel, flattened at both ends like an angry pretzel, sends crisp feedback through your palms.

In short, it’s an EV that feels alive—something we don’t say lightly. Opel hasn’t just electrified the Mokka; it’s caffeinated it.

Range of Flavours: Electric, Hybrid, or Old-School Petrol

But maybe you’re not ready to go full-GSE. Opel’s got you covered. The Mokka Electric delivers a perfectly reasonable 115 kW (156 hp), a 54 kWh battery, and up to 403 km of range—ideal for urban commutes with the occasional weekend dash.

Prefer a blend? The new Mokka Hybrid teams a 1.2-litre turbo with a small electric motor for a combined 145 hp, reducing fuel bills and CO₂ without sacrificing fun. And for the purists, there’s still a 136 hp petrol manual—because Opel knows some of us still enjoy doing the shifting ourselves.

Tech: AI in Your Dashboard, Not Just Your Chat App

The infotainment system’s been given a serious brain upgrade. Two crisp 10-inch screens handle all your info and entertainment, and yes, it even understands “Hey Opel” voice commands. But here’s the kicker: the Mokka now offers built-in ChatGPT. That’s right—your car can literally answer questions, plan routes, and even entertain you in traffic. Top Gear dares you to ask it who would win in a fight: an Astra VXR or a Corsa E OPC.

Add in the 180-degree HD rear-view camera, a full suite of driver-assist systems, and the Mokka starts to feel like a tech showcase in hatchback heels.

Verdict: A Small SUV with Big Attitude

With prices starting at €26,890 in Germany, the Opel Mokka range offers something for nearly everyone—from eco-minded commuters to weekend tarmac warriors. But the GSE is the headline act: bold, brash, and blessed with the sort of electric punch that makes even Tesla drivers raise an eyebrow.

It’s not just another crossover—it’s proof that Opel’s design and engineering teams are having fun again. And in a world of beige mobility pods, that might just be the biggest innovation of all.

Source: Stellantis

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“Ode to the Blitz”: Opel’s Past, Present, and 800-Horsepower Future at Mobility City Zaragoza

There are museum exhibits, and then there are experiences that grab you by the collar, whisper “GSE mode engaged”, and hurl you 0–100 km/h in two seconds flat. Welcome to ‘Opel Love’, a new exhibition lighting up Mobility City Zaragoza — a futuristic hub perched on the Zaha Hadid Bridge over the Ebro River — where nostalgia meets neon, and history hums at 800 volts.

From 15 October, the German marque’s famous Blitz will illuminate the skyline, celebrating not only Opel’s legacy but its deep ties to Zaragoza — the beating heart that’s built every generation of Corsa since 1982.

And, of course, in true Opel fashion, this isn’t just about dusty engines and sepia-toned history. It’s about motion.

The Headliner: Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo

Step aside, sensible hatchbacks — this is Opel’s digital lightning bolt come to life. First revealed at Munich’s IAA Mobility, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is a concept that makes even virtual racers stop mid-lap.

Two electric motors. 588 kW. That’s 800 metric horsepower and an all-wheel-drive system that catapults it from 0–100 km/h in 2.0 seconds flat. Top speed? 320 km/h — which, in something roughly the size of a Corsa, borders on science fiction.

Opel calls it its first phygital concept — half physical, half digital — and the design language is, in the politest terms, weaponised aerodynamics. Every crease, flare, and vent has a job: to make air behave. From aero curtains and black blade fenders to active diffusers that literally morph to adjust downforce, it’s a masterclass in precision.

During opening week, visitors can not only stare at it — they can drive it, virtually at least, thanks to Gran Turismo 7 simulators stationed beside the concept. It’s as close as you’ll get to taming this electric animal without a racing licence and a death wish.

From Sewing Machines to Speed Machines

Before the Blitz struck the autobahn, Opel was threading needles. Literally. The exhibition’s timeline begins not with a car, but a Type No. 2 sewing machine from 1870 — a humble machine that symbolised the spark of Adam Opel’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Then come the bicycles, motorcycles, and the utterly bonkers five-seater Quintuplet from 1895 — imagine the Tour de France on a centipede. The show also features the ZR III racing bike from 1928, a nod to when Opel was a two-wheeled world leader.

By 1899, the brand took its first mechanical baby steps into the motoring world with the Opel Patent Motorwagen System Lutzmann, a 20 km/h convertible marvel. It’s on display here too — the last surviving unit, no less.

Democratizing the Drive

Opel’s old tagline once promised “German technology at your fingertips,” and two key exhibits show exactly what that meant.

The 1909 Opel 4/8 hp ‘Doktorwagen’ — the people’s doctor’s car — brought affordable, reliable motoring to the middle class. Then came the cheekily green 1924 Opel 4/12 hp ‘Laubfrosch’, the first mass-produced German car, whose froggy colour and friendly size made it a hit.

Between them, they laid the foundations for a brand that built cars for everyone, not just the elite — a philosophy that still courses through the Corsa’s wiring loom today.

Dreaming Forward

The exhibition’s “future zone” is a playground of ideas that once seemed too mad to build — until Opel built them anyway.

There’s the 1969 CD Concept Wireframe, a fiberglass fantasy that looked straight out of a Kubrick film. The Elektro GT from 1971 proved electric motors could outrun petrol ones — half a century before the world caught on. Then there’s the 1974 OSV 40, which put safety before it was cool, and the 1994 Scamp 2, an early ancestor of today’s compact SUVs.

And for those who like their madness modern, the GT X Experimental and the Manta GSe show how the Blitz is charging into the electric era with flair, Vizor grilles, and just the right amount of retro swagger.

Zaragoza: The House That Corsa Built

You can’t spell “Corsa” without “Zaragoza.” Okay, you can, but you shouldn’t. Since 1982, Opel’s Figueruelas plant near the city has churned out more than 14.5 million Corsas — a small car with a big legacy.

At ‘Opel Love’, visitors can trace its evolution from the boxy Corsa A to the modern marvels of today. Even rarities like the Corsa Spider concept and the 1997 Corsa B ‘Moon’ make appearances — glimpses of a future Opel once dared to imagine.

A Love Letter Written in Steel and Voltage

‘Opel Love’ isn’t just an exhibition — it’s a time machine with an electric pulse. From the delicate click of a 19th-century sewing machine to the digital roar of an 800-hp hyperhatch, every chapter tells a story of reinvention.

In the city that builds its most famous car, Opel has found the perfect stage to celebrate 155 years of engineering optimism.

So if you find yourself in Zaragoza between now and February 2026, step into Mobility City. There, under the graceful sweep of Hadid’s bridge, the past, present, and future of the Blitz are all charged and ready to roll.

Source: Stellantis

NEW CARS

2026 Opel Grandland Electric Long Range: The 430-Mile German SUV That Finally Kills Range Anxiety

Opel is serious about electrons these days. The brand’s Grandland SUV — once a fairly conventional crossover — has evolved into a fully electric flagship. And now, with the debut of the Opel Grandland Electric Long Range, it’s also taking a shot at one of the industry’s biggest anxieties: range.

This latest addition to the Grandland family stretches the distance between charging stops to an impressive 694 kilometers (431 miles) on the WLTP cycle. That’s thanks to a new 97-kWh battery pack, making it the range champion in Opel’s lineup and one of the longest-legged EVs in Europe outside the luxury bracket. Prices start at €51,750 in Germany, and yes — you can order one now.

Built for the Long Haul

The Long Range model sits atop Stellantis’s STLA Medium platform, a modular electric architecture designed to host large battery packs without eating into interior or cargo space. In this case, the platform supports that 97-kWh pack while preserving the SUV’s practicality. Opel claims you can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 27 minutes at a DC fast charger — enough time for a coffee and a pretzel on the Autobahn.

Under the hood (or rather, under the floor), a 170-kW (231-hp) motor sends 345 Nm (254 lb-ft) of torque to the front wheels. It’s not a rocket ship, but it’ll do 0–100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and top out at 170 km/h. More than fast enough for a family hauler that can quietly glide from Frankfurt to Milan on a single charge.

A Comfier Kind of Electric

Opel hasn’t forgotten comfort. Even the base Edition trim includes Intelli-Seats — ergonomic chairs designed to ease long-distance fatigue — and a Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) suspension setup. That system adjusts shock absorption depending on road surface and driving style, softening the ride over cobblestones while tightening things up in corners.

Step up the range, and the Grandland piles on tech: Intelli-Lux HD adaptive headlights with over 50,000 LED elements, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system all make the cut. Inside, a 16-inch touchscreen handles infotainment and navigation, while a wireless Pixel Box keeps your phone charged and visible in the center console. Higher trims also bring a sensor-controlled tailgate for easy access when your hands are full of groceries or charging cables.

All-Wheel Drive? Already Covered.

Opel recently rolled out the Grandland Electric AWD, a dual-motor version producing a healthy 239 kW (325 hp) and 509 Nm of torque. The new Long Range variant, by contrast, focuses less on raw performance and more on efficiency and endurance. Together with the standard 73-kWh version (good for 521 km of range), Opel now offers three distinct flavors of its electric SUV — a rare bit of choice in a market still figuring out how to scale EV options.

Charging Forward

Every new Grandland Electric Long Range ships with Opel’s ‘Electric All In’ package — essentially a starter kit for EV life. Buyers get an eProWallbox Move for home charging, e-route navigation, and eight years of battery and roadside coverage. It’s the brand’s way of smoothing the transition for drivers still hesitant to ditch the gas pump.

The 2025 Grandland Electric Long Range isn’t about adrenaline or track times — it’s about making electric driving practical, comfortable, and actually convenient. With nearly 700 kilometers of range, serious interior comfort, and just enough German Autobahn DNA to feel composed at speed, Opel’s top-spec SUV might just be the brand’s most convincing electric effort yet.

Whether that’s enough to lure buyers away from Tesla or Hyundai’s long-range champions remains to be seen — but one thing’s clear: Opel has officially joined the big leagues of electric mobility, and it’s bringing comfort, confidence, and a lot of kilometers to the table.

Source: Stellantis