Tag Archives: Opel

News

Opel Lights Up Lausitzring with GSE Power and Off-Road Attitude

Motorsport fans and tuning diehards had plenty to caffeinate their passion last weekend at the XS Cars’n’Coffee event at DEKRA Lausitzring in Brandenburg. The sprawling motorsport complex became a playground for enthusiasts of all things fast, loud, and visually unmissable. And right in the thick of it—proudly flying the lightning bolt—was Opel.

The German brand made sure nobody missed its latest electric ambitions, showing off a trio that turned heads and charged imaginations: the Opel Mokka GSE Rally, its road-going sibling Mokka GSE, and the adventure-ready Frontera GRAVEL show car. Between the scent of tire smoke and espresso shots, Opel’s stand was buzzing with visitors eager to experience what the company calls its “Pure OMG! GSE Power.”

The Shock of the Volt: Opel Mokka GSE Rally

If you needed proof that electrification doesn’t have to be boring, the Mokka GSE Rally was it. Fresh from its IAA Mobility debut in Munich, Opel’s new electric rally car looked perfectly at home surrounded by turbo hatches and drift-spec coupes. Its motorsport foiling, black bonnet, and yellow brake calipers screamed performance, while the OMG! GSE script on the sides left no doubt about its intentions.

But this isn’t just about looks. The rally-spec Mokka packs a 207-kW (281-hp) electric motor with 345 Nm of torque, channeled through purpose-built rally hardware. That’s goosebumps-on-demand performance—enough to make even hardened petrolheads rethink their stance on EVs.

Road-Legal Adrenaline: Opel Mokka GSE

Here’s the real kicker: the same power and punch are available right now in the production Mokka GSE, which Opel calls its fastest all-electric model ever. With the same 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Nm, the GSE rockets from 0–100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds and tops out at 200 km/h. Those are proper hot hatch numbers—without a drop of gasoline.

A Torsen multi-plate limited-slip differential, sport-tuned chassis, and double hydraulic dampers make sure that power translates to precision on the road. Even the steering and braking systems have been honed with lessons learned directly from Opel’s electric rally program. In essence, it’s a road car with genuine motorsport DNA—and a silent snarl that says “bring it on.”

Adventure Recharged: Opel Frontera GRAVEL

Not every thrill happens on asphalt. Opel also rolled out the Frontera GRAVEL, an electric show car built for the kind of people who see “unpaved road” as an invitation, not a warning. After its debut at the XS Carnight on Lake Wörthersee, the GRAVEL made a triumphant return at Lausitzring, looking ready to tackle dunes or downtown boulevards with equal confidence.

The design plays the part perfectly: Desert Stone body foil contrasted by a matte black roof and bonnet, accented with bright orange detailing on the mirrors, bumpers, and Opel Blitz logo. The front winch, side storage boxes, and lattice-style roof rack drive home the point that this SUV isn’t just for show—it’s built for the grind. Rolling on seven-inch-wide BORBET CWE 16-inch wheels, it looks like it could leave the event and head straight into a rally raid.

A Shockingly Bright Future

Between the adrenaline of the Mokka GSE Rally, the real-world performance of the Mokka GSE, and the rugged spirit of the Frontera GRAVEL, Opel made one thing crystal clear: the brand’s electric era isn’t about compromise. It’s about excitement, expression, and emotion.

At Lausitzring, surrounded by fans of noise, flames, and turbo boost, Opel proved that the future can be just as thrilling—even when it hums instead of roars.

Source: Stellantis

News

Opel Astra Sports Tourer: Germany’s Long-Distance Hero Shows Its Versatility

If you’re in the market for a compact wagon that can effortlessly balance work, family, and road-tripping duties, Opel has a contender worth a serious look. The Astra Sports Tourer isn’t just a practical estate—it’s a car engineered to tick nearly every box, from long-distance efficiency to everyday comfort and even emissions-free motoring.

1,200 Kilometers Without a Fuel Stop

Opel recently set out to prove just how efficient its new Astra Sports Tourer Hybrid really is. The test: drive continuously under real-world conditions until the 52-liter fuel tank ran dry. The result was headline-grabbing—over 1,200 kilometers on a single tank, averaging just 4.3 L/100 km.

This wasn’t a controlled lab stunt either. The hybrid wagon looped through the congested Rhine-Main region, taking in rush-hour traffic, stop-and-go city streets, and plenty of autobahn stretches. Over the course of two days and 11 loops, the Astra covered about 345 kilometers in pure EV mode thanks to its 48-volt hybrid setup—all at an everyday-realistic 61 km/h average speed.

And if you’re wondering whether independent testers could repeat the feat, they did. Germany’s VOX auto mobil drove an Astra Sports Tourer from Munich to the island of Sylt—1,154 kilometers on a single tank, this time at a faster clip. The verdict: Opel’s wagon isn’t just thrifty; it’s a genuine long-distance workhorse.

A Powertrain for Every Lifestyle

Opel isn’t hedging its bets on one solution. The Astra Sports Tourer is available in practically every flavor:

  • Battery-electric: Up to 413 km of range (WLTP), 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds, 170 km/h top speed. A quick 30-minute DC fast charge gets you back on the road.
  • Plug-in hybrid: For those who want daily electric commuting with long-trip flexibility.
  • 48-volt hybrid: The long-distance hero with stellar efficiency.
  • Pure combustion engines: For drivers who still prefer a traditional setup.

It’s a buffet of drivetrains, letting buyers pick what suits their driving habits rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.

Space Meets Style

As a wagon, utility is non-negotiable, and here the Astra delivers. Cargo space stretches to 1,634 liters in hybrid and combustion versions, or 1,553 liters in the EV. Even with the rear seats up, there’s room for 516 liters of luggage. The low loading sill (just 60 cm high) makes it easy to slide in everything from suitcases to bulky gear.

Inside, Opel hasn’t skimped on comfort. Ten-way ergonomic sports seats with massage, ventilation, and heating keep fatigue at bay, while an optional panoramic glass roof opens up the cabin. Tech duties are handled by a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with voice control, backed up by wireless smartphone charging. At night, the Intelli-Lux Pixel headlights keep the road ahead crisp and glare-free.

A Wagon That Refuses to Be Ordinary

In an age where crossovers dominate sales charts, it’s refreshing to see Opel double down on the wagon. The Astra Sports Tourer proves that practicality doesn’t have to come at the expense of style, efficiency, or driving enjoyment. Built in Rüsselsheim, it wears its “Made in Germany” badge proudly and backs it up with real-world results.

Whether as a business vehicle, a family hauler, or a road-trip champion, the Astra Sports Tourer has the credentials to win over drivers tired of the SUV default. And if its recent 1,200-kilometer stunt tells us anything, it’s that this wagon is here to go the distance.

Source: Stellantis

News

Opel Welcomes a New Class of Apprentices—and Secures Its Future

Rüsselsheim isn’t just where Opel builds cars. It’s where the brand forges the people who will one day design, engineer, and assemble them. This week, the German automaker marked a milestone that wasn’t about a new electric SUV or a performance concept, but about something more fundamental: people. 149 of them, to be exact.

At Opel’s headquarters in Rüsselsheim, the company hosted a festive welcome for its incoming class of apprentices—a tradition that stretches back more than 160 years to Adam Opel himself. Out of the 149, one hundred will train at Rüsselsheim, 30 at Kaiserslautern, 12 at Eisenach, and 7 in Bochum. They’ll pursue careers across technical, commercial, and IT fields, as well as dual study programmes that blend academic learning with on-the-job training.

Opel’s program is no afterthought. The company was recently crowned Training Champion 2025 by the F.A.Z. Institute and ServiceValue, taking top honors among automakers in both classical apprenticeships and dual study formats. That’s no small feat in Germany, where vocational training is serious business. Since Opel’s founding, more than 27,000 young professionals have launched careers through its doors.

“Sound training is the key to professional success,” Opel HR boss Ralph Wangemann said during the ceremony. “We offer both modern learning conditions and a wide range of career prospects. The fact that Opel has twice been named ‘Training Champion 2025’ is a recognition of the great commitment of our entire team.”

But this isn’t just about nostalgia or titles. Opel’s curriculum is shifting to match the automotive industry’s new reality. Apprenticeships in automotive mechatronics, applied computer science, and new cooperative programs in engineering show a clear tilt toward electrification and digitalization—the skills the next Opel generation will need.

It’s easy to overlook ceremonies like this amid headlines about EV platforms and battery factories. But Opel’s investment in training is as much about the company’s future as its latest model lineup. After all, without the next generation of skilled engineers, coders, and technicians, there won’t be anyone to build those cars in the first place.

Source: Stellantis