Opel is already electric with many models – and now the legendary Manta is too,” says Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller. It combines our great Opel tradition with today’s commitment to emissions-free mobility for a very desirable, sustainable future. “The Manta GSe impressively demonstrates the enthusiasm with which we build cars at Opel. For electric driving fun: With 108 kW/147 hp, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive.With latest Opel technologies: LED light, Pixel-Vizor and Pure Panel cockpit.Tradition meets state-of-the-art: Classically beautiful Opel Manta goes electric.Because the new Manta is future-proof: electric, emissions-free and full of emotions. The new Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD combines the best of both worlds: the classic appearance of a style icon together with state-of-the-art technology for sustainable motoring – far removed from a classic car rally. Launched over 50 years ago with a four-cylinder petrol engine, today the Manta is once again in top form, as the first electric MOD in the history of the German brand. A car as timeless as Her Majesty’s most famous secret agent. We can't speak for the future, but thanks to its classic body lines, it sure looks as though that won't be a problem for the Manta GSe ElektroMOD.The name is Manta – Opel Manta. That means it's up to the designers to make sure that will never become a thing, and the only way to do it is to make the rest of the car as relevant to the brand as possible. The funny thing is that, with a bit of Photoshop and hacking skills, as well as five minutes or so, you could easily do just that: turn the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD into a BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, or any other brand with an easily recognizable logo. ![]() Make the Manta's headlights round, and it already resembles the Honda e more than it should. ![]() The only problem we have with sticking a display on the nose of every vehicle is that it will inevitably limit the visual identity of these vehicles to the shape of the lights and the displayed logo. The clip released by Opel shows a quick animation that includes both text and images, and the company's "Blitz" logo, which is what normally sits in the middle of a regular radiator grille. However, with a fully customizable display at hand, the possibilities are literally endless. EVs are famously keen on communicating more about themselves than conventionally-powered cars, with the state of charge being the first type of information that springs into mind. The Pixel-Vizor takes things one step further in the logical direction, making good use of all that black surface of the Vizor by turning it into a working display. ![]() The fact that the Vizor was inspired by Manta's original design makes using it on this project seem like a full circle. It was actually a great touch from Opel's design team that managed to find a way of differentiating its cars in a market that seems to veer more and more toward visual uniformization. That's because the GSe will likely be nothing more than a one-off project acting as a cool-looking platform for Opel to showcase its EV-related technologies.Ĭase in point, the "Pixel-Vizor." You're probably already familiar with Opel's "Vizor" concept, the name chosen for the new face of the company's latest models-the Mokka and the Crossland. Well, it probably will, but only in a very small dose. The question now is whether the Manta GSe ElektroMOD will deliver that or not. The fact that mentioning this name still manages to bring enthusiasm even though it's been over thirty years since the last Manta was produced shows you two things: one, the model has a powerful legacy with Opel fans and even beyond, and two, the Opel range has been in desperate need of some excitement infusion for a very long time. ![]() The Manta was indeed derived from a mundane sedan, but its coupe allure made it stand out visually, and its rear-wheel-drive architecture meant it was also a lot more engaging to drive. That's because it provided a dose of excitement in what was otherwise a very practical and down-to-earth lineup of vehicles. To be entirely fair, you can't really compare the weight of the Mustang moniker with the Manta one, even though the latter is one of the most candidly remembered models in the entire activity of the German manufacturer. It's how we got things like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and how Opel is now teasing a Manta revival under the Manta GSe ElektroMOD name.
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