When we were boys, we sat on the milk ramp and wrote down the license plates of passing cars. The year was 1971. I wrote "LH 10000". We noted only numbers, never car brands. Nevertheless, I remember well that it was a yellow Opel Manta – a brand new Opel! Did you know that the Opel Manta is named after the fish species devil skate - a huge stingray that swims gracefully around the great oceans with wings and tail?
Opel's new design language consists of imaginary compass-like lines in the front and a new grill that can "talk". It's called the Opel Vizor. The inspiration for it all comes from the Opel Manta A. Good news for those of us who liked the Manta!
Opel as we remember them
In 1971, the Manta's beautiful appearance made a big impression on young car enthusiasts. By today's standards, the Manta were simple, rear-wheel drive cars based on the Opel Ascona A. The car, badged "LH 1000", was an Opel Manta DeLuxe with a 1,6-litre engine producing 68 HP. The S version produced 80 HP. The most powerful engine in 1971 was the 1,9 S 90 HP. The curb weight was 950 kg without driver. Manta represents Opel as we remember them: Beautiful, simple and smooth to drive.
The downfall
As you know, a lot has happened to Opel since the Manta models were in production. One could probably say that "those of us who liked the Manta" have hardly appreciated Opel's development in recent years. There were several reasons for Opel's decline. One of the Opel plant's trade unions complained that the management understood too late the importance of offering new diesel engines on a wide range of models. It could have saved many jobs. One could certainly say the same about Opel's inaction to introduce new hybrid and electric powertrains. A final negative factor was the actual design of the models. Opel's designers did not succeed in capturing the interest of buyers. The cars lacked identity. They could have benefited from a touch of the "Manta factor".
Access to new technology from PSA
The PSA group now owns the car brands Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Opel. Opel has thus gained access to healthy technology. This applies, among other things, to the 136 HP electric motor and the battery packs of 50 and 75 kwh respectively. After the PSA takeover, new Opel models have been developed that share a platform and technology with other models in the PSA group. The most interesting models for Norway are the new Corsa-e and Mokka-e. It's not just because they are electric cars, but also because they are actually some of the most beautiful models Opel has made since the downturn began in the early 2000s.
Opel Compass
The concept of Opel Compass is that the front is shaped like an imaginary compass around the centered Opel logo. On both sides - east and west - we find the new driving lights that visually shape the outer wings which - with a little imagination - resemble the wings of a giant skate - a "Manta". North and south must also be demarcated in the design.
Opel vizor
The Opel Vizor is the new grill, which is not really a grill in the traditional sense, - but an area to collect sensors and electronics for assistance systems. The front must also contain pixel-based diodes that can express messages to the owner and the outside world. For now, this feature is on the drawing board, in the form of a new style study based on the Opel Manta A – called Opel Manta GSe ElectroMOD. It is, of course, about an electric car that could have been based on the PSA group's 50 kwh battery.
Manta GSe EletroMOD
The new styling study warms an old car enthusiast's heart, although we are unlikely to see any electrified Manta A put into series production. Maybe Opel rebuilds an old Manta to create a show? Because if not knowing is made, the Vizor will go into production and become a hallmark of future Opels. It has already been implemented on the new Mokka/Mokka-e and facelifted Crossland, and will hopefully appear on the all-new Astra which will be launched later this year.
The Vizor system will likely be upgradeable. In the new Manta demo, Vizor displays text messages such as "I am on a zero e mission" and "My German *heart symbol* is all electric". Here it is possible to imagine a new communication interface between car drivers.
Will Opel become an electric car brand?
It has been speculated whether the PSA group would launch Opel as a purely electric car brand. German authorities with Angela Merkel at the top has expressed that they want to stimulate the production and purchase of electric cars. Large car groups like to test new technology in one brand before it is rolled out widely. Perhaps Opel can become the PSA group's "spearhead" to test out new assistant systems and technology for zero-emission vehicles?
Opel in Norway
The new electric cars can make Opel more interesting for Norwegian buyers. Although all the cars in the PSA group share the same platform, drivetrain, instruments and controls, - they are produced at different factories and - with the exception of the van series - have their own visual design - not just re-badged models. There are basically only two things that can make customers prefer Opel over equivalent Peugeot and Citroen models: Appearance and dealer. The problem in Norway is that old worthy Opel dealers from Opel's heyday are gone. Today, Opel is mainly sold through two chains, Bertel O Steen and Mobile. Bertel O Steen sells, among other things, Peugeot and Citroen in addition to Opel. Mobile sells several brands, including Citroen in addition to Opel. Even if you place the cars in separate departments, Opel will be the new addition compared to established brands in the business. Thus, Opel is unlikely to get any dealer advantage anywhere. The Volkswagen Group would – by comparison – never sell Skoda and Seat from the same premises.
Today's Opel models
Corsa-e manufactured in Zaragoza, Spain. The model shares the platform, drivetrain, instruments and operating levers with the Peugeot e-208. The Corsa has a tasteful design, but does not carry Opel's new design language. It will probably come with the next facelift – perhaps an accelerated facelift?
Mocha-e produced at the Poissy factory in France. The model shares a platform, drivetrain etc. with the Peugeot e-2008. The Mokka-e is a great representative of tomorrow's Opels, with clear features from the GT X concept car.
It's Vivaro produced at the Luton plant in the UK. It is a "re-badged" version of Toyota Proace Electric, Peugeot e-Expert and Citroen ë-Jumpy. Recommended.
Astra coming as a new model later this year as a 2022 model and will carry Opel's new design language. It will be interesting in Norway because of its hybrid drive. Today, the Astra is imported to Norway from the Vauxhall factory in Ellesmere, Great Britain, but the new Astra will also be produced in Rüsselheim.
Badge produced in Rüsselheim. Opel's flagships are not bad cars, but appear to have no identity. Despite persistent marketing, Opel has not succeeded in capturing the interest of buyers either here at home or in Europe. The Insignia represents a design rut Opel needs to get out of as soon as possible. Therefore not recommended as a new car purchase.
cross country has come in a facelifted version with Opel's new front. It is produced in Zaragoza, Spain, along with Citroen C3 Aircross. They share "everything" under the shell. We have tested the C3 Aircross. It is a well-built, smooth-driving compact family car with plenty of space. Both models appear more practical than beautiful.
Grandland X shares platform and drivetrain with Peugeot 3008. The model is produced in both Eisenach, Germany and Poissy, France. The cars to Norway come from France. The Grandland X does not carry Opel's new front and design language. We expect the Grandland X to get a facelift similar to the Crossland in the near future.
A small Opel cavalcade
It's time for Opel to court "those of us who liked the Manta". It looks promising. It is rumored that Opel will launch a new Monza-e. "We who liked Manta" also liked Monza. We hope to see it in Opel's new design language. In the meantime, you get a small car cavalcade of what the cars looked like in Opel's heyday.
See
Had 77-Record, 78-Ascona, 79-Record, 96-Vectra, 06-Vectra. Currently have 18-Insignia and 79-Manta. As long as Opel continues to make nice cars, I will continue to drive Opel. Hope they continue with the premium style found in the Insignia. The cars should primarily be rear wheel drive and driver oriented and some 2 door models MUST be developed. Electric cars are absolutely great, as long as they have a proper range. A bit of a right-hand drive with front-wheel drive, hard plastic and poor sound insulation is not the future if you want to live up to "Wir Leben Autos".