Ruesselsheim. His name is Manta – Opel Manta . He is as timeless as the most famous agent in Her Majesty’s service. Started more than 50 years ago with a four-cylinder petrol engine, today it is again in top form, because with the Manta, Opel has built the first ElektroMOD in its company’s history. The new Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD combines the best of two worlds: the classic appearance of a style icon combined with the latest technology for sustainable use – also far beyond a classic car rally. Because the new Manta is future-proof: electric, emission-free and yet full of emotions.
“The Manta GSe impressively shows the enthusiasm with which we build cars at Opel. It combines our great tradition with today’s desire for emission-free mobility for a sustainable future that is worth striving for. Opel is already electric with many models – and now the legendary Manta is too, ”said Opel boss Michael Lohscheller, delighted with the neo-classic from Rüsselsheim.
The Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD reflects the fascination of a growing fan base who transforms classic cars like the Manta into so-called RestoMods with modern technologies and a new design. The purely battery-electric Manta is sporty like a real Opel GSe and proudly carries its ambitions in Opel’s own name – ElektroMOD. MOD stands for change, for technical and stylistic modifications as well as a MODERN sustainable lifestyle.
That is why the four-cylinder under the hood, which is typical for Opel, gives way to an electric motor with a hefty 108 kW / 147 hp output. The “e” in GSe now means electrification instead of injection. This makes the new GSe the most powerful Manta A that Opel has ever built ex works. In 1974 and 1975 the Manta GT / E was the most powerful model of the first generation with 77 kW / 105 PS. With the 2021 electric Manta, the driver also has a maximum torque of 255 Newton meters available – from a standing start. Now the driver can choose whether he wants to shift the original four-speed gearbox by hand or simply shift into fourth gear and then drives automatically. Regardless of how he decides, the power is always directed to the rear wheels. The Manta thus remains a classic athlete – with an innovatively tapered drive train.
The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 31 kWh and thus allows an average range of around 200 kilometers 1 . As with a standard Opel Corsa-e or Opel Mokka-e , the Manta GSe can also recover braking energy and store it in the battery. Regular charging takes place via a 9 kW on-board charger for single and three-phase alternating current. This means that it takes just under four hours to fully charge the Manta battery.
Visually, the Manta GSe is based on the new Opel face. The Manta A was already the godfather of the Opel Vizor from Mokka and Crossland , but the ElektroMOD now carries the Opel Pixel Vizor itself across the entire width of the vehicle . The Manta GSe can even communicate with its surroundings via this LED screen. “My German heart has been ELEKTRified”, runs as writing across the new front. “I am on a zero e-mission”, the GSe explains his mission himself and in the next moment shows the silhouette of a manta ray gliding over the pixel vizor. The LED technology also works in the integrated daytime running lights, the main headlights and the conspicuously three-dimensional tail lights.
The neon yellow paint corresponds to the recently renewed Opel CI and frames the characteristic black bonnet with rich contrasts. The wheel arches now contain specially designed 17-inch aluminum wheels made by Ronal with 195/40 R 17 tires on the front and 205/40 R 17 on the rear axle. On the trunk it proudly says “Manta” in the new, modern Opel font. The chrome-plated bumpers of the original have disappeared – as was the case with many tuning and racing vehicles from Irmscher and Co.
The latest Opel digital technology has found its way into the interior. The classic round instruments are a thing of the past; instead, the driver now looks at a wide Opel Pure Panel, as is the case with the new Mokka series. Here, two integrated, driver-oriented widescreens measuring 12 and 10 inches show important information about the car, such as the state of charge and range. The music comes from a Bluetooth box from the legendary Marshall amplifier brand – a modern classic within a modern classic.
The sports seats with their central yellow decor line were once developed for the Opel ADAM S. They now offer a level of comfort and lateral support never seen before in the Manta original. The driver takes a seat behind a Petri three-spoke steering wheel that has been redesigned by Opel. The styling of the seventies was retained and the yellow marking in the 12 o’clock position added the icing on the cake to sportiness. In the cockpit and on the door panels, there are now also matt gray painted surfaces that go perfectly with the other yellow and black color elements in the neoclassic. The vehicle roof is freshly lined with fine Alcantara and completes the stylish ambience of the new Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD.
