Opel to revive sporty GSE badge, but not as you might remember it
The GSE badge is returning for Opel's all-electric era.
Image: Supplied
The GSE badge is well known to Opel fans of a certain era, and now it's making a comeback in fully-electric guise.
South Africans will know the badge from the Kadett E of the late 1980s, where it formed a sportier midrange alternative to the bare-bones Cub.
Overseas the badge made an appearance on Commodore and Monza models in the 1970s, where it stood for 'Grand Sport Einspritzung', with the 'E' denoting fuel injection.
While it was revived for plug-in hybrid versions of the latest Astra in 2022, 2025 will see GSE becoming a sub-brand for fully electric models.
GS still stands for 'Gran Sport' and no prizes for guessing what the 'E' stands for in the modern context.
''The GSE sub-brand stands for particularly dynamic, exhilarating, and emotional Opel models,' said the brand's CEO Florian Huettl.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'In 2025, we will take the next important step. The new GSE models will be fully electric. This demonstrates how powerful, exciting, and inspiring battery-electric mobility can be."
It remains to be seen whether the badge will adorn high-performance models, but Opel has hinted that the GSE models will have model-specific chassis tuning that 'directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure.'
The new sub-brand comes at the correct time as Opel currently offers numerous vehicles with fully-electric powertrains, including the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Frontera E, Grandland Electric, Combo-e and Zafire-e Life.
Opel is aiming to become a fully electric brand in Europe by 2028, although combustion models are still expected to be offered in other markets.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Gauteng launches innovative number plates to fight crime
Gauteng's new number plates have QR (quick response) codes. Image: Supplied The Gauteng provincial government this week launched a new high-tech, tamper-proof and crime-fighting number plate system to be piloted over the next six months on its fleet before being publicly rolled out. According to the provincial Roads and Transport Department, the new intelligent number plate system represents a giant leap as it is a secure, traceable, and smart solution, incorporating tamper-evident decals, forensic QR (quick response) codes, and a fully digitised back-end portal. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela officially unveiled the new system on Thursday in Johannesburg. The system's features include the ability to drastically improve the credibility of number plates and to enable license plate tracking within the value chain, from manufacturer to the vehicle owner. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'These technological enhancements are designed to combat vehicle theft, fraud, and cloning, while improving road safety and empowering traffic law enforcement across the province,' the department explained this week. For the next six months, the system will be piloted using g-Fleet vehicles affixed with the technologically advanced new number plates as part of the stress testing project before the provincial rollout. 'This system is set to drastically improve the credibility of number plates and to enable license plate tracking within the value chain, from manufacturer to end user (vehicle owner),' stated the department. In addition, it is hoped that the system will also address longstanding challenges in vehicle registration and the law enforcement framework, tackling cloned or fraudulent license plates, lack of interoperability with Southern African Development Community systems, and inadequate data traceability. Lesufi said his administration, assisted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is now deploying a digital system that ensures the ability to account for every vehicle on the province's roads. He warned that those using fraudulent or duplicate number plates will have no space or time to drive in Gauteng. Diale-Tlabela said the smart number plates will significantly reduce vehicle cloning, trafficking of stolen vehicles, and the use of falsified plates in criminal activities, as well as disrupt criminal networks and improve road safety. The Gauteng provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Transport and Logistics welcomed the strategic introduction of the number plates as an intervention towards safer roads.
SowetanLIVE
5 hours ago
- SowetanLIVE
Joshco bridges housing gap for missing middle residents
Construction is under way on what will become the largest phase of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company's (Joshco) Riverside View project in Diepsloot, which will add more than 700 new units to the growing social housing development. During an oversight visit, Nhlamulo Shikwambana, Joshco's acting COO, said 'the development has already completed three phases, with tenants living in over 300 units, and construction of phase 4 now under way'. 'Once complete, phase 4 will add over 700 more units. This is going to be our biggest build in the area. The plan is to reach over 1,000 units in Diepsloot' Shikwambana said the project is specifically aimed at South Africans in the 'missing middle', those who earn too much to qualify for RDP houses but too little to afford bonded homes. 'We are closing the gap for people who fall through the cracks. Most of our residents come from informal areas. We want them to feel safe and comfortable without being financially overstretched,' added Shikwambana.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Welcome to adulting: what to do with your first pay check
With the right habits, a first pay check is not just income but a launchpad to financial freedom for young people. When you get your first pay check it could feel like you are an adult now. That also means that you must treat your money like an adult, but not all young people know how to manage their money wisely. Debra Slabber, director and portfolio specialist at Morningstar Investment Management South Africa, shares her own early financial experiences and four practical lessons she wishes she knew when starting out: #1: Understand the basics of money Financial literacy is often overlooked in our school system and rarely discussed openly at home. Learn to budget, spend wisely and grow your wealth. Just a little effort up front can make a big difference later. The goal is financial confidence, not perfection. ALSO READ: How to use your pay cheque to get financial freedom #2: Spend less than you earn This is the golden rule of personal finance, although it is often ignored in the early years. 'There is no shame in living frugally while you build a foundation. Avoid using debt to fund your lifestyle. Loans should support long-term goals such as buying a house, not short-term gratification.' #3: Start investing no matter how small Investing even R250 a month can make a meaningful difference when invested consistently over time. 'Time is your biggest financial advantage. Harness the power of compounding now, and your future self will thank you.' ALSO READ: How to make the most of your first salary #4: Enjoy the process of building wealth Building wealth is not about depriving yourself but about empowerment. 'There is joy in taking control of your finances and seeing your progress over time. Learn about the different tools available, track your growth and celebrate the small wins with your first paycheck.' Slabber's advice is clear: the earlier young South Africans start making smart money choices, the better positioned they will be for long-term success.
