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Opel Frontera Gravel concept previews rugged Duster rival

Opel Frontera Gravel concept previews rugged Duster rival

The Citizen3 days ago

Limited to a one-off build, the latest Opel Frontera Gravel concept could be an adventurer's companion and rival to Renault's popular Duster SUV.
Looking for a new or used Opel? Find it here with CARmag!
Built in collaboration with motorsport specialists BlackFish and XS, the concept will be shown publicly for the first time at the XS Carnight event in Wörthersee, Austria, today.
Designed at Opel's Rüsselsheim studio, the Frontera Gravel builds on the standard Frontera Electric model, adding a range of off-road-inspired visual upgrades. These include a Thule Canyon XT roof rack, auxiliary LED lights on the hood and roof, a front winch, and snow tracks mounted on the D-pillars. It also gets 16-inch Borbet CWE alloy wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres, which enhance the SUV's tough appearance, even if its actual off-road capability remains limited.
Related: Opel Unveils All-Electric Mokka for Rally Debut
The body is finished in a matte Desert Stone wrap with black contrasts on the hood and roof, while orange detailing on the skid plates, mirrors, roof rack, and badging gives it a more striking look. Matching orange stitching appears on the microfibre seats inside, with a black headliner completing the theme. Underneath, the concept sticks with the front-wheel-drive layout of the production Frontera Electric. It uses a single 115kW electric motor and a 54kWh battery, offering up to 400km of driving range. While it's not built for serious off-roading, Opel says it's capable of light-duty trail driving or 'soft-roading'.
There's currently no all-wheel-drive version of the Frontera, though Stellantis has deployed electrified rear axles in models like the Jeep Avenger 4Xe and Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4. This approach is also planned for the upcoming Fiat Grande Panda 4×4, suggesting it could be possible for Opel in the future. Though officially labelled a concept, the Frontera Gravel could point to a new rugged trim level to compete with the likes of the upcoming Dakar-inspired Dacia (or Renault) Duster. Opel says the concept is a way to gauge interest in a more adventurous version of its family SUV.
Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!
The post Opel Frontera Gravel Concept Previews Rugged Duster Rival appeared first on CAR Magazine.
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Opel Frontera Gravel concept previews rugged Duster rival
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