Latest news with #FlorianHuettl
Auto Car
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
New Vauxhall Frontera harks back to the '90s original with 4x4 makeover
All-terrain tyres, roof rack and tow winch transform the crossover into an adventurous off-roader Open gallery Close Vauxhall has hinted at a more rugged version of the incoming Frontera with a new concept car that turns the conventional electric crossover into a trail-hunting 4x4. Named the Vauxhall Frontera Gravel and based on the electric version of the family car, it gains several key elements aimed at helping it tackle the wilderness. Up front, it receives a tow winch and extra LED light bars, while the car's rear haunches now feature extra storage panniers. It also gains a chunky roof rack with a spare tyre and further storage, and the wheels are shod with aggressive BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres. Inside, the interior configuration matches that of the regular Frontera, but it has been reupholstered with orange contrasting elements to match the car's exterior livery. Opel-Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl said it 'embodies [Vauxhall's] commitment to making electric mobility versatile and accessible… with respect for the environment'. Although Vauxhall has yet to state any production plans for the Frontera Gravel, the car's modifications are ultimately minimal and could in theory constitute a special-edition variant of the crossover. Sibling brand Fiat recently showed its vision of a 4x4 version of the Grande Panda, which shares its Smart Car underpinnings with the Frontera. It is possible that Vauxhall could use the electrified rear axle from that car to give its model four-wheel drive – although the Fiat uses a hybrid powertrain, whereas the Frontera Gravel has a battery-electric powertrain. Such a model would more clearly carry the torch from the new Frontera's 1990s ancestor, which was a 4x4 based on Japanese brand Isuzu's Mysterious Utility Wizard. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.
Top Gear
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Vauxhall's next generation of GSE performance cars will be fully electric
Vauxhall's next generation of GSE performance cars will be fully electric Plug-in hybrid performance Vauxhalls binned in favour of electrons Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Vauxhall has announced its next generation of 'GSE' performance cars will be fully electric. And it has announced it by suggesting these new battery-electric performance cars will give drivers 'the proverbial OMG feeling'. Indeed. is not aware of any adult with the capacity to spend upwards of £670 a month – or £42k+ - on a new performance Vauxhall who uses 'OMG' in regular parlance, but please let us know if you do. Advertisement - Page continues below In any case, these new cars promise more dynamism, braking and cornering performance across the board. 'This demonstrates how powerful, exciting, and inspiring battery-electric mobility can be,' said Vauxhall/Opel chief Florian Huettl. We do not know exactly how much power they will generate, but likely more than this current generation – 222bhp in the Astras, and 296bhp in the Grandland. They'll also offer 'a chassis set-up that directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure'. Going battery-electric means binning off the current generation of plug-in hybrid GSE models first launched back in 2022, as seen in the Astra, Astra Sports Tourer (estate), and old Grandland. In those cars, GSE – which stands for 'Grand Sport Electric' – meant a 1.6-litre four-pot petrol matched up to a small battery and electric motor, along with a bespoke chassis tune to record… mixed results. Not mixed enough to warrant an OMG, mind. More as we get it. Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Economic Key
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Key
Opel Previews High-Performance All-Electric GSE Models
In 2025, Opel will take the electrification of the brand to a new level. The extra-dynamic and emotional GSE sub-brand will become fully electric and at the same time receive a new, expressive logo – ready for the next generation of GSE models. How the future Opel GSE electric cars will send pulses racing is shown in the new GSE film 'Three Letters', which is now available online on all relevant channels. 'The GSE sub-brand stands for particularly dynamic, exhilarating, and emotional Opel models. 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,' teased Opel CEO Florian Huettl. As early as 2022, Opel heralded the return of the iconic 'GSE' abbreviation – since then, GSE has stood for 'Grand Sport Electric' – and shortly thereafter offered the Opel Astra, Astra Sports Tourer and the previous Grandland generation as particularly bold and dynamic electrified top models with plug-in hybrid drive. With the next GSE generation, the sub-brand will now enter a fully-electric era and become even more emotional. Even the new GSE trailer – the cinematic GSE manifesto, so to speak – shows in one minute that 'Three letters are enough to send pulses racing!' • G for: Grand, German engineering meets goosebumps, great grip and G-forces • S for: Sport, speed, sweat and sliding through S-curves • E for: Electric, excitement, exhilaration and euphoria And Opel promises: 'There will be more this year. So better not blink or miss all the fun!' Because everyone who drives a new battery-electric GSE model will experience the proverbial OMG feeling – full of excitement and adrenaline! In addition to the sporty look, which is based on the award-winning Opel design, future GSE customers can look forward to a chassis set-up that directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure. In addition, the GSE, like all other models with the Blitz, are designed to be stable when braking, cornering and at high speeds on the Autobahn – and combine this with locally emissions-free mobility. Opel is thus proving once again that all-electric vehicles are also full of emotions. The suspenseful short film as well as the new 'OMG! GSE' platform also continue the fresh and unconventional tonality of the recently unveiled Frontera launch campaign as well as award-winning marketing campaigns such as 'Yes, of Corsa' and '#GOGRAND', with which Opel has already successfully positioned the best-selling Opel Corsa and the new top-of- the-line Opel Grandlan. تم نسخ الرابط
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Opel reveals new electric rally car of the future prototype
Opel has become the first manufacturer to develop an all-electric rally car built to the FIA's new eRally5 regulations with the unveiling of its prototype Mokka GSE Rally. The German manufacturer has been one of the leading marques in electric rally car production having enjoyed success with its Corsa Rally Electric, which is used in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, enjoying its fifth season this year. Advertisement Now the car maker has taken the covers off its latest electric rally car prototype, the Mokka GSE Rally which will make its debut at ELE Rally Eindhoven this weekend. The car is the first vehicle built to the FIA's eRally5 regulations devised in 2022 for cars largely based on two-wheel drive production-spec models featuring a stock motor, inverter and battery. 'For more than four years, Opel and the ADAC have been demonstrating that electric rallying works and excites,' said Opel and Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl. 'With our new Opel Mokka GSE Rally, we are offering a glimpse of a fully electric next generation rally car thanks to the latest motorsport technology the prototype offers strong performance and power aplenty.' Opel Mokka GSE Rally Opel Mokka GSE Rally Opel Opel Advertisement According to Opel, the Mokka GSE Rally will deliver 'performance on a par with a Rally4 car' with the vehicle producing a peak output of 207 kW (280 hp) and torque of 345 Newton metres. It features a multi-plate limited-slip differential and a racing gearbox, together with reinforced drive shafts and wheel hubs bolted to a lightweight chassis. The software tuning for the engine and battery management has been designed for maximum efficiency, driveability under competitive conditions and performance. To ensure the highest safety standards, the car's battery is shrouded in a special casing. In the unlikely event of an insulation issue, a visual and acoustic warning system immediately reports a malfunction. Advertisement In the event of a sudden deceleration (such as in a collision), a sophisticated sensor system completely shuts down the high-voltage system in a few tenths of a second. In addition, the Mokka GSE Rally has a special extinguishing system with electrically non-conductive extinguishing agent. Opel believes the Mokka GSE Rally could be ready for competition in 2026. To read more articles visit our website.
Auto Car
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Ever wanted your Mokka to be a bit more... rally? Say hello to the Vauxhall Mokka GSe Rally
Vauxhall has previewed its the upcoming Mokka GSe with a rally inspired concept. The Mokka GSe Rally prototype is based on the current crossover and features Bilstein rally suspension, a racing gearbox, and a lightweight chassis. According to Vauxhall, the concept is also the world's first rally car currently being developed according to the FIA's new eRally5 regulations, meaning it could potentially be used in global rally series from next year. Underneath, it draws power from the same 54kWh battery as the standard Mokka, and adopts the same 278bhp, 254lb ft single-motor setup from its Abarth 600e Stellantis sibling. While no further technical specs have been given, in the 600e, the same powertrain yield 0-62mph times of 5.9sec. It also, like the 600e, gets limited-slop differential. Visually, underneath the GSe Rally's striking design, it showcases a car that is clearly differentiated in styling terms to the standard Mokka with a front and rear diffs, flared wheel arches and larger alloys. These production-ready features - largely unusual for a concept – point to what we can expect from the upcoming Mokka GSe, a car which was recently teased by Vauxhall/Opel CEO Florian Huettl and which is expected to be revealed in the coming months. The video also announced the sub brand would ditch models with combustion engines such as the previous Astra GSe In addition to the Mokka GSe, Huettl hinted that there will be further news on more electric Vauxhalls. He said: '[GSe] is also a promise that [Vauxhall's] electric future will not be driven by compromise. There is more to come in 2025 – we are just getting started.'
