Manta is back (sort of…), but now it's electric. THE Opel Blanket GSe ElektroMOD marks the return of the iconic Manta A (the first generation of the German coupé) and is presented in the form of a future-proof restomod: “electric, emission-free and full of emotions”.
That's how the Rüsselsheim brand describes it, with Michael Lohscheller, general manager of Opel, explaining that “the Manta GSe demonstrates, in a remarkable way, the enthusiasm with which we build cars at Opel”.
This vintage tram combines “the classic lines of an icon with the advanced technology of sustainable mobility” and presents itself as the first electric “MOD” in the history of the German brand of the Stellantis group.
For this reason, it is no surprise that we see the general features of the model, which bears the manta ray as a symbol and which celebrated 50 years in 2020, being maintained, albeit with changes made in part to fit into Opel's current design philosophy.
An example of this is the presence of the “Opel Vizor” concept — debuted by Mokka —, which here gained an even more technological version, called “Pixel-Vizor”: it allows “projecting”, for example, various messages on the front grille. You can read more about it at the link below:
But if the interactive “grid” and LED luminous signature catch the eye, it's the neon yellow paintwork — it matches Opel's newly updated corporate identity — and the black hood that ensure this Electric Blanket doesn't go unnoticed .
The original chrome fender trims have disappeared and the fenders now “hide” specific 17” Ronal wheels. At the back, in the trunk, the model's identifying lettering appears with a new and modern Opel typeface, which is also worth mentioning.
Moving inland, and as you'd expect, we find Opel's latest digital technology. The Opel Pure Panel, similar to the new Mokka, with two integrated screens of 12″ and 10″ assumes most of the “expenses” and appears oriented towards the driver.
As for the seats, they are the same ones that were developed for the Opel Adam S, although they now feature a decorative yellow line. The steering wheel, with three arms, is from the Petri brand and maintains the style of the 70s.
The distinctive ambience of the new Opel Manta GSe ElktroMOD is further ensured by matte gray and yellow finishes and the Alcantara-lined roof. Already the soundtrack is in charge of a Bluetooth box from Marshall, legendary brand of amplifiers.
But the biggest difference is hidden under the hood. Where we once found a four-cylinder engine, we now have an electric thruster with 108 kW (147 hp) of power and 255 Nm of maximum torque.
Opel Blanket GSe ElektroMOD
Powering it is a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 31 kWh that allows an average autonomy of about 200 km, and, as in the production models Corsa-e and Mokka-e, this Manta GSe also recovers. braking energy and storing it in the batteries.
Unprecedented in this model is the fact that it is an electric with a manual box. Yes that's right. The driver has the option of using the original four-speed manual gearbox or simply shifting into fourth gear and exiting in automatic mode, with power always being transmitted exclusively to the rear wheels.
