Monday 2nd June

New Opel Mokka GSe looks production-ready

Traditionally, car makers do everything possible to hide the identity of their test mules - not Opel

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Opel certainly couldn’t be accused of any half-measures when it comes to promoting its new GSe performance sub-brand. We’ve had the teaser campaign, the ready-to-race rally car, the intimation that a fun concept could return… as launch initiatives go, it has garnered some attention. Even, for yes, a range of fast EVs. But we live in a world where Hyundai makes probably the best enthusiast focused EV out there, there’s a great new French pocket rocket with battery power, and a small Fiat electric hot hatch that’s been fairly well received. Given its place in the Stellantis’ empire, it’s the latter that will share much with the oncoming Mokka. 

So there’s some hope - or mild anticipation at the very least. And just in case all the GSe messaging so far has passed you by, Opel is making absolutely sure now with one of the craziest prototype liveries we’ve ever seen. There’s no danger of missing the GSe, nor mistaking it for anything but the new Mokka EV flagship. They’re absolutely running with the ‘OMG! GSe’ idea, that’s for certain. They’ll be offering it as a factory livery at this rate.

But there’s more to see beyond the hi-vis, with some chunky brake discs up front clamped by acid green calipers, and a more aggressive stance than a standard Mokka. Lower and wider looks like a good start for a fast one. Plus the rally car rules mean that a road-going variant has to be homologated; a small Vauxhall SUV doesn’t exactly scream the return of homologation specials, but wanting to create the best competition car possible must be good news for the production model. 

That being said, as we mentioned, expect plenty of bits to be shared between the GSe and the other cars on this e-CMP2 architecture. Or, more specifically, the ‘Perfo-eCMP’ evolution of it used by the Abarth 600e, complete with limited-slip diff, 380mm brakes, stiffer anti-roll bars, inch-wider tracks and up to 280hp which may also underpin the upcoming Peugeot 208 e-GTI. There must be worse bits and bobs to share when trying to make an exciting small EV. The Opel Mokka GSe is expected to make its showroom debut before the end of 2025.

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• Vauxhall touts new GSE performance sub-brand
• The Gravel goes where no Frontera has gone before

[Wab1974uk]

Dealers will be gearing up for the Midnight rush once order books are open.

[Water Fairy]

How thoroughly forgettable

[mfp4073]

I’ve always been a Vauxhall/ Opel fan, they have made some lovely cars in the past. The Opel Commodore, Monza, Senator, Manta, and the like. Fast forward to today and there is absolutely nothing in the range that is in any way appealing, and this particular vehicle is pretty much a non entity in my eyes.
What I can’t figure out is how Opel / Vauxhall are still in business?

[Edmundo2]

Can't wait!

[Motormouth88]

The fact that some brainiac thought putting OMG on the wrap/camo was a good marketing move says a lot about how lame this is

[ShredderXLE]

Bland! There is nothing remotely interesting about it and the OMG thing just feels desperate.

If you made a collage of all these ev things and took the badges off, would anyone be able to identify them? The Hyundai ones seem to be the only ones with a distinctive look.

[Bobby Lee]

Wooooow! Another massive plastic turd yes please!

[Moss Feen]

OMG .it looks .st3

[SRT77]

Gosh

[griffdude]

mfp4073 said:

I ve always been a Vauxhall/ Opel fan, they have made some lovely cars in the past. The Opel Commodore, Monza, Senator, Manta, and the like. Fast forward to today and there is absolutely nothing in the range that is in any way appealing, and this particular vehicle is pretty much a non entity in my eyes.
What I can t figure out is how Opel / Vauxhall are still in business?

Exactly- this is the company that produced some brilliant cars….. & now this dross.

Had the misfortune to have a Mokka as a hire car recently & it had the most uncomfortable seats ever.

[Andy86GT]

mfp4073 said:

I ve always been a Vauxhall/ Opel fan, they have made some lovely cars in the past. The Opel Commodore, Monza, Senator, Manta, and the like. Fast forward to today and there is absolutely nothing in the range that is in any way appealing, and this particular vehicle is pretty much a non entity in my eyes.
What I can t figure out is how Opel / Vauxhall are still in business?

They're not in business anymore as car companies, it's just badge engineering of Stellantis platforms.

Completely agree it's sad, I've had a Manta GT/E, 2 Vectra SRis and a Carton CDX. This Mokka thing is tragic.

[LuS1fer]

A Droop Snoot Firenza or a Chevette HS/R this could never be.

More akin to and about as exciting as a VX4/90.

[J4CKO]

Is it just me or does that name sounds a bit like an Indian surname ?

[DonkeyApple]

Could this be a front runner for the least interesting or aspirational form of transport for 2025?

Will the Old Mad Grannies want that colour scheme?

[mclwanB]

griffdude said:

mfp4073 said:

I ve always been a Vauxhall/ Opel fan, they have made some lovely cars in the past. The Opel Commodore, Monza, Senator, Manta, and the like. Fast forward to today and there is absolutely nothing in the range that is in any way appealing, and this particular vehicle is pretty much a non entity in my eyes.
What I can t figure out is how Opel / Vauxhall are still in business?

Exactly- this is the company that produced some brilliant cars .. & now this dross.

Had the misfortune to have a Mokka as a hire car recently & it had the most uncomfortable seats ever.

I had a Mokka hire care recently and was pleasantly surprised at how awful it was, seats were fine with my dodgy back too.

Stellatis seem seriously behind on EVs but then VW are little better...

[spikyone]

I'm calling it. Pistonheads running a news story on a Vauxhall Mokka is the first horseman of the apocalypse. Time to repent; the end is nigh.

[rodericb]

Motormouth88 said:

The fact that some brainiac thought putting OMG on the wrap/camo was a good marketing move says a lot about how lame this is

It's not that far removed from the regular black and white camo used normally which, incidentally, means a good chunk of the automotive journalism industry remain employed as this "camo" gives them a visual foot up the arse to notice that they've got something to write about. Which then keeps a few car enthusiasts/forum posters active and away from looking at dogswearingstockings.com or whatever more socially marginal content they'd normally be getting a bone over.

Edited by rodericb on Wednesday 4th June 00:59

[Chubbyross]

One for the council thread.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Motormouth88 said:

The fact that some brainiac thought putting OMG on the wrap/camo was a good marketing move says a lot about how lame this is

Made you post about it though, didn't it?

[Truckosaurus]

Article said:

complete with limited-slip diff, 380mm brakes, stiffer anti-roll bars, inch-wider tracks and up to 280hp

If they can get the above into the car then it could be an amusing daily driver, despite the silly OMG paint work.