“Opel Goes Electric”: CEO Michael Lohscheller Announces Next Steps in Opel Electro-Offensive at IAA

Opel boss Michael Lohscheller – together with special guest and Opel brand ambassador Jürgen Klopp – today opened the “OPELHAUS 120” at the 2019 IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). Opel is going electric and the same goes for the show stand D31 in hall 11.0.

In a talk with Champions League winner Klopp, Lohscheller presented breaking news about the E-offensive around LCV and eye-catching world premieres. The highly efficient new Opel Corsa, the battery electric Corsa-e and Corsa-e Rally make their debut in Frankfurt, along with the first Opel plug-in hybrid, the all-wheel drive Grandland X Hybrid4 with up to 221kW (300hp) system power output (fuel consumption: WLTP 1.4-1.3 l/100km, 32-29 g/km CO₂; NEDC 1.5 l/100km 35-34 g/km CO₂; all figures weighted, combined and preliminary). Also making their first appearance in Frankfurt are the new Opel Astra five-door and Sports Tourer – the most efficient Astra of all time, with five engines emitting less than 100 g/km CO₂and an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.26. Also making its premiere at a German motor show is the Opel Zafira Life that offers seating for up to nine and is packed with innovative technologies.

Michael Lohscheller emphasised the importance of Opel’s electric offensive: “In 120 years of automobile production, Opel has always combined German engineering with passionate design, making pioneering technology and innovations accessible for everyone. The same goes today for electric mobility, which is why Opel has selected its most popular model, the Corsa, to finally free e-mobility from its niche existence.” That this not only applies to everyday life, but also to motor sport, is demonstrated by the premiere of the brand new Corsa-e Rally. Opel is the first carmaker to offer a battery electric car for customer rally sport, starting from next year with the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup.

Not only the passenger cars, but also the LCV will be electrically driven in future. Lohscheller added: “Opel will be sustainably profitable, global and electric. By 2024, all Opel models will be electrified. Electrically driven vehicles will be especially important for the ‘last mile’ in urban areas, for example, for transportation services or businesses. This is why I am delighted to announce today that the Combo Life, Combo Cargo and Zafira Life will already be electric in 2021. And the Vivaro van will be available as an electric version in the course of next year.”

The Opel Zafira Life in particular will play a key role in the further development of electric mobility. In addition to bringing hybrid and battery electric vehicles onto the market, Opel also aims to take the lead in the research and development of other pioneering propulsion systems. Lohscheller therefore announced “Opel has many years of experience in fuel cell development, which is why the team in Rüsselsheim has been named as the Groupe PSA global competence centre for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles. The first-generation Zafira already served as technology platform for HydroGen 1 to 3. We are continuing this tradition: the new Zafira Life will be the brand’s first model to feature the new generation of fuel cell powertrain.”

Next generation small car: Opel Corsa, Corsa-e and Corsa-e Rally

One of this year’s IAA stars is the new 4.06-metre long Opel Corsa. The sixth generation of Opel’s bestselling small car is more modern, dynamic and efficient than ever – in every version. It offers customers the entire drive portfolio – with its particularly economical petrol and diesel engines as well as for the first time the purely battery-electric Corsa-e with a 50kWh battery pack, 100kW (136hp) output and a range of up to 330 kilometres (WLTP³). Moderate fuel consumption and an engaging drive are characteristic of all powertrain options and the exemplary emission values reach all the way to zero when driving the Corsa-e. The sporty overall impression is matched by the reduced weight – the lightest Corsa even undercuts the thousand kilo mark – the low seating position of the driver and the finely tuned chassis. All this comes with everyday suitability and combined with technologies otherwise only known from higher vehicle classes, in particular the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED^® matrix light.

Opel also makes a clear statement with the premiere of the Corsa-e Rally based on the production Corsa-e: the company is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to develop a battery-electric vehicle for customer rally sport. From mid-2020, Opel will start the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup for electric cars in the world. Sporty, emotional and accessible to customers – a project that will point the way ahead for motor sport far beyond the borders of Germany.

Opel Grandland X Hybrid4: introducing the first plug-in hybrid from Opel

With its state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology, up to 221kW (300hp) system power output and all-wheel drive, the Opel Grandland X is the second example of modern, efficient electro-mobility on Opel’s IAA stand. The propulsion system of the Grandland X Hybrid4 includes a WLTP-certified 147kW (200hp) 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine, an electric drive system with two 80kW (109hp) electric motors and a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery.

The Grandland X Hybrid4 will offer four driving modes – electric, hybrid, AWD and Sport. For example, the hybrid mode allows the car to automatically select its most efficient method of propulsion, with the possibility of switching to electric mode for zero-emission driving when reaching a city centre – enabling the car to cover up to 59km in pure electric mode with zero emissions in the WLTP driving cycle. Sport mode uses the combined power of the petrol engine and electric motor for higher driving dynamics. Selecting AWD mode activates the electrified rear axle for maximum traction on all kinds of roads. In order to further improve efficiency, the Grandland X Hybrid4 features a regenerative braking system to recover the energy produced under braking or deceleration.

Economical petrol powertrains: most efficient Opel Astra ever

With the new Astra, Opel keeps its promise to focus on customers and their needs. Instead of prescribing the way forward, the automaker offers the entire drive portfolio – perfectly tailored to individual driving needs. The new Opel Astra demonstrates how efficient and economical modern petrol engines can be: with a completely new generation of engines and transmissions and up to 21 per cent lower CO₂ emissions, the new Astra is the most efficient ever. The Astra also leads the way in terms of aerodynamics. With a drag coefficient of 0.26 for the Astra hatchback as well as the Sports Tourer estate, the new compact Opel is one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class. The new Astra is equally exemplary in terms of comfort, assistance and infotainment systems. The portfolio ranges from an even more powerful front camera and digital rear view camera, to wireless charging for compatible smartphones and a heated windscreen.

The IAA starts with the press days (September 10 – 11). The show is officially open from September 12-22 (September 12-13 are trade days). From September 14, the general public can take a close look at the new automobiles and developments every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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