Meet Opel Manta GSe, the rear-wheel EV with manual gearbox

KUALA LUMPUR: Opel Manta GSe is the brand’s latest EV creation with vintage-approved styling whose one glance is enough to catch attention. Many may not know but this one is a recreation of the 50-year old Manta two-seater. Also, back in the day, it was a popular model and the company has given it a new lease of life, in the form of Manta GSe ElektroMOD.

Compared to the older version, the new model looks a bit more futuristic. Plus, it’s electric with zero-emission.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller said, “The Manta GSe impressively demonstrates the enthusiasm with which we built cars at Opel. It combines our great Opel tradition with today’s commitment to emission-free mobility for a very desirable, sustainable future.” He further added, “Opel is already electric with many models - and now the legendary Manta is too.”

The ‘e’ in Manta GSe stands for electrification. The motor that rests under the hood pumps out a maximum power of 147 hp along with a peak torque of 244 Nm. The gearbox can be either used as a conventional 4-speed manual unit or the driver can just stick it into 4th and drive it like an automatic with a rear-wheel drive.

Onboard is also 31 kWh of battery that allows for a range of almost 200 km. Like other Opel EVs, this one too can recover energy while braking.

Opel’s latest EV runs on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 195/40 R17 front and 205/40 R17 rear tyres. Also, its 9.0 kW charger goes from 0 to 100 percent in just four hours.

Apart from the ICE swapping for an EV, Opal has made a lot of other tweaks as well. Like the exterior benefits from the brand’s latest corporate identity that was first seen on the 2018 GT X Experimental concept. The GSe gets a vibrant neon yellow spray, redesigned wheel arches, and ‘MANTA’ lettering on the boot lid.

The changes are not just limited to the outside and under the hood, they go further beyond to the EV's interior. The dashboard accommodates a dual-screen setup inclined towards the driver. The instrument cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system measures 12-inches and 10-inches, respectively. Furthermore, it gets Adam S’ sporty seats and a striking yellow accent all over.

As per the automaker, more factory created electric restomods are in the pipeline.

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