One year after
presenting their ‘Pace!’ plan, Opel has announced a new product offensive,
which will commence with the launch of the new Corsa EV and Grandland X PHEV. Believed
to be called the eCorsa, the battery-electric version of the supermini will
follow hot on the heels of the ICE-powered derivatives that will be introduced
next year.
Given that
Opel/Vauxhall is now part of PSA and that Peugeot is also looking at a
zero-emission 208, it’s likely that the two cars will share some parts in an
attempt to keep the production costs as low as possible. The Grandland X, on
the other hand, will become the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. It’s expected to
arrive in 2019, probably with the same powertrain as the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4.
The latter was
unveiled at the 2018 Paris Auto Show and combines a 1.6-liter petrol unit with
two electric motors, making 300 PS. One motor is found on the
rear axle, whereas the other one is located at the front, integrated into the
eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Besides the eCorsa
and Grandland X PHEV, two other Opel vehicles will be electrified in 2020 as
part of the automaker’s pledge to have an electric version of every new Opel in
2024, an offensive that “will strongly contribute to meeting the strict CO2
limits set by the EU”, said CEO Michael Lohscheller.
Furthermore, they
will start making the Grandland X for the African market in a new plant located
in Namibia this month. Thus, the company will expand its operations beyond the
European markets. Finally, moving under the PSA roof won’t affect Opel and
Vauxhall, as the former “will stay German”, and the latter “will stay British”,
added Lohscheller.
