Compact Class Highlight: First Glimpse of New Opel Astra & Opel Astra Sports Tourer

• Sharper, more technical: Bestseller with new Opel Vizor design including illuminated Blitz
• From Vision to reality: New Opel Astra adopts characteristic elements of Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car
• Perennial favourite: New Opel Astra sounds in next chapter of 90-year compact-class success story

Sporty, elegant, practical and with numerous features that are otherwise only known from higher vehicle classes: This is what distinguishes the Opel Astra and the Opel Astra Sports Tourer. Together with its predecessor Opel Kadett, the compact model bestseller from Rüsselsheim stands for a success story in its segment that has now lasted almost 90 years. Opel will soon open the next chapter for the Astra. Because the new Opel Astra is coming soon – sharper, more technical and even more eye-catching than ever. Opel has revealed a first glimpse of the future of the Astra by showing the new Vizor, which will adorn the model and is inspired by the breathtaking high-performance Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car.

"For decades, the Astra has stood for what distinguishes Opel: German engineering that combines emotions with proven practicality and top technologies for everyone. The Astra is 'made in Germany' through and through – designed, engineered and made in Rüsselsheim. Now we are taking the next big step with our compact class bestseller: The new Opel Astra and the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer will delight customers with new, even sharper and more precise design highlights as well as innovative technologies. Stay tuned, more details will follow shortly," teased Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

The further developed Opel Vizor gives a first taste of the new Opel Astra. The characteristic brand face will be even slimmer and more precise than before. The Opel Blitz emblem is illuminated for the first time in the history of the Astra – and will make the perennial compact class favourite just as recognisable as the top-of-the-line Grandland SUV, the first Opel model to introduce the illuminated Blitz. Sharp and precise contours are characteristic for the new Opel Astra front. For example, the designers and engineers have also refined the Opel Compass and fitted it with characteristic light strips – as can be seen on the Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo.

With its sharper appearance and innovative safety and feel-good technologies, the new Opel Astra is now even more modern, attractive and comfortable. In this way, the Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer will continue the successful compact class tradition. More information about the new Opel Astra and its world premiere will follow soon.

2026 Rally season: Opel Mokka GSE Rally to promise Grand Sport Electric in ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup

• New name: Electric competition to be called ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup
• New car: Opel Mokka GSE Rally to replace Opel Corsa Rally Electric
• All the know-how, twice the power: Mokka GSE Rally with 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Newton metres of torque
• Opel supports rally stars of tomorrow: Cup proven springboard for young rally drivers

Good news for motorsport fans and rally talents alike. Opel and ADAC have announced some exciting changes for the 2026 rally season. Going forward, the world's first electric one-make rally cup will be called ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup. Furthermore, the participants will no longer face the challenging stages in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric – instead they will show their talents in the 207 kW (281 hp) Opel Mokka GSE Rally, the first car currently being developed according to the FIA's new eRally5 regulations. The 2026 season of the GSE Rally Cup is set to take place across seven rounds in six different European countries and will begin in May with the ELE Rally in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

"With the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, Opel and ADAC have created the world's first one-make electric rally cup. Five successful seasons impressively prove that sustainable motorsport works and combines strong performance with thrills. Our Opel Corsa has shown that its electric drive system is absolutely reliable, also under rally conditions. Within our GSE strategy, this cup stands for approachable, electric performance and is a successful springboard for young rally talents, as we demonstrated with numerous successes in higher rally classes. With the new Mokka GSE Rally, the 2026 season will definitely be very exciting again", said Rebecca Reinermann, Vice President Marketing Opel and Vauxhall.

ADAC Sport President Dr. Gerd Ennser said: “The innovative concept of the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup is a prime example of how to successfully combine the work with young talents and electric motorsport. ADAC is a pioneer for more sustainability in motorsport, and with the early extension of our cooperation with Opel we are sending a strong signal for electric rallying. Our Cup is the talent factory of Europe’s rally champions: Numerous drivers who began their careers here, have successfully established themselves on national and international stages.”

Power, performance, thrills: New Opel Mokka GSE Rally

Teams and drivers can look forward to getting their hands on the Opel Mokka GSE Rally, the first car currently being developed according to the FIA's new eRally5 regulations. With a peak power output of 207 kW (281 hp) it is more than twice as powerful as the Opel Corsa Rally Electric (100 kW/136 hp). In combination with 345 Newton metres of torque and sophisticated motorsport technology, it promises performance on a par with a Rally4 car. A multi-plate limited-slip differential and a racing gearbox, together with reinforced drive shafts and wheel hubs, provide powerful propulsion. The chassis was manufactured in a lightweight design. The perfectly tuned rally suspension from Bilstein consists of reinforced McPherson struts and uniball mounts on the front axle as well as a rear axle with modified springs and dampers. Based on the experience gained from the Corsa Rally Electric, the software tuning for the engine and battery management has been designed for maximum efficiency, drivability under competitive conditions and performance. The battery corresponds to the series version with a storage capacity of 54 kWh.

"Since the launch of this pioneering motorsport project, our Opel Corsa Rally Electric has demonstrated season by season its reliability, robustness, and impressive performance – even under most demanding rally conditions. Now we're taking it to the next level: I had the chance to experience the Mokka GSE Rally in action at the Rally Stemwede in northern Germany. Seeing the motorsport fan reactions to our future rally car shows that we are heading in the right direction with our GSE label and that it has been a good decision to develop a Mokka GSE as series model for Opel customers," said Marcus Lott, Senior Vice President Stellantis Lead Engineering Central Europe.

In addition to ensuring outstanding performance, extremely high safety standards have been retained. Like the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, the Mokka GSE Rally also has a roll cage (certified by the FIA), rally seats with six-point seatbelts, a special encapsulation of the battery and an additional underride guard. The 400-volt system is continuously monitored by the Master Alarm Indicator. In the unlikely event of an insulation issue, a visual and acoustic warning system immediately reports a malfunction. In case of a sudden deceleration (such as in a collision), a sophisticated sensor system completely shuts down the high-voltage system in a few tenths of a second. In addition, the Opel Mokka GSE Rally has a special extinguishing system with electrically non-conductive extinguishing agent.

Electric motorsport and talent pool: Opel supports rally stars of tomorrow

"The cooperation between ADAC and Opel is the perfect embodiment of successful talent promotion. We both support the rally stars of tomorrow, and our common philosophy is paying off: Over 224 male and female drivers from 22 nations have taken their first steps in professional rallying since the 2013 season. The best of them made it into the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team and caused a real stir at European level. Six JERC driver titles including this year’s championship of Calle Carlberg speak for themselves,” added Jörg Schrott, Head of Opel Motorsport. “But not only the rally youngsters and their thrilling battles have been crucial to the success of our cup. The technological maturity of the Opel Corsa Rally Electric also speaks for itself. Its near-production electric propulsion stands for innovation, quality and reliability made by Opel. With this rally engagement, we prove once again that electric mobility is suitable for everyday use and electrifying and reliable for motorsport alike. I am really looking forward to the 2026 Cup season with our new Mokka GSE Rally."

Since 2013, the champions of the former ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup ‘powered by GSE’, which was launched in 2021, have automatically been promoted to the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team where they have put their undoubted skills to the test in the Opel Corsa Rally4 in the Junior European Championship. This year, Calle Carlberg brought home Opel’s sixth title in the last decade and the Swede followed in the footsteps of Emil Bergkvist (Sweden, 2015), Marijan Griebel (Germany, 2016), Chris Ingram (England, 2017), Martins Sesks (Latvia, 2018) and Laurent Pellier (France, 2022). After having won the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup this year, Tom Heindrichs will be promoted into the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team next year.

GSE Success: New Opel Mokka GSE Wins ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2025’

• ‘Best small car’: Fastest all-electric production Opel takes title
• Battery-electric driving pleasure: Opel Mokka GSE brings rally feeling to the road
• Serial success: To date, 22 ‘automotive Oscars’ for the brand with the Blitz

Goosebumps, speed and electric emotions by driving locally emissions-free – the new Opel Mokka GSE stands for all of this. This is underlined by the latest award for the speedy Opel electric car, which is already available to order: Opel Mokka GSE wins the ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2025’ as ‘Best Small Car’ in a strong field of competitors 1. The fastest all-electric production Opel, which celebrated its world premiere at this year's IAA Mobility in Munich, arouses the enthusiasm of experts and the public.

“Our new Mokka GSE brings Opel’s Motorsport know-how to the road – all-electric, practical and highly emotional in every respect. We are extremely pleased that the readers and the expert jury of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG see it the same way and have recognised Opel Mokka GSE with the 'Golden Steering Wheel',” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

“This is rechargeable driving pleasure! With its rally genes, Opel Mokka GSE revives the era of hot hatches. Direct, honest, inspiring – on the road as well as on the racetrack,” summarised Robin Hornig, editor-in-chief of AUTO BILD.

Opel Mokka GSE thus follows directly on the heels of last year's award winning Opel Grandland. After the readers of AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG voted the rally sports car for the road into the final, Opel Mokka GSE faced tough tests and the strict evaluation of the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ jury of experts at the DEKRA Lausitzring. And the newcomer passed with flying colours. The motorsport professionals, car experts and celebrities named Opel Mokka GSE the ‘Best Small Car 2025’1. In the thrilling finale, they awarded Opel Mokka GSE a total of 3,345 points. It thus comfortably beat its main rivals by 374 and 432 points respectively.

Full electric power: 207 kW (281 hp) and GSE Motorsport technology for the road

The success factors are manifold: Opel Mokka GSE offers high-performance as standard. With a peak output of 207 kW (281 hp), it is just as powerful as its motorsport counterpart, Opel Mokka GSE Rally. And with the immediate torque of 345 Newton meters, it accelerates just as uncompromisingly, completing the dash from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds – and with a top speed of 200 km/h, it is the fastest all-electric production Opel. The sophisticated technology, which was also inspired by the rally car, contributes to the exceptional performance. Thanks to the 54 kWh battery, up to 336 kilometres (WLTP 3) can be covered locally emissions-free before Opel Mokka GSE needs recharging.

In addition, there are numerous design and equipment details that convey pure emotions. These include GSE-specific inserts and lettering on the body, a wheel-tyre combination specially developed for Opel Mokka GSE and clearly visible, yellow GSE four-piston brake calipers at the front. In the interior, the driver and front passenger sit on special Alcantara performance seats with integrated headrests designed in the GSE look. 

The newly developed steering system for Opel Mokka GSE along with the steering wheel which is flattened at the top and bottom promise direct feedback. Acceleration and braking commands are given via aluminium sports pedals. 

Technologies such as the adaptive, glare-free Intelli-Lux Matrix light and the 180-degree panoramic reversing camera are standard, making the journey more pleasant and safe.

Opel and the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’: All 22 winners from Rüsselsheim

New Opel Mokka GSE is the latest in a proud series of Opel winners of the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’. Out of 72 new models, 21 finalists competed in 7 categories this year. After the tests at the Lausitzring, the respective category winners were finally determined. The award, which is presented by BILD am SONNTAG in cooperation with AUTO BILD, is considered the ‘Oscar’ of the automotive industry. In 49 editions the brand with the Blitz has been recognised 22 times. Since 2020 alone, the trophy has gone to Rüsselsheim five times. Opel celebrated its first success in 1978, two years after the award was founded, with the Senator A taking top honours.

[1] AUTO BILD issue 47/2025 and BILD am SONNTAG issue 47/2025, category ‘Small Cars’.

[2] The values of a vehicle depend not only on the efficient use of fuel by the vehicle, but are also influenced by driving behaviour and other non-technical factors.

[3] The stated range was determined using the WLTP test procedures (Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 and Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range may vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular personal driving style, route conditions, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning as well as thermal preconditioning.

[4] AUTO BILD edition 45/2021 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2021, category for ‘Best car under €25,000’.

[5] AUTO BILD edition 45/2022 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2022, category for ‘Best car under €50,000’.

[6] AUTO BILD edition 46/2024 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 45/2024, category ‘Best car under €50,000’.