World Premiere IAA: Opel First Carmaker to Present Electric Rally Car

• ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup: world’s first rally brand cup for electric cars
• For customer sport: New battery electric rally car based on Opel Corsa-e
• Good cooperation: Opel and ADAC continue their successful partnership
• Tradition: Opel has won seven European and one world rally championship

New Opel Corsa-e: Electric Rally Car

Opel is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer a battery-electric vehicle for customer rally sport. Electric competition car is based on the Opel Corsa-e, which is already available to order, and will make its world premiere at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). In 2020 Opel and the ADAC will start the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup for electric cars in the world.

With the new series, Opel and the ADAC are continuing their successful partnership. In the past years, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup has been the perfect entry ticket to rallying for around 100 young drivers from 18 countries. Fastest also displayed their talents internationally in the ADAC Opel Junior Rallye team. Opel juniors won the European championship four times in succession (2015 to 2018) with the Opel ADAM R2. New Opel Corsa-e now replaces Opel ADAM on the rally stages. New competition car produces 100 kW (136 hp) and develops 260 Nm of torque from a standstill.

“Opel Corsa-e is the electric car for everyone – fully suited to everyday use and absolutely affordable, attributes that equally apply to motor sport. New Opel Corsa is also fun to drive and particularly dynamic. Using the production car as the basis, we are the first carmaker in the world to have developed an electric rally car” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Hermann Tomczyk, President ADAC Sport, added: “With the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup we are bringing electric drive for the first time to mainstream sport and especially to young-driver support. The innovative concept and the cooperation with Groupe PSA opens new possibilities for us, especially in the support of young drivers. I am certain that the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will point the way ahead for motor sport far beyond the borders of Germany.”

Initially the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will take place during rounds of the German Rally Championship and other selected events. Series is scheduled to begin in summer 2020. At least ten qualifying rounds through 2021 will form a so-called “Super Season”. A pyramid of support for young drivers is part of the concept, which also foresees a new edition of the successful ADAC Opel Rallye Academy, established in 2016, as the first level. At the time, more than 1,000 youngsters showed their interest in the unique “rally casting”, which led straight to the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup for the most talented participants. This successful concept will be continued and expanded into the top international echelon of the sport.

In the next step after graduating from the academy and the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the best young drivers will progress to the European Junior Rally Championship with the new Opel Corsa R2. Integration of Opel in Groupe PSA offers additional possibilities for top talents: sister-brand Peugeot competes with powerful FIA R5 machines and Citroën even with world rally cars – excellent opportunities for rising to the very highest level of international rally sport.

“Opel has traditionally strong connections with rallying” said Lohscheller. “We can look back with pride on numerous successes, including seven European championship titles as well as the World Rally Championship in 1982 with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer in the Opel Ascona 400. Now we are moving forward with electric drive and fans will be amazed by the performance of our e-cup rally car”.

Development of the Opel Corsa-e Rally in Rüsselsheim continues at a rapid pace. Fifteen cars are planned for the 2020/2021 ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup. Price for customer cars from Opel Motorsport will be significantly less than €50,000 (net).

Electric motor: Synchronous

Power: 100 kW (136 hp)

Torque: 260 Nm

Battery: Lithium-ion, 50 kWh

Transmission: Front-wheel drive with Torsen differential

Suspension: Rally suspension

McPherson strut with uniball joints front

Wheels: 7 x 17; ET20

Steering: Electric power steering

Brakes: 4-piston brake calipers, Interior ventilated 332x28 mm front discs, 264x12 mm rear discs Hydraulic brake pressure adjustable at rear, especially adapted for recuperation, adapted brake management and recuperation, hydraulic “fly-off” handbrake

Chassis: Lightweight body-in-white with integrated roll-cage, underbody protection for engine and transmission, electric fire extinguisher, dry battery (standard in engine compartment), quick-release fasteners for bonnet and tailgate

Electrical system: ESP, traction control (TC) and ABS deactivated, motorsport display with data-logger, newly developed high-voltage (HV) safety warning system

Optional: Tripmaster & additional lighting

Dimensions: Length: 4,060 mm

Width: 1,770 mm (5.0 mm wider than production)

Height: 1,440 mm (5.0 mm higher than production

Wheelbase: 2,540 mm (2.0 mm longer than production)