New Opel Corsa GSE: Electrifying Resurrection of the Hot Hatch

• Power aplenty: 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Nm of torque
• No other production Opel accelerates faster: From 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds
• Hot, hotter, hot hatch design: GSE-specific front and rear, 18-inch wheels, Alcon high-performance brake system, performance seats, yellow seatbelts, digital displays with performance data and much more
• Back to the future: Opel Corsa GSE revives the tradition of sporty Corsa models

The new all-electric Opel Mokka GSE Rally competition vehicle, the Opel Mokka GSE rally car for the road and the breathtaking high-performance Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept: 2025 marked the resurrection of the highly dynamic GSE models. In 2026, Opel will once again expand the electrifying driving pleasure for everyone – with the new Opel Corsa GSE 1. The new high-performance variant of Germany's best-selling small car takes the sporty GSi genes of the first Corsa generation into the future – pulsating, exciting and fully electric. The most powerful production Corsa of all time to date will be released this year and will celebrate its exhibition premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October. However, Opel has already removed the covers today by publishing the first official pictures of the new ‘hot hatch’.

Electrifying Opel Corsa GSE: Small car, exhilarating performance

The Opel Corsa GSE brings the sporty genes of previous Corsa generations back to life. As a GSi, the Corsa A already thrilled fans of highly dynamic small cars who wanted to experience driving pleasure and performance. With the new Opel Corsa GSE, Opel returns to the market of real ‘hot hatches’ and charges it with even more emotion, excitement, performance and all-electric driving pleasure. Because that's exactly what GSE stands for: Grand Sport Electric!

Opel has already shown that battery-electric peak performance should not only be reserved for customers in the luxury segment with the introduction of the Opel Mokka GSE last year. And in the same way, the new Opel Corsa GSE makes a clear statement with its performance figures. With 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Newton metres, the newcomer will offer just as much electric power as the current ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ [3] title holder Mokka GSE. At the same time, however, the Corsa GSE becomes even more dynamic. With an acceleration of just 5.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h1, the high-performance Corsa pushes its driver into the GSE performance seat more vehemently than any other current Opel production model. It reaches its top speed at 180 km/h 1.

Opel Corsa GSE drivers can choose from three different driving modes: In ‘Sport’ mode, the electric car is tuned for pure performance and calls up full power with its special ‘racetrack’-optimised calibration; in ‘Normal’ mode it delivers 170 kW (231 hp) and a sporty set-up design, the top speed of up to 180 km/h1 is also possible, and in ‘Eco’ all settings are trimmed for the greatest possible efficiency; here the top speed is 150 km/h1. The new Opel Corsa GSE stores its energy in a 54 kWh lithium-ion battery (51 kWh usable capacity). In order to ensure long-term, reliable sporty driving pleasure, the engineers have also adapted the temperature management system for the battery to the high GSE requirements.

Sophisticated technology also contributes to the exceptional performance, handling stability and direct feedback: the Corsa GSE has front-wheel drive with Torsen-multi-plate limited-slip differential and a lowered sports chassis with specifically designed axles, stabilisers and hydraulic shock absorbers. GSE-optimised steering and pedal tuning underlines the highly dynamic driving experience. And if necessary, four-piston performance brakes ensure immediate deceleration from high speeds.

Opel Corsa GSE design with wow effect: Hot everyday athlete at first glance

The new Opel Corsa GSE confidently displays its performance. While the well-known variants of the current Corsa generation already have a dynamic design, the ‘hot hatch’ also visually emphasises its high-performance claim down to the last detail with the GSE-specific front apron immediately catching the eye. Just like the rear, it is even sharper than in the other model variants. This is ensured, among other things, by visual ‘air intakes’ as well as the black trim in the lower part of the vehicle and on the wide wheel arches, which contrasts with the contour white shimmering paintwork. The black roof and the black rear spoiler reinforce this effect.

With sporty 18-inch rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 215/40 R18 tyres the new Corsa GSE boasts an uncompromising stance. Under the striking rims in a three-spoke design, the Alcon brake calipers with clearly visible GSE lettering are eye-catchers. This high-performance look is also underlined by the specific GSE abbreviation on the sides of the vehicle.

Opel Corsa GSE interior: Modern interpretation of the classic Opel hot hatch style

The bold GSE design is also reflected in the interior. Here, the ‘hot hatch’ idea comes back to life – as a reminiscence of the sporty models of the Opel Corsa A generation and at the same time interpreted in a modern and forward-looking way. The driver and front passenger sit on performance seats with Alcantara applications and integrated head restraints, which evoke memories with covers in a black, grey and yellow chequered pattern. Bright yellow seatbelts form a strong contrast. The highest quality is also conveyed by the Alcantara-covered steering wheel and door inserts, the armrests with yellow stitching and the instrument panel with GSE logo against a silver-grey background. Acceleration and braking commands are given via the aluminium sports pedals. Further specific interior trim options complete the offer for the Opel Corsa GSE.

The necessary information is transmitted to the driver by the digital driver information display, which can be personalised in many ways, and the central 10-inch colour touchscreen. This contains GSE performance data, G-force display, acceleration values, battery management data and much more. The displays were also designed in the typical GSE style. The new Opel Corsa GSE is characterised by a technically high-quality and highly dynamic design down to the smallest detail, both inside and out.

In addition, the Opel Corsa GSE is equipped with numerous technology and comfort details that are as high-quality as they are practical. The repertoire includes features ranging from heated seats and steering wheel to the 180-degree reversing camera and the Keyless Entry & Start system to the bidirectional onboard charger (V2L), which not only allows the everyday athlete to be charged, but can also be used to supply external devices from e-bikes to electric grills with energy directly from the vehicle's battery.

All this shows that the new Opel Corsa GSE is not a car that simply takes fans from A to B. It is a fully electric and at the same time practical ‘hot hatch’ that touches the soul and delivers a real OMG! GSE feeling. More information about the new Opel Corsa GSE will follow shortly.

[1] All data are provisional. Vehicle not yet homologated and not yet available.

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

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

Born to Turn Heads: New Opel Corsa GSE in Sporty Camouflage

• Striped and chequered decals: Modern tribute to the sporty Opel Corsa A of the 1980s
• Camouflaged and concealed: Electrifying design details of new Opel Corsa GSE still remain a secret
• Hot prospects: Sporty new Opel Corsa top-of-the-range model available to order this year

“OMG! What a stunning car is that?” This is probably what many Opel fans asked themselves when they saw the first spy shots of the new Opel Corsa GSE. Because Opel will soon be expanding its range of GSE models, as the manufacturer announced recently. The new Opel Corsa GSE will be available to order later this year.

However, there is still some time to go before the high-performance version of Germany’s best-selling small car is officially unveiled. This is why the new Opel Corsa GSE is currently still camouflaged; after all, not all of its hot design details are to be revealed in advance. At the same time, the sporty-looking wrap on the exterior is much more than just a practical disguise – it pays homage to the sporty Corsa A variants of the 1980s, thus, with a modern twist.

“With the camouflage for the new Opel Corsa GSE, we’re combining classic design with an exciting, forward-looking look that highlights the spirit of our GSE models,” said Andreas Kubis, who, as ‘Technical Lead Confidentiality’, is responsible for camouflaging Opel’s prototypes and pre-production vehicles. “Of course, the primary purpose of the camouflage is to prevent all the details of the upcoming model from being revealed too early,” explained the prototype protection expert. “With the Opel Corsa GSE, however, it was immediately clear to us that this ‘disguise’ should convey a message. Its sporty design with black, white and yellow accents whets the appetite for this hot hatch, whilst also paying homage to Opel’s motorsport heritage.”

At Opel, GSE stands for goosebumps, speed and electric emotions. The new Opel Corsa GSE was designed to embody all of this not just in its final production version, but right from the first glance as a prototype. Andreas Kubis and his team have done a sterling job here. Even the matt black base colour of the wrap conveys the vehicle’s performance character. The large yellow and white stripes, complete with GSE lettering, unmistakably herald the new hot hatch. The stripes have been arranged to resemble a sporty chequered pattern, complemented by white and yellow dotted double lines that look like finely stitched seams.

Opel fans will find all this familiar. The sports seats in the first Opel Corsa GSi, back in the late 1980s, already featured a very distinctive striped pattern. And the yellow and white stripes on the bodywork of the new Opel Corsa GSE, now arranged at different angles to one another, deliberately draw inspiration from the chequered design of the seat covers, which is inextricably linked to the Opel Corsa SR and Opel Corsa GT of the first generation of this best-selling small car.

The new Opel Corsa GSE is already whetting the appetite for powerful performance in its matching hot GSE styling. Opel will soon reveal which design details will make the new high-performance model even more striking. Visitors of this year’s Paris Motor Show (12 to 18 October) can already look forward to seeing the Opel Corsa GSE in the flesh as the hot hatch will celebrate it exhibition premiere in the French capital.

World Premiere: Opel Presents GEN4 Formula E Prototype

• Opel GSE 27FE celebrates world premiere at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet
• Test and development driver Sophia Flörsch behind the wheel of the electric racing car with more than 800 hp
• Extensive track testing programme to begin in May
• GSE line-up on the track: Opel Mokka GSE, Opel Corsa GSE prototype, Opel Manta GSe, Opel Mokka GSE Rally and GEN4 race car
• Final design of the Formula E race car to celebrate premiere at the 2026 Paris Motor Show

Opel is setting the next milestone on the way to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the new Opel GSE 27FE celebrating its world premiere at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in southern France. With the prototype of the GEN4 race car and its striking design, the brand with the Blitz bolt is showing the next chapter of its Formula E commitment – for the first time live on the racetrack.

"We have a clear strategy with Opel GSE: Race. Drive. Play. And 2026 is clearly dominated by racing," announced Rebecca Reinermann, Vice President Marketing. “We are showing how exciting and at the same time relevant electric performance is for and at Opel."

Over 800 hp: Opel GSE 27FE for the new era of Formula E

“What we are unveiling today is much more than a prototype," said Jörg Schrott, Team Principal of the Opel GSE Formula E Team. “The Opel GSE 27FE is a strategic technology accelerator for our development in series production and GSE performance models in particular.”

The Opel GSE 27FE is the race car for the GEN4 generation of the Formula E World Championship, which starts with the coming season. The prototype has permanent all-wheel drive, an output of over 800 hp, achieves a recuperation output of up to 700 kW, thus taking electric motorsport to a completely new level. Other strategic elements such as different aerodynamic configurations promise even more excitement during the races.

The preparation is correspondingly extensive. "After many intensive hours on the test bench, we are now integrating the entire powertrain into the car and will be on the racetrack from the beginning of May," explained Jörg Schrott. In the coming months, test bench runs and test operations on the track will alternate in a targeted manner. "We are currently planning to complete around 15 days of testing on various European racetracks before the start of the season."

Design with high-speed DNA

The design of the GSE 27FE follows a clear idea: If a car is so fast – what does it have to look like so that this speed is conveyed even when stationary? The answer is provided by the striking ‘Lightspeed’ graphics of the body. The decal with strong yellow accents ties in with Opel's motorsport history and racing DNA with its eye-catching yellow design.

“With the design of the Opel GSE 27FE, we want to make speed and performance unmistakably visible even before our GEN4 race car hits the track,” said Pierre-Olivier Garcia, Head of Opel Global Brand Design. "'OMG! in a blink' perfectly describes this intent: immediate effect, maximum presence and the focused energy of modern electric racing. Every line, every surface, every detail is driven by a clear vision – precision engineering expressed through design made in Germany."

The Opel Compass features prominently at the front and clearly identifies the vehicle as an Opel. At the same time, the GSE 27FE continues to develop the GSE design language introduced in 2025 with the Mokka GSE Rally – from a rugged rally look to a new visual world designed for high-tech and high-speed Formula E.

The final design, with which the Opel GSE 27FE will make its world championship debut, will be shown in October as part of Opel’s presence at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, which will also focus on the GSE line-up.

Sophia Flörsch on the track for the first time in the GEN4 prototype

The first driver to pilot the GEN4 prototype on the racetrack was test and development driver Sophia Flörsch. The 25-year-old German completed the first kilometres in Le Castellet. The Munich-based driver will be closely involved in development from the very beginning – from simulator sessions to the upcoming test drives with the GSE 27FE and other generations of Formula E.

“After initial tests in the simulator, to drive here for the first time in Opel's Formula E GEN4 race car is an indescribable moment. The brutal torque, this completely new performance – it feels like the future of motorsport, and I'm ready to push the limits,” said Sophia Flörsch.

GSE all along the line

In Le Castellet, Opel shows how closely Formula E and the GSE models interact: In addition to the Opel GSE 27FE, the Opel Mokka GSE, the prototype of the new Opel Corsa GSE, the Opel Manta GSe and the Opel Mokka GSE Rally complete some laps together. At the Circuit Paul Ricard, Opel is showcasing the entire range of its electric performance: from a rally competition car to a concept icon to sporty production models and the future Formula E racing car.

“We are impressively demonstrating how all elements of our GSE story come together today," said Rebecca Reinermann. “We are consistently expanding GSE as an emotionally charged performance brand. Formula E plays a key role in this because it combines technology, high-tech innovation, sustainability, fan culture and enthusiasm in a unique way.”

Formula E as the emotional face of GSE

Opel officially announced its entry into Formula E as a German works team in mid-March and is using the World Championship as a global stage for its all-electric high-performance models with the start of the GEN4 era. The abbreviation GSE stands for ‘Grand Sport Electric’ and thus for particularly dynamic electric vehicles. After the Opel Mokka GSE last year, the new Opel Corsa GSE will be launched in 2026. "Formula E is the fastest growing racing series in the world – and that's exactly where Opel belongs," insisted Rebecca Reinermann. “We don't want to reserve this uncompromising performance just for motorsport professionals. Opel customers should also be able to enjoy this sporty, direct 'OMG! driving experience'. That's why we are further expanding our GSE series model range with the Opel Corsa GSE."

Opel Increases Global Sales in the First Quarter of 2026 – Double-Digit Growth in Europe

• Worldwide growth: New registrations increase by almost 8% in the first quarter
• Strong in Europe: Passenger car sales in Europe up almost 18% year-on-year
• Continued strength: Corsa remains best-selling small car in Germany and the UK
• Convincing SUVs: Opel Grandland, Frontera and Mokka with double-digit increase

Opel grew worldwide significantly in the first quarter of 2026. From January to March, Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall sold more than 157,000 cars and light commercial vehicles. That is almost 8%  more than in the previous year.

Growth drivers included the SUV models Mokka, Frontera and Grandland newly launched in 2025. The trio recorded double-digit growth compared to the first quarter of 2025. The new Frontera, for example, is also very successful as an electric vehicle. In the United Kingdom (UK) it is the best-selling all-electric B-SUV in the first quarter of the year, in Spain it ranks fourth and, in the Netherlands, it ranks fifth.

Meanwhile, demand for the Opel Corsa, Germany's best-selling small car for over five years, remains high and is even increasing. Sales of the bestseller were up by 25% in Germany in March. It thus remains the undisputed number one among small cars in Opel’s home market in the first quarter. The same is true in the United Kingdom, while the Corsa is number two in the Netherlands and number three in Portugal, Belgium and Turkey.

"All these figures clearly show that Opel is on a clear road to success. Furthermore, the new Astra has recently started rolling off the production line at our main plant in Rüsselsheim. Our designers and engineers have done an excellent job. The car will convince customers and give us additional drive. I am convinced: 2026 will be a good year for Opel," said Florian Huettl, CEO Opel and Vauxhall.

Passenger car sales in Europe developed particularly positively. From January to March, Opel and Vauxhall sold more than 115,000 passenger cars in the EU29 region. That is 18% more than a year ago. The market share rose by 0.4 percentage points to 3.3%. Also remarkable: In almost all markets, new registrations were higher than in the first quarter of 2025.

Things went particularly well in Opel's home market of Germany. Almost 33,600 new passenger car registrations in the first quarter represent an increase of 39% compared to the same period last year. The market share was up by 1.2 percentage points to 4.8%. In March alone, 13,700 Opel passenger cars were newly registered – that was an impressive 43% more than in the same month of 2025.

Driver Signed: Sophia Flörsch Joins Opel GSE Formula E Team

• Next Level GSE: Talented 25-year-old becomes test and development driver of the new German factory team
• Team Principal Jörg Schrott: "We combine talent development with high sporting standards"
• Sophia Flörsch: "We want to achieve sporting success and win the hearts of the fans"
• First appearance: Sophia Flörsch to represent Opel GSE Formula E Team at the official Formula E GEN4 launch in Le Castellet

The Opel GSE Formula E Team has signed its first driver: Sophia Flörsch will join the German factory team as a test and development driver as it enters the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The 25-year-old German will make her first public appearance on April 21 and 22, when the new GEN4 cars of the all-electric series will be officially presented in France.

"With Sophia's signing, we at Opel are sending a clear signal for the consistent promotion of young talents in electric motorsport. Her precise technical feedback as well as her analytical way of working in the simulator and on the track will play an essential role in the further development of our GEN4 package," said Team Principal Jörg Schrott. "At the same time, her fresh approach fits perfectly with our OMG! GSE campaign, with which we present the emotional side of our all-electric high-performance models. We combine targeted talent promotion with high sporting standards and thus strengthen the visibility of a new generation in motorsport that combines sporting performance with public presence."   

Sophia Flörsch: Successful driver with team spirit and ambitions

Sophia Flörsch began her career in karting before moving up to motor racing in 2015 and making a splash in the British Ginetta Junior Championship as the youngest winner. Through stints in the ADAC Formula 4, the European Formula 3 Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship, she established herself in single-seater racing and made history by becoming the first woman to score points and podium finishes in both the German Formula 4 and later in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. In the years that followed, she successfully continued her career in prototype and GT racing, finished on the podium in the European Le Mans Series, finished in the top 10 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) – and is now considered one of the most prominent women in international motorsport.

"Formula E is currently the toughest racing series in the world – and that's exactly where Opel and I are now competing together. The fact that a brand with 125 years of motorsport DNA is now taking the step into a world championship is impressive. As a German driver, being part of this factory team is more than a privilege for me," said Sophia Flörsch. "The GEN4 car is a thoroughbred race car: over 800 hp, all-wheel drive, ultra-fast. I can't wait to go into depth with the engineers, understand this car and get the maximum out of it. Together, we want to show what true teamwork can do – achieve sporting success and win the hearts of motorsport fans for Opel and Formula E."

When Formula E, manufacturers and teams present the GEN4 all-electric racing cars in Le Castellet in a few days, Sophia Flörsch will be at the wheel of the Opel race car. The 25-year-old racing driver from Munich has already reeled off her first kilometres in the GEN4 in the simulator and got to know the Opel family during a visit to the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim. Flörsch will be firmly involved in the test programme with immediate effect, supporting the team in development and simulator work and gaining targeted experience in the new Opel Formula E race car in the rookie sessions.

Opel talent promotion: First electric one-make rally cup as a springboard

Opel has a long-standing tradition of consistent talent development in motorsport, ranging from classic rally and circuit racing to all-electric rallying. With the ADAC GSE Rally Cup and its predecessor series, Opel has been opening a clear path to promotion to the European Junior Rally Championship for young drivers since 2013. This approach has already produced several titles and is now being continued at world championship level with the Opel GSE Formula E Team.

At the same time, Opel is also bringing the all-electric rally feeling to the road for customers. This is ensured by the production version of the Mokka GSE Rally, the new Opel Mokka GSE. The up to 200 km/h fast battery-electric performance car and ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2025’ 2 winner brings 207 kW (281 hp) of power and 345 Newton metres of torque to the road.

[1] 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.

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

As Team Principal: Jörg Schrott Leads Opel GSE Formula E Team into Electric World Championship

• At Opel since 1997, Motorsport Director since 2012: A permanent fixture of the brand will be Team Principal of the new German works team
• Jörg Schrott: "I am grateful for the trust and look forward to the challenge."
• From the 2026/27 season: Opel has announced its entry into the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
• Next level GSE: Commitment provides a global stage for electric GSE high-performance models such as the new Opel Mokka GSE

With the official announcement of its entry into the Formula E World Championship, Opel is taking its commitment to electric motorsport to the next level. The Rüsselsheim-based brand has also made an important personnel decision for the ‘Opel GSE Formula E Team’: Jörg Schrott will take on the role of Team Principal. The brand with the Blitz emblem is thus relying on a proven leader for its next step in all-electric motorsport: Schrott has been part of the Opel family since 1997 and has been responsible for the brand's motorsport activities as Motorsport Director since 2012. Aschaffenburg-born Schrott made his first appearance in his new role during the Formel E race in Madrid, when Opel CEO Florian Huettl announced the new chapter in the brand's traditional and successful motorsport history.

“Jörg Schrott has been a defining personality of our brand for many years and has launched numerous successful motorsport projects. We are particularly proud that he is the driving force behind the ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup, which gives young talents access to electric racing. Precisely because Jörg has proven how to break new ground with courage and pioneering spirit, he is the perfect choice to take on the role of Team Principal of the Opel GSE Formula E Team in addition to his responsibility as Motorsport Director," said Florian Huettl.

"I am grateful for the trust and look forward to the new challenge," said Jörg Schrott. "To be able to help shape Opel's entry into Formula E and thus electric motorsport at FIA World Championship level is a very special task." In the coming weeks and months, the focus will be on building a team that has the ambition to win races. This includes a winning driver duo, a well-rehearsed and passionate crew at the track and a focused team in Rüsselsheim that prepares the races with the highest precision. The key positions have already been defined and will now be successively filled with Formula E expertise. “Formula E is one of the most fiercely contested racing series in the world. Success only comes from real teamwork and the right mindset. My task is to form a strong team from Rüsselsheim that works together towards a common goal: the success of our brand on the international stage," added Schrott.

Formative Opel personality with motorsport drive and claim to success

Jörg Schrott has been shaping motorsport at Opel since 1997: As the first employee of the then newly founded Opel Performance Center (OPC), he was significantly involved in the development of the brand's performance production vehicles and racing activities and took over the management of Opel Motorsport in 2012. Under his leadership, Opel became an integral part of international circuit and rally racing, including six Junior European Championship titles – the result of a consistent promotion of young talents who advanced to the European Rally Championship after successes in the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup. The world's first all-electric rally one-make cup, now renamed as ‘ADAC Opel GSE Rally Cup’, will kick off its new season at the end of May with the drivers competing in the new Opel Mokka GSE Rally. At the same time, Opel customers benefit from the knowledge gained in motorsport. Opel is bringing the incomparable rally feeling of the 207 kW (281 hp) electric car to the road as a production model with the new Opel Mokka GSE.

Long before his motorsport commitments, Jörg Schrott was responsible for other management positions at Opel – including Head of Product Communications and Head of Corporate Communications – and thus also brings extensive experience in brand management, media relations and strategic positioning to his new role as Team Principal of the Opel GSE Formula E Team.

The official announcement of Opel's entry into Formula E marked the start of an impressive race weekend in Spain. Florian Huettl and Opel Marketing Director Rebecca Reinermann, together with Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds, presented Opel’s plans to international media representatives, celebrating their first official appearance in the paddock of the World Championship. On the Saturday of the race, 30,000 spectators – including Spain's King Felipe VI – watched the Formula E debut in Madrid live at the track.

The next appearance of the Opel GSE Formula E Team will be at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet in mid-April, when the series, manufacturers and teams will officially present the then more than 800 hp GEN4 generation of the all-electric race cars.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Shark-Spotting in the New Opel Astra

• Secretive sea creatures: Finding sharks in the new Opel Astra requires a keen eye
• Full of character: Compact class bestseller is sharper and more modern than ever
• Iconic idea: Shark tradition at Opel began more than 20 years ago with a boy's brainwave
• For shark fans: Customers will also be able to spot little sharks in future Opel models

With Easter and the traditional egg hunt Opel can offer an exciting alternative activity no matter what the weather – the traditional Opel shark spotting. These secretive sea creatures have been a tradition at Opel for two decades now. To delight fans, the team in Rüsselsheim always comes with new hiding places for the sea dwellers – as is now the case with the new Opel Astra. The compact class bestseller – designed, engineered and built at Opel’s headquarters – not only looks more modern, sharper and more distinctive than ever, but also has a few surprises in store.

The adaptive IntelliLux HD lighting system, featuring over 50,000 elements, is not such a surprise but rather the logical next step in lighting technology. Following its introduction in the top-of-the-range Opel Grandland SUV, it is now being used for the first time in the new Opel Astra, which is already available to order. The improved range of the Opel Astra Electric is also a logical step forward, allowing drivers and passengers to travel up to 454 kilometres (WLTP 2) between charging stops. The more modern appearance is underlined by the sharper design, featuring an even narrower and more precisely styled Opel Vizor. Additionally, both the Vizor and the Blitz are illuminated.

But whilst the new Opel Astra makes an even brighter appearance overall, the little sharks are normally afraid of the light. They feel much more at home beneath the Astra’s surfaces, which are crafted from eco-friendly materials. 

This means that the search for these cartilaginous fish remains exciting in the newcomer. A little hint: it is worth changing one’s perspective between the front seats and turning things around a bit. And in the luggage compartment of the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer, the sharks might just be ‘swimming’ at higher altitudes than expected.

Iconic brainwave: The Opel sharks story began in 2004

But how come that, for the past 20 years now, miniature sharks have been popping up in all kinds of Opel passenger cars and generating such enthusiasm within the community? A brief look back: One Sunday afternoon in 2004, designer Dietmar Finger was at home working on a sketch for the Opel Corsa D which was to be launched two years later. He was designing the ordinary outer panel of the glove box, which is mostly invisible because it is hidden by the closed passenger door. However, when the glove box is opened, this panel must ensure stability – which it does with ribs integrated in the plastic surface. Finger was designing the ribs when his son looked at the sketch and said, “Why don’t you just draw a shark?” “Why not!” thought the designer and gave the ribs their characteristic shape! The next day, he showed the shark profile to Niels Loeb and the then Opel Corsa Chief Designer was immediately sold on the idea. The shark in the glove box went into series production and the ‘Opel sharks story’ began.

Next came the Opel Zafira, where Karim Giordimaina, then in charge of the interior design, hid three sharks in the compact van’s cockpit. Further permanent ‘shark appearances’ followed, first in the Opel ADAM and subsequently in all other car models up to the current generations of the Opel Grandland, Frontera and Mokka as well as the new Astra, where several tiny sea creatures are hidden in various places.

This has created an iconic ritual. Since the mid-2000s, every interior chief designer has made sure that at the end of the development process of a new model they have at least one shark somewhere in the interior. The exact locations always remain secret, even from top management. The fish therefore often stay hidden until the launch, which makes for an interesting search for shark lovers both inside and outside the company.

Consequently, the ‘Opel shark story’ will continue. Thus, in future Opel vehicles, too, the mini predators will be making their rounds, sometimes more, sometimes less hidden. Depending on the model, they may well change their territory in the depths of the interior and bodywork. So it remains exciting for customers to see where and how many sharks they will discover in their new Opel model.

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

[2] The stated range was determined on the basis of 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.

125 Years Ago: Opel Celebrates Its First Victory in Motorsports

• March 31, 1901: Heinrich Opel wins Königstuhl hill climb race in a modified ‘Motorwagen’
• Early successes: Second Königstuhl victory follows the very next year, Fritz von Opel takes first place in the opening race at Berlin’s AVUS in 1921
• Rally and circuit successes: Walter Röhrl wins European Rally Championship in 1974 and World Rally Championship in 1982 in an Opel; Manuel Reuter takes ITC title in 1996 in the ‘Cliff’ Calibra
• Pioneering role: Opel launches the world’s first electric rally one-make cup in 2021
• Fully electric driving fun: New Opel Mokka GSE brings rally feelings to the road
• Next level: Opel GSE Formula E Team will compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as of next season

A few days ago, Opel announced that it will be competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for the first time as of next season. The brand with the Blitz is thus opening a new chapter in its long and successful motorsport history. This history began at the dawn of the 20th century; to be precise, Opel celebrated its first victory in an official race 125 years ago. On March 31, 1901, Heinrich Opel won the hill climb race up the Königstuhl near Heidelberg in Germany in a modified ‘Motorwagen’.

This event marked the start of Opel’s successful motorsports history, which continues to this day across a wide variety of racing and rally series. Over the decades, the brand’s journey has taken it from its first hill climb and road races, through the European and World Rally Championships, to circuit racing with Formula Opel, Formula 3, the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) and the International Touring Car Championship (ITC).

For the past five years, Opel has been demonstrating just how electrifying and thrilling locally emissions-free motorsport can be with the world’s first electric rally one-make cup, which is set to enter its next season in a few weeks’ time with the new Opel Mokka GSE Rally. Meanwhile, customers can also experience the exhilarating GSE driving pleasure, as Opel brings the all-electric rally feeling to the road with the 207 kW (281 PS) Mokka GSE series car.

With its factory team, the Opel GSE Formula E Team, competing in Formula E, the Rüsselsheim-based company is now taking its commitment to electric motorsport to the next level. 

Taking part in the world’s fastest-growing racing series marks a milestone for Opel on its journey towards an electric future – a future whose roots stretch back to its first motorsport victory 125 years ago.

A dream comes true: Opel’s first victory in motorsports on March 31, 1901

Opel made its debut in motor racing as early as the late 19th century. Heinrich Opel, the second-youngest son of the company’s founder Adam Opel, took part in the first international motor race in Germany – the ‘Aachen–Coblenz’ long-distance race – in May 1899, driving a Patent-Motorwagen ‘System Lutzmann’. Unfortunately, a technical issue prevented him from reaching the finish line. The Opel brothers also took part in subsequent races, though they had to wait a little longer for their first real success. But these early experiences laid the foundations for the first victory that was soon to follow. This was because the brothers were constantly improving their motor cars and, above all, increasing their reliability.

On March 31, 1901, the moment finally arrived: Heinrich Opel took to the track in a modified ‘Motorwagen’ for the first ‘mountain road race’ at the Königstuhl. The race near Heidelberg organised by the Rheinischer Automobilclub is thought to have been the first in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and one of the very first German hill climb races.

The 5 hp Opel vehicle was characterised above all by its light weight: the mudguards, running boards, lights and trim had been removed. Whether consciously or unconsciously – aerodynamic insights would not influence car design until much later – the Rüsselsheim-based carmakers reduced air resistance using leather side skirts and a taut knee cover extending from the flat front end to the top of the seats. All this paid off: Heinrich Opel completed the 4.5-kilometre mountain route – with a 450-metre elevation gain and sections with gradients of up to 16 per cent – in 23 minutes in the optimised ‘Motorwagen’, thereby leaving his competitors far behind.

The motor car’s reliability was particularly impressive – not just during the race. Unlike today, when racing cars are transported to the circuit, Heinrich Opel already made the journey to and from the event in his own vehicle back in 1901. He covered the 180-kilometre route in just four hours, achieving an average speed of 45 km/h which was an outstanding average speed in those days.

No coincidence, but skill: Further Opel victories to follow in the ‘early years’

The Opel brothers quickly recognised the potential of motorsports. Success not only boosted the image of the young brand and its products; the development work also had a positive impact on the reliability of the entire range of cars. And Opel proved the following year that this initial success was no fluke. A new partnership with the French manufacturer Alexandre Darracq gave the Opel team a fresh boost. The newly developed Opel-Darracq motor car was in a league of its own. At the second hill climb race on the Königstuhl on October 26, 1902, Heinrich Opel crossed the finish line in just 10 minutes and 15 seconds – more than four minutes ahead of the next fastest competitor.

The winning streak continued: in the following years, Opel secured further podium finishes with its racing cars. And in 1921, the Rüsselsheim-based team made history at Berlin’s AVUS. More than 200,000 people came to the opening race on the legendary city circuit. Fritz von Opel set off in a fiery red Opel 8/25 hp racing car. To the cheers of the crowd, he fought his way forward lap after lap. In the end, he left his competitors far behind and won after seven laps with a time of 1:04:23 hours, corresponding to an average speed of 128.84 kilometres per hour.

Highlights: European and World Rally Championships and ITC Championship

These ‘early years’ marked the beginning of Opel’s long motorsport tradition, which reached its peak in the 1970s to 1990s. Speaking of rallying: as early as 1966, the Swede Lille-Bror Nasenius won the European Rally Championship for production touring cars in an Opel Rekord B, securing one of Opel’s first major international rally titles. The brand’s rallying history is inextricably linked with the name Walter Röhrl. In 1973, Röhrl and Jochen Berger finished as European vice-champions in an Opel Ascona. In 1974, the duo then dominated the European Rally Championship with six overall victories and 120 points – the highest points total ever achieved at that time – and were crowned European Drivers’ Champions with three rounds still to go. The 1974 European Championship title marked the start of a further rallying career for Röhrl and Opel, which, together with his co-driver Christian Geistdörfer, culminated in the 1982 World Rally Championship title in a 191 kW (260 hp) Ascona 400.

Opel went on to enjoy great success on the circuit as well. In 1996, Manuel Reuter and Opel secured victory in the International Touring Car Championship (ITC) with the legendary ‘Cliff’ Calibra, a 500 hp 2.5-litre V6 racing car. In 2003, the team comprising Reuter, Timo Scheider, Marcel Tiemann and the then head of motorsport Volker Strycek clinched a thrilling victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in an Opel Astra V8 Coupé.

And today? The future of motorsport is electric, but no less thrilling. Opel has been demonstrating for the past five years in the world’s first electric rally one-make cup that fully electric and therefore locally emissions-free rallying offers just as much excitement – and the brand will soon be doing so for the first time in the Formula E World Championship as well.