E-Mobility for All: New Opel Rocks-e from €7,990 in Germany

• Beginning of SUM-era: Sustainable Urban Mobility, attractively priced
• SUM-triple: Electric quadricycle as Opel Rocks-e, Rocks-e Klub and Rocks-e TeKno
• SUM for teenagers with AM driving licence 1: New electric city vehicle as “My first Opel”

New Opel Rocks-e SUM

New Opel Rocks-e SUM (Sustainable Urban Mobility), the German carmaker’s first all-electric quadricycle, is now available to order in Germany. With an entry-level price of only €7,990 (all RRP including VAT in Germany), the Rocks-e is the battery-electric vehicle that nearly any driver can afford. In addition, the financing rate will be similar to that of a monthly ticket for local public transportation. Opel Rocks-e can already be driven in Germany by young people from 15 years of age who hold the AM driving licence 1.

“With the opening of the order books for our new Opel Rocks-e we make the transition to electric mobility simple and affordable for everyone, from urban commuters to novice drivers”, says the head of Opel Germany, Andreas Marx. “No superfluous extras, Opel Rocks-e is pure emissions-free mobility. With bold and pure design, extremely compact dimensions and an appearance that is both functional and unconventional.”

Opel Rocks-e: Entry-ticket to electric mobility

Just 2.41 metres long, 1.39 m wide (excluding exterior mirrors) and weighing only 471 kilograms (including traction battery), Opel Rocks-e is the entry-ticket to electric mobility, especially for beginners. As it is officially classified as a light motor vehicle or quadricycle, teenagers as young as 15 years1 are allowed to drive Opel Rocks-e with the AM-class driving licence in Germany.

Even the €7,990 entry-level variant already offers a range of up to 75 kilometres (WLTP 2), which can be covered at up to 45 km/h. This makes it ideal for everyday city traffic, and with a turning circle of only 7.20 m, the Rocks-e can also master tight corners and fit into small parking spaces.

5.5 kWh battery of the Opel Rocks-e can be fully recharged in around 3.5 hours via a household socket. Accompanying three-metre-long charging cable is permanently housed in the vehicle and simply pulled out of the passenger door when needed. Opel offers an adapter for charging at a public charging station.

Typical for the Opel Rocks-e is the two-tone look of the front and rear, as well as the new Opel Vizor brand face. Side sills and bodywork further underline the robust appearance. Doors on both sides (which are closed from the inside by straps in Opel yellow) are identical. Passenger door swings forward as usual, while the driver's door swings backwards in the opposite direction.

Opel Rocks-e Klub and Opel Rocks-e TeKno: Colourful electrification

Opel Rocks-e Klub and Opel Rocks-e TeKno (€8,790) are even more distinctive. Wheels of both variants carry “x-Style” caps and also feature vertical black stripes on the doors. Additional eye-catchers are grey bodywork of the Rocks-e Klub and the yellow front and rear skid plates of the Rocks-e TeKno. Individual colour schemes continue in the interior, with correspondingly coloured storage nets and hooks for shopping bags, as well as grey or yellow inserts around the instruments and centre console. Even the seams of the floor mats display the same characteristic colour.

With a smartphone-holder on the centre console and DAT connectivity, Opel Rocks-e Klub and Opel Rocks-e TeKno are prepared to provide infotainment. Hands-free Bluetooth functionality for the smartphone is optionally available.

All three Opel Rocks-e variants share the same optimal packaging within the compact dimensions. The two seats are slightly offset to each other so that the front passenger has comfortable legroom and the driver can move their seat lengthwise. Headroom is ample, even for people more than 1.90 m tall. In addition to the hook for bags, Opel Rocks-e offers a luggage volume of up to 63 litres in the passenger footwell. In addition, objects such as sport bags can be stored in the compartments behind the seats. Thanks to the large windows, Opel Rocks-e drivers enjoy good all-round visibility, and a bright, pleasant interior atmosphere is provided by the standard panoramic glass roof, exceptional for a vehicle in this price category.

New Opel Rocks-e is available to order online in Germany from the comfort of home. Selected Opel dealers will offer consultation, test drives and support for the online ordering process. Deliveries of the first vehicles to dealerships will begin before the end of this year.

[1] Applies to four-wheeled light motor vehicles with a rated continuous/utilised power not exceeding 6 kW, with no more than two seats and a maximum speed not exceeding 45 km/h.

[2] Provisional range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). Actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.

!NEW! Meet the Opel ADAM – The Ultimate Lifestyle Accessory

Opel has launched the ultimate lifestyle accessory – the Opel ADAM – with LISOF at South Africa’s first design collab, showcasing the magic that occurs when thrilling design meets meticulous engineering. 

 Opel ADAM is designed for people who seek self-expression through their clothes, lifestyle and cars

The Opel ADAM is Opel’s first entry into the luxury mini vehicle segment, and its range of trend-setting, almost limitless personalisation options allows drivers to display their personality and taste in ways never before seen on South African roads.

“ADAM is designed for people who seek self-expression through their clothes, lifestyle and cars. For this reason, vehicle personalisation using the available choices of colours, wheels and interior design allow owners to be fully involved in the finishing details of their car,” says Christopher Cradock, Opel Brand Manager at General Motors South Africa.

When designing their final garments, LISOF’s 2014 graduating class drew inspiration from the fusion of technology and creativity that optimises the Opel ADAM.

“Launching the Opel ADAM with LISOF perfectly illustrates the attention given to aesthetics and technical expertise in both vehicle and fashion design. In both industries, art and science merge, resulting in fashion and cars that enable individuals to stand out in a crowd,” says Cradock.

“The fact that it is LISOF’s 20th anniversary made our collaboration even more fitting. Design excellence has been part of Opel’s DNA for more than 150 years, and so working with South Africa’s youngest fashion designers who are, in their own industry, establishing a similar heritage of excellence resonated deeply with us.”

The Opel ADAM is an A-segment, 3-door, 4-seat hatchback with firm emphasis on class-leading ergonomics and modern design, dynamic driving experience, superior technology and overall premium build quality.

Personalisation options begin with the exterior paint colours, with funky names such as ‘Red ‘n Roll’, ‘Purple Fiction’, ‘Pump Up The Blue’, ‘The Greyfather’, ‘James Blonde’, ‘Saturday White Fever’, ‘I’ll Be Black’ and ‘Silverwalker’.

Further differentiation happens at the factory by selecting interior fabric and colour schemes, sunroof options and ambient lighting packages dependent on the model selected.

Once at the dealership, a choice of quick-fitment accessories adds a finishing touch, allowing owners to precisely show off their personalities. Customisable items include interior décor elements on the dashboard and doors, rear-view mirror covers, exterior mirror caps, wheel centre-caps, front logo bars, wheel clips for the model-specific 18-inch Twister alloy wheels, aluminium sports pedals and a number of exterior decal packs.

“Owners have the freedom to assemble the perfect look for the exterior and interior of their Opel ADAM, while we take care of features ‘under the hood’,” says Cradock.   

These include ecoFLEX® Drive Assist to monitor energy and fuel consumption, allowing ADAM to be driven as efficiently as possible at all times.

City Mode Steering makes city-bound manoeuvring and parking, especially in tight spots, so much easier.

Appealing to the connected lifestyle of the target groups, Opel’s IntelliLink infotainment system provides a fully integrated smartphone connection for a hands-free infotainment experience.

“The Opel ADAM is the first of our ‘new Germans’ to arrive in South Africa, a vehicle that truly delivers on Opel’s promise of precision German-engineered, desirable cars with attractive design and the latest motor technology. All this, combined with the ability to affordably create a vehicle as unique as its owner makes the Opel ADAM much more than a car,” says Cradock. “The Opel ADAM is indeed an exciting urban lifestyle accessory.”

The Opel ADAM arrives in Opel dealerships in January 2015 with three models– ADAM, ADAM JAM and ADAM GLAM. For more information, visit www.opel.co.za.