Made in Eisenach: First front-wheel drive Opel Grandland X plug-in hybrid drives off production line

• Start of regular production of new plug-in hybrid variant in the Eisenach plant
• Up to 57 kilometres driven purely by electricity (in the WLTP cycle)
• All hybrid variants made on the same production line as internal combustion engine siblings
• New model to add further momentum to Opel’s electrification offensive
• Prices in Germany start at €35,235 thanks to “environmental bonus”

Opel Grandland X PHEV

Opel is taking the next important step in its ongoing electrification offensive. Today, regular production of the front-wheel drive Grandland X Hybrid (fuel consumption 1.5-1.4 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 34-31 g/km in the WLTP cycle; 1.7-1.5 l/100 km, 37-35 g/km CO2 NEDC both combined and weighed) started in Eisenach. Around four months after the first Grandland X Hybrid4 (fuel consumption 1.4-1.3 l/100km and CO2 emissions of 32-29 g/km in the WLTP1 cycle; 1.6-1.5 l/100 km, 36-34 g/km CO2 NEDC both combined and weighed) with all-wheel drive rolled of the production line, the first front-wheel drive version of the highly successful SUV followed. Latest Opel plug-in hybrid impressive with an attractive entry-level price of €42.345 Euro (RRP in German including VAT – but thanks to the environmental bonus the customer only needs to pay €35,235. With this, the Grandland X Hybrid will add further momentum to Opel’s electrification offensive. The first hybrid from Eisenach with front-wheel drive was topaz blue with a black roof.

“Today is not only another great day for our plant in Eisenach – today also marks the next step in our electrification process. Opel Grandland X Hybrid will appeal to customers who want the advantages offered by an electrified SUV but do not necessarily require four-wheel drive. Given the current incentives for electrified models in many European countries, we strongly believe that the Grandland X Hybrid will prove extremely popular and play a significant role in the reduction of CO2 emissions,” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

Opel Grandland X Hybrid and Hybrid4 are built on the same production line as their siblings with conventional internal combustion engines. This increases efficiency while simultaneously reducing complexity. This enables the plant to react better to customer demand. 

With a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor providing drive to the front wheels, the Grandland X Hybrid produces system power and torque of 165 kW (224 hp) and up to 360 Nm of torque respectively. Driven purely by electricity, the hybrid can cover up to 57 km in the WLTP cycle1 (60-65 km NEDC 2).

High safety comes as standard, thanks to driver assistance systems such as forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and emergency braking, lane keep assist and driver drowsiness detection. With the Navi 5.0 IntelliLink infotainment system and large colour touchscreen, driver and passengers are well connected. In order to further improve efficiency, the Grandland X Hybrid features a sophisticated regenerative braking system to recover the energy produced under braking or deceleration.

Attractive price + increased incentives = hybrid accessibility from €35,235

In Germany, the highly equipped Opel Grandland X Hybrid Business Edition is available for €42,345. Furthermore, the Grandland X hybrid variants benefit from the innovation bonus including in the stimulus package of the German federal government. For a limited period until December 31, 2021, the environmental bonus for plug-in hybrids with a net price below €40,000 has been increased to €7,110 (including the VAT effect). For the Grandland X Hybrid this would mean that the manufacturer's subsidy of €2,250 is firstly deducted from the net price (€36,504), leaving €34,254. Next, VAT is added, giving a price of €39,735. Following deduction of the €4,500 state subsidy after invoicing, the total “environmental bonus” then reduces the purchase cost of the Grandland X Hybrid Business Edition from €42,345 to €35,235. The customer thus saves €7,110 when buying a new car.

Legendary Logo: All-New Opel Mokka First to Feature New Flash

Pure precision: all upcoming Opel models carry the newly designed brand logo

Opel has reinvented itself with the all-new Mokka. All-New model is the first with the Opel Vizor as the future brand face and the fully digital cockpit of the future, the Pure Panel. Opel “Mokka” emblem has been redesigned with a special font and is now centrally located on the tailgate below the Opel flash. Legendary brand logo has also been redrawn and will adorn all upcoming models from the German carmaker.

“Surrounding ring is now slimmer, more elegant, more precise and more distinctive. Emphasizes the flash even more”, says Vice President Design, Mark Adams. “All details are super sharp with a very small radius. 'Opel' lettering is integrated in the lower part of the ring – like a fine engraving in a piece of jewellery. That shows pure German precision. We integrated the ‘Blitz’ prominently into the Vizor and arranged it centrally to the model name at the rear.”

Flash in a circle has decorated all Opel models since 1963. Depending on the model and year of manufacture, the emblems vary slightly. From 1970, clear design guidelines were laid down for all areas of the company. This corporate design was revised for the first time in 1987. Further modernizations followed in the new millennium, in which the lightning flash took on a three-dimensional shape, with the logo of the company and the emblem of the products moving closer together. From 2016, Opel models were adorned with a precisely sculpted chrome flash. Official company logo was designed in a modern flat shape in summer 2017. Redesigned flash for future vehicles now fits perfectly with the two-dimensional logo for advertising and digital communication.

Download Brochure: Opel Sings of the Times

Christian Müller appointed new Head of Powertrain & Chassis Engineering for the Groupe PSA

• Christian Müller, current Opel R&D chief, succeeds Alain Raposo at Groupe PSA level with the same responsibilities
• Marcus Lott to follow Christian Müller as Vice President Opel/Vauxhall Engineering

Christian Müller

Christian Müller, currently Managing Director Engineering Opel Automobile GmbH has been appointed new Head of Powertrain & Chassis Engineering of Groupe PSA effective August 1. He will report to Nicolas Morel, EVP Research & Development. He will succeed Alain Raposo who has served in this position since May 2018. Alain Raposo has chosen to leave Groupe PSA voluntarily at the end of August 2020 in order to pursue a personal project.

Marcus Lott, Vice President Body in White, Equipment & Materials Engineering and an Opel/Vauxhall engineer since 1994, will become the new head for R&D of the German and British brands and member of the Managing Board of Opel Automobile GmbH effective August 1.

Nicolas Morel, Executive Vice President Research & Development of Groupe PSA said: “I am delighted to work even closer with Christian Müller who is a leading and recognized powertrain expert in the automotive industry. And I congratulate Marcus Lott on his new position. With his many years of engineering experience, he will make a decisive contribution to successfully developing further the Opel/Vauxhall brands and the group’s Engineering Center in Rüsselsheim. These management decisions clearly demonstrate how closely integrated our engineering teams work together. German Engineering competence will continue to play a key role in the Groupe PSA.”

Michael Lohscheller, member of Groupe PSA Managing Board and CEO of Opel/Vauxhall added: “German Engineering is at the heart of Opel. As head of Opel R&D, Christian played a key role in making this visible and tangible for our customers in all of our models, like the current Corsa and future Mokka, which are also available in electric versions. I am delighted that with Marcus Lott we have appointed a highly experienced and recognized engineer as his successor. Marcus has known our company, models and people for almost 30 years now.”

Christian Müller has been Managing Director Engineering of Opel Automobile GmbH since August 1, 2017. Prior to this assignment, he held the position of Vice President GM Global Propulsion Systems – Europe. Christian Müller was born in Rüsselsheim, Germany in 1969 and received a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Darmstadt University.

Marcus Lott has been Vice President Body in White, Equipment & Materials Engineering since January this year. Before this assignment, he was Vice President Programs & Strategy of Opel/Vauxhall. Furthermore, he led the development of various vehicles in North America, South America, Asia and Europe as a chief engineer. Marcus Lott was born in Mainz, Germany in 1968 and holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering/Automotive Technology from RWTH Aachen.