GUWAHATI: The Opel Manta A, one of the defining sports coupés of the 1970s, has been reborn as a tech-rich resto-mod with an all-electric powertrain. The rear-wheel-drive two-door is now called the Manta GSe Elektromod. According to Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller, this shows the brand’s “commitment to emissions-free mobility for a very desirable, sustainable future.”
- It has a 147hp electric motor that’s paired with a manual gearbox
- Its 31kWh battery pack gives a claimed 200km range
- It features modern technology and retro styling
Opel Manta GSe Elektromod: design
In accordance with its heavily modernised underpinnings, the Manta has received a makeover that nods to its heritage, while bringing it up to date with Opel’s current production models.
A version of the brand’s ‘Vizor’ grille features on it and incorporates an LED screen that displays various messages and motifs, while the conventional headlights, brake lights and DRLs have been swapped for sharper LED items.
The striking neon yellow paint matches Opel’s new branding design, and is contrasted by a 1970s-style black bonnet. Ronal 17-inch alloy wheels replace the original 13-inch rims, and the chrome bumpers have been removed to replicate the look of Manta models upgraded by tuning and racing companies like Irmscher.
Opel Manta GSe Elektromod: electric powertrain and battery
The original car’s four-cylinder petrol has been swapped out for an electric motor producing 147hp and 255Nm, making it not only more powerful than any original-specification Manta A, but also the most powerful battery-electric car in Opel’s stable.
A 31kWh battery pack, smaller than that found in the Corsa-E and Mokka-E, offers a claimed range of 200km, and like its production counterparts can be charged via regenerative braking. Although, a four-hour top-up is possible, courtesy of a 9.0kW inbuilt charger.
What’s most notable is that the Manta still sends its power to the rear axle through a manual gearbox, unlike any EV currently in series production. Drivers have “the choice of manually shifting the original 4-speed gearbox or simply engaging fourth gear and then driving automatically”.
Opel Manta GSe Elektromod: interiors and features
The interior leans heavily on current production cues, with the analogue clocks making way for a digital display and 10-inch touchscreen. It also gets sports seats that were originally developed for the Adam S supermini. Retro cues, however, extend to a three-spoke steering wheel with a 12 o’ clock marker, a period-correct gear shifter and a manual handbrake.
Opel has given no indication that it intends to put the Elektromod into production, limited or otherwise, but could give a similar treatment to other historic models including the Nova, Firenza and GT.
(with inputs from Autocar India)
