This article includes speculative illustrations for the upcoming Opel Manta created by Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien for CarScoops that are neither related to nor endorsed by Opel.
Opel/Vauxhall are stepping up the electrification game with the goal of becoming a fully electric brand by 2028. The renewal of the range allows the automaker to dig up their past and reinvent interesting models as EVs, and that is exactly what Opel plans on doing with the Manta. The model has already been confirmed and teased with an official sketch, but our colleagues Jean Francois Hubert and SB-Medien created a more realistic-looking rendering for the reborn Opel Manta.
Starting with the official information, the fully electric Manta will arrive by the middle of the decade and it will have nothing to do with the 2021 Manta GSe Elektromod concept which was strictly a one-off based on the classic two-door coupe from the ’70s. Instead, it will be an all-new model based on an EV-dedicated platform from Stellantis.
Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Opel’s CEO, has described the new Manta as a “highly emotional car” that will offer quick acceleration due to the electric powertrain and will focus on driving pleasure staying true to the original in that regard. However, Hochgeschurtz also said the new Manta will be a “fascinating, astoundingly spacious new interpretation,” hinting at a five-door SUV/Crossover bodystyle.
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The rendering incorporates Opel’s latest design language in a sleek crossover with a coupe-style roofline. Features like the black Vizor housing the grille and the headlights, the duo-tone treatment with a black bonnet and roof, and the prominent center line on the bonnet and the LED graphics, were introduced by the Mokka before gradually expanding into the entire Opel lineup. Thus, the Manta couldn’t be missing those, looking similar but sportier than the smaller Astra.
Due to its high-riding nature, the Manta will likely share some of the adventurous traits with the upcoming Astra Cross, with aluminum-style skid plates and subtle plastic cladding all around the bodywork. However, it will have larger diameter wheels, a wider stance and a heavily inclined roofline compared to the estate crossover, giving it an upscale look. As a finishing touch, the Manta could have the signature chrome-plated stingray emblem on the profile as a nod to the original.
We suspect that the Manta e will be about the same size as the recently facelifted Grandland. However, thanks to the clever packaging of the EV architecture, it should offer plenty of interior space for five passengers and their luggage despite the sloping roofline which usually comes at the expense of practicality. The dashboard will be fully digital, since Opel is already offering a dual 10-inch screen setup, while the safety equipment should include the entire STLA AutoDrive suite which is developed in collaboration with BMW.
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The official sketch from Opel previewing the Manta-e looks quite futuristic, but design features like the massive wheels, the almost pillarless greenhouse and the floating fenders are expected to be significantly toned down for production
The Manta will be based in one of the Stellantis EV-dedicated platforms announced last year. The most plausible candidate is the STLA Medium, designed for premium vehicles measuring between 4,200 – 5,000 mm (165.4 – 196.9 inches) long which sounds about right for a sleek crossover. The same architecture will underpin the crossover successor of the Opel Insignia that will be produced in Melfi, Italy, although we are not entirely sure it will be a different model to the Manta.
The STLA Medium is compatible with battery capacities ranging from 87 kWh to 104 kWh, allowing an electric range of up to 700 km (440 miles). Opel has already confirmed a “best-in-class” fast-charging capability, adding 32 km (19.9 miles) of range per minute. In terms of powertrain, the electric Manta could slot in the 168-241 hp (125-180 kW / 170-245 PS) bracket, or use the more powerful module option producing between 201-443 hp (150-330 kW / 204-449 PS).
When it arrives in 2025, the new Manta will be one among many fully electric models from Opel. The automaker is already offering the Rocks-e heavy quadricycle, the Corsa-e supermini, the Mokka-e small SUV, the Combo-e Life and Vivaro-e Life passenger vans, plus the Combo-e, Vivaro-e, and Movano-e LCVs. Opel has also confirmed the fully electric Astra-e for 2024, when it will offer an electrified version of each model in its lineup.
The core markets for Opel and Vauxhall are Europe and the UK. Additionally, Stellantis might want to export the Manta to China, since Opel is planning on entering the Chinese market with an EV-only range of models.
