If you can accompany Jürgen Klopp with his camera as he enters electromobility, the concept idea for it almost writes itself: “You just let Jürgen be Jürgen and capture his reactions – very naturally and authentically,” says Scott Wiltgen. And so, on a Tuesday at the end of August, the Opel Group Manager and the film crew were waiting in the parking lot of the training ground in Liverpool.
The vehicle is ready. The route, the locations in the city center – everything is meticulously prepared, the 75-minute schedule is tight. Football fans peer across the street hoping to catch a glimpse of a player or their winning coach. And they are lucky. In the best of moods, casually dressed in jeans and a hoodie, the Opel brand ambassador comes around the corner, sees his Astra plug-in hybrid in carbon black, walks around him and says: “Wow, there it is!” Pure Jürgen Klopp even.
“Everything where it belongs – and beautifully finished. Well done Opel!”
Jürgen Klopp on the Pure Panel cockpit
Kneeling down: The film crew captures Jürgen Klopp’s reactions at the handover.
A real one-of-a-kind: the 55-year-old is the only one on the island who drives a right-hand drive Opel Astra.
“Hello, dear ones!” Klopp greets the Opel team. You know each other, you trust each other. The two-time “World Coach of the Year” has been a brand ambassador for the Rüsselsheim team for ten years and has appeared in more than 20 commercials. As soon as he has the key in his hand, he is already behind the wheel: “My entry into electromobility. I drive electric now – exciting”, he says and sends a grin afterwards. Opel service technician Tony Bailey explains details of the Pure Panel, the fully digital cockpit, to the new owner. The routes between the training grounds, stadium and home, which the coach can now cover purely electrically, are already stored in the navigation system. “Thanks, perfect! Who would like to take a test drive?”
Klopp sums it up
The cameraman slips into the passenger seat, Scott Wiltgen and the sound engineer take a seat in the back. Then the premiere drive in the only Opel Astra with right-hand drive on the island begins. The goal: the Liverpool district “Baltic Area”. Feature clips for Opel’s social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook are created during the journey. Because when Jürgen Klopp comments on the technologies in the compact class bestseller, it sounds like this: “The massage function of the seat? Better than my physio!”
“If you just let Jürgen be Jürgen”: Opel Group Manager Scott Wiltgen accompanied the shooting on location.
“My entry into electromobility. I drive electric now – exciting.”
The Opel brand ambassador about the Astra with hybrid drive
The successful trainer and his Astra: The street artist Akse erected a monument to Jürgen Klopp in the popular “Baltic Area” district.
“Exciting!” With a range of 60 kilometers, commuting between home, the training ground and the stadium works purely electrically.
It is this likeable, approachable manner that makes such an impression that Jürgen Klopp’s face is even painted on the walls of houses in Liverpool erected a memorial. The 55-year-old has hardly parked his new Astra in front of the graffiti when the fans flock to him.
Selfies, autographs – that’s part of it
Selfies are taken, autographs are written. And the minutes of the already sporty film production pass by. “If you just let Jürgen be Jürgen, then that’s part of a shoot in the middle of Liverpool,” says Scott Wiltgen with a shrug. “Come on, we too!” shouts Klopp – and so the film crew comes to take photos with the brand ambassador.
“Looks great, feels good. Exactly how a car should be!”
Jürgen Klopp after his first electric test drive
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VIDEO: This is what happens when Jürgen Klopp meets his new Astra plug-in hybrid.
In the end, all fans are satisfied. Jurgen Klopp is too. “Looks great, feels good. Exactly how a car should be!” is his summary of the Astra after the electric premiere drive. He says goodbye warmly and gets into his new part-time electric vehicle to drive home. The crew waves goodbye, they too are happy. “It went perfectly,” says Scott Wiltgen. The many weeks of preparation paid off. “Because such an ambitious concept can only be implemented with a lot of planning. And a well-established team.”
Very familiar with the Astra
The concept also worked so well because Jürgen Klopp already knows the new Astra very well, says Wiltgen. The 55-year-old himself was involved during a visit to the Rüsselsheim design department during the development of the latest Astra generation. He was also present at the premiere at the headquarters. “We were sure that Jürgen, in his typical way, gets to the heart of the advantages of the Astra.” And the video and the feature clips prove: The approach – it was spot on.
The streets of Liverpool can be traveled so comfortably: with numerous assistance systems, adaptive pixel light and sport-active seats made of black nappa leather – massage function included.
Sep 2022
Video and photos: Neuland