The configuration is done almost as quickly as the sprint from 0 to 100. There is a simple reason for this: the top-of-the-line models Astra GSe, Astra Sports Tourer GSe and Grandland GSe already have everything on board as standard. Fully integrated Alcantara seats. inside Black 18/19 inch alloy wheels. Your turn. LED headlights. Included. A system output of 225 hp or 300 hp and a special chassis anyway. After all, GSe stands for “Grand Sport electric”. And with the “GSe” models, Opel not only brings the three legendary letters back to the road, but also an impressive design statement – bold and clear.
The people from Rüsselsheim found the right setting for the “Media Drive Event” (January 23 to February 2) in Andalusia. The hotel “La Zambra”, located between Málaga and Marbella, with its white facade and blue turrets was in no way inferior to the top-of-the-line models in terms of value. Royals, celebrities and VIPs, including the Rolling Stones, Lady Di and Julio Iglesias, cavorted here in the 80s and 90s. And the 400 invited journalists were now the first guests who could explore the pools, the Bamboleo bar and the Mood Spa after an extensive renovation of the hotel complex.
Can it be a little premium? The starting point of the “Media Drive Event” for the GSe models was the 5-star hotel “La Zambra”, located between Málaga and Marbella.
“A patent driving dynamics that is fun, but not annoying with excessive harshness,” writes the Auto Zeitung about the Astra Sports Tourer GSe.
The Astra GSe “enjoys fast cornering over winding terrain,” writes the auto tester from “kicker”. And the stern author notes: “The Astra GSe, which has been lowered by 10 mm, circles the curves agilely and stays on track thanks to the late intervention of the ESP.”
But who needs a pool and mood spa when a fleet of 50 GSe models are waiting in front of the hotel’s white walls, just waiting to be chased across the Andalusian asphalt. Before the start button of the plug-in hybrid was pressed, there was plenty of information at the media briefing. About the GSe philosophy, which is also committed to the zeitgeist: “The GSe models combine performance with responsibility in a fascinating way,” explained Helen Walter, “regular charging is the key to low consumption – for sporty driving fun, adapted to today’s times .”
“GSe is for everyone who loves technology and design – and values an ecological lifestyle.”
-Helen Walter-
The brand product manager, together with colleagues from PR, product and engineering, provided the media representatives with everything they needed to know about the new sub-brand. Opel CEO Florian Huettl was there, as was the new Head of Marketing, Rebecca Reinermann. And Harald Hamprecht, Vice President Communications, provided impressive figures: “Every fifth Opel sold is now purely electric,” he explained, “if you add the plug-in hybrids, it’s even every fourth.” Exciting in this context: ” Opel is gaining new customers who have not previously driven an Opel.”
Marketing specialist Helen Walter has been working intensively on the Astra, its launch and now the GSe derivatives for two years.
300 hp, all-wheel drive, a torque of 520 Newton meters: With the Grandland GSe, the most powerful vehicle races with lightning over the Andalusian asphalt.
“All in all, the Grandland GSe can be driven even more precisely through the corners, reacts more spontaneously to steering commands and does not buy its sportiness through excessive hardness,” writes the Motor Zeitung.
Sharp design for the most powerful plug-in hybrid SUV in its class: the Grandland comes exclusively with 19-inch light-alloy wheels – also with a black bonnet on request. The designers have also added a special rear diffuser and a GSe lettering to the tailgate.
“Opel is gaining new customers who did not previously drive an Opel.”
– Harald Hamprecht –
The two-day event had a clear focus – driving. From the airport to the hotel. Along the coast to Marbella. Sometimes in the Astra GSe, sometimes in the Astra Sports Tourer GSe, sometimes in the Grandland GSe. The highlight on day two: a tough 187-kilometer route through a breathtakingly beautiful mountain landscape. With long curves and hairpin bends, past the “Pueblos Blancos”, the white villages, up to Ronda, the most Spanish of all Spanish villages. In between, a coffee stop in “La Organic” surrounded by an olive grove – including a tasting of the finest olive oils. Whether Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn – car journalists, TV and lifestyle reporters and influencers fed the social media channels with their impressions under the hashtag #OpelGSe.
Great press coverage
The media response to the GSe fleet was and is enormous: “Opel is attacking in the premium class,” writes the Munich newspaper Merkur, referring to domestic competitors. The testers from “AutoBild” wrote “Great fun thanks to electric boost” about the photo of the Grandland GSe – and compared the chassis set-up of the Astra GSe with the adhesive: “You think that in Rüsselsheim Pattex painted the slippers , the GSe is so stable when moving.” “The Grandland is very comfortable and pleasant to go on the move. This is not least due to the ingenuity of the engineers,” the stern author notes and refers to the advantages of the frequency-selective dampers from KONI (see also the interview with Dr. Christian Hartweg). And while the Rüsselsheimer Echo breaks down the GSe concept to the formula “fun with electricity”, the Osnabrücker Zeitung sums it up as “little e, big impression”.
Three questions for …Dr. Christian Hartweg
The Manager Vehicle Dynamics is proud that the GSe models are designed, developed and manufactured in Rüsselsheim. With one caveat – the Grandland GSe is built in Eisenach.
Mr. Hartweg, what can the driver expect in a GSe model? Big sport! The chassis set-up provides better road contact, better traction and additional stability in corners. The focus is clearly on sportiness. Nevertheless, our engineers have also succeeded in refining the level of comfort.
Sportiness and comfort actually represent a conflict of goals… We have resolved that – with frequency-selective damper technology from Koni. In the GSe models, there is driving fun on country roads and the motorway. And when “sucking ability” is required in the city center on cobblestones, an additional valve in the damper piston provides the necessary comfort. We have already had good experiences with this adaptive shock absorber technology with the Corsa OPC.
And what does the GSe steering have to offer? The chassis setting alone improves the feedback to the driver via the steering wheel. Of course, we have increased this dynamic feedback. Steering response is nine percent faster, center feel is more precise, and there’s clearer feedback at high “G” forces. The test track up to Ronda is perfect for “experiencing” the fine tuning of chassis and steering – including a 10 mm lower chassis.
The Astra GSe combines performance with responsibility: only a few premium manufacturers offer 135 km/h in electric driving mode. And regular charging is the key to low consumption.
The all-electric range is 64 kilometers – for both the Astra Hatchback and the Sports Tourer.
On the way on the “Pueblos Blancos” route: “Great sport with the chassis”, sums up the makers of Autophorie.
What will stay in her memory from the days in Malaga is the incomparable team spirit, says Natalia Pagano. “Whether car cleaners, engineers, PR or marketing colleagues: everyone performs together as #TeamOpel – open, approachable, with great respect for one another,” says the Product Communications Manager. And the media representatives also notice this: “There was a lot of praise for the GSe models, but also the nice, open atmosphere. Opel is approachable, we are approachable – and that goes down well.”
“Opel is approachable, we are approachable – and that goes down well.”
– Natalia Pagano –
It is also clear that such an event is only possible through meticulous preparation and planning with great attention to detail: “The event team led by Tina Ludwig did a great job,” says Natalia Pagano. And then, of course, there was the spectacular test route up into the mountains: “520 Newton meters of maximum torque in the Grandland GSe up to Ronda – a dream or: Grand Sport electric!”
Whether at the media briefing, at a coffee stop or at dinner – Natalia Pagano provided answers to the journalists’ questions.
Great GSe history
The roots of the three letters lie in the 60s and 70s. At that time, GSE stood for “Grand Sport Injection” and, like the Monza GSE (left), for sporty and well-equipped models with lightning bolts. In 2021, the Manta GSe ElektroMOD (right) caused a sensation. And since then, GSe has stood for “Grand Sport electric” – a new sub-brand that now also completes the Astra family.
The day is coming to an end, the electrification offensive continues at full speed: Opel’s sporty future is starting with the dynamic “GSe” sub-brand. And the plug-in hybrids are just the beginning.
February 2022
Photos: Opel/Dani Heyne