Rüsselsheim, a clear autumn day. There are two Opel Frontera in front of the Adam Opel House. Series models, ready for everyday life. With seats that give support regardless of size and gender, clever ideas such as flexible holding tapes on the center console and a cockpit that puts everything into view. Melanie Jopp, Nina Thiele, Ramona Syska, Dorothea Dratwa and Sonja Luch go around the car, check every detail. You know them too well – after all, you have worked on it yourself.
The Women Perspective Panel, nine colleagues from different areas, has accompanied, tested and set impulses for years in order to contribute needs, expectations and wishes of women to the Frontera. The panel was led by Melanie Jopp, actually a staff director in Eisenach. This is exactly the principle: women from different functions and with a wide range of perspectives bring their experience. Jopp remembers the first encounter: “The design language of the Frontera: robust, masculine, wide.” For the panel, the focus was on the question from the start: How practical is the Frontera in everyday life?
“With a lot of aha, without Chichi: A family -friendly all -rounder is created – for women and men alike.”
-Melanie Jopp, head of the Frontera panel-
Now, five years later, there is a clear answer. “The Frontera is reduced to the essentials – an everyday hero full of practical solutions and technologies that you can afford,” says Jopp. Sonja Luch opens the driver’s door, sits on the intelli seat and ergonomics function, puts his hands on the steering wheel. “This is exactly how we imagined it: clear service, nothing superfluous. I don’t want to look for, I want to drive.” She docks her cell phone. “This is my highlight in the basic version: the innovative smartphone station. So I have my own infotainment source directly on board.”
Ramona Syska looks into the trunk. “Whether a big shopping, stroller or camping equipment – that fits in easily.” If there is more need, the back seat can be folded down in a ratio of 60:40, up to 1,600 liters of loading volume are possible. A point that the women had on their must-have list from the start: “The loading edge is pleasantly low,” she adds. In the meantime, Dorothea Dratwa is testing the entry into the second row. “There is plenty of space here – also for adults.” It points to the door shelf. “And yes, the one-liter bottle fits in as desired. Sounds banal, but makes the difference in everyday life.” If you need more flexibility, order the Frontera in the GS line as a seven-seater. “This is my favorite feature,” says Melanie Jopp.
“Whether size, age, technology affin or not – we bring together colleagues who reflect as many experiences as possible.”
– Nina Thiele, Chair of Women of Stellantis Germany –
“Get experience”: Nina Thiele shows details that the panel has forced.
This includes the practical smartphone bags in the backrests.
“A safe driving experience”: Sonja Luch likes to remember the test drive in Taunus.
Always within reach: the holding tapes on the center console are suitable for parking bills.
In the GS equipment, the Pure Panel Cockpit replaces the smartphone station.
The concept of the Women Perspective Panels has long since established itself at Opel. In workshops, styling clinics and during test drives, women brought their view and followed the implementation of their suggestions. Sonja Luch remembers the ride session in the Taunus: “For me, it was always crucial: I want to feel safe. Especially when the children ride along. It was my benchmark on our test drives. And the Frontera gives me this feeling.”
The curves of the low mountain range showed how much diversity is in detail: in the seat, which offers safe hold regardless of height. In shelves that can be easily reached. Looking back. Things that work granted, but only arise when different perspectives are heard. “Whether height, age, technology -savvy or not – we bring together colleagues who reflect as many experiences as possible,” explains Nina Thiele, chair of the Women of Stellantis Germany. “The team should give impulses out of personal experience.”
“This is exactly how we imagined it: clear service, nothing superfluous. I don’t want to look for, I want to drive.”
-Sonja Luch from Frontera-WPP-
This creates a family -friendly all -rounder that works. “For men and women alike – with a lot of aha, without Chichi,” says Melanie Jopp. The Frontera convinces with well thought -out options, reduced to the essentials: two equipment lines, two drives. Either fully electric with range up to 400 kilometers or as a hybrid with 48-volt technology-efficient and uncomplicated. The offer is supplemented by the “Electric All in” package with Wallbox, charging and breakdown help. Electromobility without hurdles.
The Frontera also remains versatile with the accessories: roof boxes, carriers, bags – solutions that make everyday life and adventures easier. “With the Frontera, Opel brings a model to the street that is so normal that it almost looks revolutionary,” Jopp draws her conclusion. “And that at an entry price that surprises just as much as the car itself.”
As part of the panel, Ramona Syska, Nina Thiele, Melanie Jopp, Dorothea Dratwa and Sonja Luch (from left) brought their experiences – and thus translated the needs, expectations and wishes of women into the Frontera. In addition, Katharina König, Barbara Trötscher, Kathinka Klingemann and Andrea Schemm were there.
October 2025
Photos: Opel/Andreas Liebschner