Berlin, Tuesday evening. In the atrium of the Axel Springer House, spotlights reflect on the glass and concrete. The rows are full, and the live stream is running at the same time for everyone who can’t be there. The “Small Cars” category is coming up – Barbara Schöneberger invites Opel boss Florian Huettl onto the stage. Racing driver and jury member Lina van de Mars steps into the light to hand over the “Golden Steering Wheel 2025”: “The Mokka GSE immediately captured my heart. You can feel the roots of rally sport,” she says.
This marks the start of the award ceremony – sporty, emotional, direct. The Opel Mokka GSE is the first prize winner of the evening. The first brand that can celebrate. The first story to be written. Huettl accepts the steering wheel and says proudly: “The award is a huge recognition for the entire team.”
“The award is a huge recognition for the entire team.”
– Opel boss Florian Huettl –
Group photo of the winners: A total of twelve awards were presented at the 2025 Golden Steering Wheel awards ceremony.
Opel boss Florian Huettl accepted the award for the Opel Mokka GSE.
The Golden Steering Wheel 2025 gala, moderated by Schöneberger and AUTO-BILD editor-in-chief Robin Hornig, has long been more than an awards ceremony. It’s the auto industry’s family reunion. Designers, board members, racing drivers, from touring car champion Joachim Winkelhock to Günther Irmscher from the well-known car tuner in Remshalden – everyone is there. Between the clinking of glasses and a flash of flashbulbs. This award has been around for 49 years. It has patina and meaning.
And the award winner from Rüsselsheim is a car that shows attitude. The jury put it this way: “The Mokka GSE offers the best price-performance ratio in its class.” It combines driving fun with reason – 281 hp purely electric, rally-inspired performance, paired with motorsport DNA. There is also a locally emission-free drive with a range of up to 336 kilometers (WLTP). The precise steering and the balanced chassis were particularly highlighted: no other car in its class drove so harmoniously over the ideal line. The logical operation, the exemplary overview and the solid workmanship and high level convinced the testers.
“Rechargeable driving fun! The Mokka GSE revives the era of hot hatches.”
– AUTO-BILD editor-in-chief Robin Hornig –
Florian Huettl celebrates the award together with Marc Fetzer (right), who is responsible for the current product portfolio at Opel/Vauxhall.
21 finalists were selected from 72 new models. After the tests at the Lausitzring, the respective category winners were finally determined.
“The best overall package”: Motorsport professionals, car experts and celebrities named the Mokka GSE “Best Small Car 2025”.
The jury from AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG tested at the Lausitzring. The Mokka GSE scored 3,345 points – a whopping 374 more than its first pursuer. 432 more than the second. A clear result. Robin Hornig says: “Rechargeable driving fun! The Mokka GSE revives the era of hot hatches – honest, direct, inspiring.”
The Golden Steering Wheel has been awarded since 1976. We went to Rüsselsheim 22 times, five times since 2020 alone. The first Opel winner was the Senator A. The latest: the Mokka GSE – the fastest production Opel of all time with rally genes. Berlin sparkles. The Mokka GSE shines.
22 “Car Oscars” for the brand with the lightning bolt
1978 – Opel Senator A: The first “Golden Steering Wheel” Presented at the IAA in 1977, the Senator replaces the upper-class models Captain, Admiral and Diplomat. A year later he won the first “Golden Steering Wheel” – with six-cylinder engines from 140 to 180 hp.
1981 – Opel Ascona C: All good things come in threesThe Ascona C continues the front drive offensive and wins the third “Golden Steering Wheel” in four years. Engines: Petrol engines from 1.3 to 1.6 liters, plus a 1.6 liter diesel.
1979 – Opel Kadett D: The award-winning space miracleThe Kadett D, the brand’s first front-wheel drive car, is shorter than its predecessor, but significantly larger on the inside. In 1979 he won gold. Caravan, two hatchback versions and, from 1983, the 115 hp GTE complete the range.
1982 – Opel Corsa A: Smaller, really bigIn 1982 the next coup follows: the new Corsa A, only 3.62 meters short, nimble, with exemplary aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.36. The GSi delivers 98 hp. The five-door model came in 1985.
1984 – Opel Kadett E: Success in seriesThe Kadett E wins the “Golden Steering Wheel” in 1984 and becomes “Car of the Year” in 1985. An aerodynamics star: the GSi achieves a drag coefficient of 0.30, the sedan 0.32.
1987 – Opel Senator B: Where A wins, B also wins. The Senator B follows on from its predecessor. Basis: the rear-wheel drive Omega. Top engine: a silky-smooth three-liter inline six with 156 hp. A four-valve six-cylinder with dual ram and 204 hp will follow later.
1990 – Opel Calibra: Victory of the athleteThe Calibra conquers the “Golden Steering Wheel” – with a world record drag coefficient of 0.26. The engines cover 115 to 204 hp, the turbo with all-wheel drive sprints to 100 in 6.8 seconds. In 1996, the Calibra V6 took the ITC touring car crown.
1994 – Opel Omega B: The big car wins gold. The Omega B impresses with its dynamic design, lots of space and new V6 petrol engines with up to 210 hp. Modern airbags and a lot of safety complete the package. As a caravan: ideal for
1995 – Opel Vectra B: The most beautiful mirrors in the country. Its elegant exterior mirrors immediately catch the eye – even the jury. The Vectra also scores points with new petrol engines between 75 and 170 hp as well as modern diesel engines.
1999 – Opel Zafira A: The quick-change artistThe recipe for success is called Flex7: seven seats or a huge cargo space – without expansion, at the touch of a hand. This brings the Zafira the “Golden Steering Wheel 1999”. Plus: compact, agile, suitable for everyday use.
2002 – Opel Vectra C: The master electricianThe Vectra C wins gold again. CAN bus, electro-hydraulic steering, engines from 100 to 280 hp. In 2004 comes IDS Plus: shock absorbers that think for themselves.
2005 – Opel Zafira B: The golden dozenThe Flex7 concept is further perfected – gold again. Plus: the fastest van in the world. The OPC version with 240 hp laps the Nordschleife in 8:54 minutes.
2009 – Opel Astra J: The designer pieceThe Astra J combines sculptural lines with German engineering. Modern systems such as AFL+ and the front camera are celebrating their premiere. AGR seats increase comfort.
2010 – Opel Meriva B: Clever, compact – and spot onThe Meriva B impresses with FlexSpace and the practical, rear-hinged FlexDoors. Engines: economical and powerful from 75 to 140 hp.
2012 – Opel Zafira Tourer: The rolling loungeThe Zafira Tourer brings lounge comfort, a panoramic roof, radar-based assistance and the “Golden Steering Wheel”. Variable as always – more luxurious than ever.
2015 – Opel Astra K: The quantum leapNew lightweight construction, modern engines, best networking – the Astra K deservedly wins gold and shows what the compact class has to be able to do today.
2017 – Opel Ampera-e: The range championUp to 520 kilometers according to NEDC, 380 according to WLTP: The Ampera-e sets standards. Sprint: 3.2 seconds to 50 km/h. Lots of space despite being 4.16 meters long. Gold for the electric pioneer.
2020 – Opel Corsa-e: The bestseller becomes electricThe Corsa-e has a range of 353 kilometers, brings assistance systems into series production – and makes electromobility affordable. Golden success 2020.
2021 – Opel Mokka-e: Bold, clear, locally emission-freeOpel’s design revolution: Vizor at the front, Pure Panel inside. Plus a range of up to 338 kilometers. Unconventional, practical, award-winning.
2022 – Opel Astra L: The triple is perfectThird Astra gold in a row, third Opel gold in a row. Bold design, fully digital cockpit, plug-in hybrid, electric version – a statement for the future.
2024 – Opel Grandland: Electrified at the highest levelFirst Opel on STLA medium, 97 kWh battery, range of up to 694 kilometers. Plus 3D Vizor, illuminated flash, LED spectacle in Intelli-Lux HD light. Gold for the top SUV.
2025 – Opel Mokka GSE: Fastest fully electric series OpelThe youngest award winner: the Mokka GSE. 207 kW (281 hp), 345 Nm, 5.9 seconds to 100, 200 km/h top speed. Technology from a rally prototype, design with a sporting spirit. An Opel that shows how silent speed can be.
1982 – Opel Corsa A: Smaller, really bigIn 1982 the next coup follows: the new Corsa A, only 3.62 meters short, nimble, with exemplary aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.36. The GSi delivers 98 hp. The five-door model came in 1985.
November 2025
Photos: Opel, Christian Spreitz, Fabian Matzerath