For the first time since time immemorial Opel has again hit the black , Although the positive result with a plus of half a billion euros once only for the first half, but Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller is optimistic: “We have a clear vision of how we want to successfully shape the future of Opel Focusing on a strong brand profile, this plays an important role in making us successful again in the long term. ”
Easier than words, the vision of an automaker can be expressed in a vehicle study. Therefore, Lohscheller pushes after the half-year result with the X Experimental a car behind, which should shape the future of the manufacturer. “The study is something like the original meter for our future, on which the coming cars can be measured,” describes a manager the importance of the showpiece, which have conjured the Hesse now without a specific date and without a big stage from the hat.
The fact that Opel is in search of a new design handwriting has a lot to do with the new parent company. In the summer of last year the company left Rüsselsheim General Motors to the French PSA Group, which owns the Peugeot, Citroën and DS brands. “I do not need another French brand,” they quote in Rüsselsheim the order of the PSA chief Carlos Tavares. The new brand profile now carries the rather cranky marketing title “New Germanness”.
In other words, Paris expects Opel’s traditional German values, which Lohscheller translates with excellent engineering skills, the fascination for precisely crafted products and the unconditional focus on functionality, quality and reliability. And a bit of driving pleasure should not be missing.
The megalomania has given way to more down-to-earthness
The study comes in handy as well as down to earth. As the only show-car oversubscription, it possesses doors that are in opposite directions, giving a clear view of the interior.
The design has put off all frills and looks very straightforward. According to Lohscheller, the brand should again stand for a certain closeness, which Opel had recently lost a little bit. Following the example of Volkswagen In recent years, the brand has made itself more important and valuable than the bourgeois clientele appreciated it. As an example of this development is the top model Insignia, the Opel in the premium league against cars like the Mercedes E-Class or has positioned the BMW 5 Series.
The Exclusive department also made it possible to purchase expensive extra sausages right through to individual painting. That led to prices beyond the 70,000 euros. In addition, Opel for years with studies such as the Monza toyed with other major models, even a launch date of the decade, the manufacturer announced.
The plans are past. The design department chose Opel’s outlook for the future SUV After all, this is currently the most popular vehicle category and should soon account for 40 percent of the Opel mix. But there is not much left of the old megalomania. The car, called the GT X Experimental, measures just 4.06 meters, which is roughly the size of the Opel Mokka X.
The study has a good chance of going into production
As a drive, the former GM subsidiary on electric with a battery , which can be charged inductively – that is, the car no longer requires a plug connection to a charging station, but can refuel via a magnetic field. However, the capacity of 50 kWh is rather modest, but affordable.
Opel
Only a few controls provides Opel in the cockpit
Semi-automated driving also provides the study, but without promising so far impossible – namely, that passengers can soon sleep in the car, surf the Internet or do other things that have nothing to do with driving. Since Opel occurs much more realistic than many competitors and leaves it at the so-called Level 3. This means that the electronics can take over all driving tasks, the human being must always be ready to intervene.
With the show car Opel anticipates a few design details of upcoming production models, such as the redesigned grille, which is reminiscent of the visor of a protective helmet, or the purified dashboard. These elements will make it into the next editions of models like the Astra or Corsa. But even the car itself – with all the importance for the brand profile – have relatively concrete production prospects, says Opel.
Whether the implementation of the production vehicle in Rüsselsheim will take place, seems uncertain. As part of the savings plans for Opel, which also provide for job cuts, should PSA consider a partial sale of the development center.