Opel Frontera Gravel concept previews rugged Duster rival
Looking for a new or used Opel? Find it here with CARmag!
Built in collaboration with motorsport specialists BlackFish and XS, the concept will be shown publicly for the first time at the XS Carnight event in Wörthersee, Austria, today.
Designed at Opel's Rüsselsheim studio, the Frontera Gravel builds on the standard Frontera Electric model, adding a range of off-road-inspired visual upgrades. These include a Thule Canyon XT roof rack, auxiliary LED lights on the hood and roof, a front winch, and snow tracks mounted on the D-pillars. It also gets 16-inch Borbet CWE alloy wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres, which enhance the SUV's tough appearance, even if its actual off-road capability remains limited.
Related: Opel Unveils All-Electric Mokka for Rally Debut
The body is finished in a matte Desert Stone wrap with black contrasts on the hood and roof, while orange detailing on the skid plates, mirrors, roof rack, and badging gives it a more striking look. Matching orange stitching appears on the microfibre seats inside, with a black headliner completing the theme. Underneath, the concept sticks with the front-wheel-drive layout of the production Frontera Electric. It uses a single 115kW electric motor and a 54kWh battery, offering up to 400km of driving range. While it's not built for serious off-roading, Opel says it's capable of light-duty trail driving or 'soft-roading'.
There's currently no all-wheel-drive version of the Frontera, though Stellantis has deployed electrified rear axles in models like the Jeep Avenger 4Xe and Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4. This approach is also planned for the upcoming Fiat Grande Panda 4×4, suggesting it could be possible for Opel in the future. Though officially labelled a concept, the Frontera Gravel could point to a new rugged trim level to compete with the likes of the upcoming Dakar-inspired Dacia (or Renault) Duster. Opel says the concept is a way to gauge interest in a more adventurous version of its family SUV.
Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag!
The post Opel Frontera Gravel Concept Previews Rugged Duster Rival appeared first on CAR Magazine.
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
38 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Renault designer Gilles Vidal moves back to Stellantis
Stellantis on Friday appointed Gilles Vidal, credited with overhauling Renault's line up, as head of design for its European brands at a time when the carmaker needs to better manage its sprawling portfolio. Vidal will oversee the design strategy for Stellantis' European brands, which include Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen and Opel, covering city cars to vans, the group said. "(Vidal's) deep understanding of European automotive culture and his forward-thinking design philosophy will be essential as we continue to redefine mobility and strengthen the identity of our European brands," said Jean-Philippe Imparato, head of enlarged Europe at Stellantis. Vidal worked for 25 years at Citroen and Peugeot, during which time he was credited with the success of the Peugeot 3008 SUV, first introduced in 2009. He has won five "Car of the Year" awards, including at Renault, which he joined in 2020. His design revamp at Renault, including the electric Scenic and the premium coupe Rafale models, played an important part in the recovery achieved by former CEO Luca de Meo, who resigned last month to join luxury group Kering.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Opel hands severe GSE shock to most powerful Mokka ever made
First ever performance, Mokka will get from 0-100 km/h in under six seconds. First performance Mokka makes sole use of an electric powertrain. Image: Opel Its GSE moniker, revived two years ago to denote Grand Sport Electric instead of Grand Sport Einspritzung, which signified fuel injection in German, Opel has added its performance moniker to the Mokka for the first time. Based on the updated Mokka unveiled in Europe last year, the Mokka GSE becomes the Blitz's second performance EV following the debut of the Astra GSe three years ago. New inside and out Stylistically, the GSE's changes from the Mokka GS Line it is based on include model-specific 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in EV-optimised Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres, GSE front and rear bumpers, GSE door sills, yellow GSE brake calipers and GSE decals at the base of the front doors in yellow and black. ALSO READ: Opel unpacks facelift Mokka with series of simplified revisions Inside, the GSE's unique fittings comprise sport seats trimmed in Alcantara with GSE logos embroidered into the front seat backs, GSE-specific readouts and dials within the pair of 10-inch displays, Alcantara on the doors, alloy pedals and a white line plus yellow stitching on the seats. Underneath Underneath, Opel has sharpened up the GSE's steering and fitted a Torsen limited-slip front differential, as well as new double hydraulic shock absorbers. Unique to the GSE are the 20-inch alloy wheels and GSE-branded yellow brake calipers. Image: Opel On the power front, the Mokka GSE retains the familiar 54-kWh battery pack, but with power from the electric motor dramatically increased from 115kW/260Nm to 206kW/345Nm. The result is the fastest production Mokka ever made with a top speed of 200 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Seats have been finished in Alcantara with GSE badge, white stripes and yellow stitching. Image: Opel As with the Astra, the Mokka GSE offers three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. No details about range or charging times were disclosed. Not for us On sale before the end of the year in Europe and in the United Kingdom by sister brand Vauxhall, the Mokka GSE is not expected to debut in South Africa anytime soon. Instead, buyers will continue to make do with the conventional 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine as part of the refreshed range introduced earlier this week. NOW READ: GSI out, GSe in as Opel revives past moniker for sporty electrified Astra
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Lofty price in tough segment not doing Renault Duster any favours
Petrol engine replacing the frugal diesel mill remains a sticky point for solid crossover. The Renault Duster has always been a bit of a dark horse. One of those vehicles that quietly built a cult following while everybody was chasing Japanese and German nameplates. The Duster was never flashy and never premium. And quite honestly nobody cared. It just worked. It was the rough-edged SUV you could actually afford. Now, in 2025, the Renault Duster has cleaned up, and grown into something that's more refined, while retaining most of its no nonsense roots. But the pricing has jumped up too and put the Duster into territory that is overflowing with choice. This said, what is the Duster like to drive? The elephant in the room The derivative The Citizen Motoring spent a week with was the Intens EDC 4×2. It's the middle-of-the-range model in terms of price, but the top-of-the-range in terms of spec. The Zen 4×4 MT costs more but offers a lower level of spec. If you need, or want, 4×4 capability, then this the compromise that must be made. The new Renault Duster features attractive rugged styling. Picture Mark Jones Let's get straight to the engine and drivetrain. It's probably the most controversial topic around the new Duster. Why? Because anybody who knew the previous Renault Duster, knows how brilliant the 1.5-litre 80kW/250Nm turbodiesel was. Punchy and ridiculously light on fuel. But the world has changed, and Renault don't offer this engine anymore. Today the Duster comes with a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine making more power at 113kW but the same torque at 250Nm. The new Duster's powertrain is paired with a seven-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission that sends the power down to the front wheels only. The box does it job. It's smooth and responsive enough without any jerkiness in traffic. And this is where the Renault Duster excels. In the suburbs and in traffic. The irony I know for a Duster, but not everybody wants to compete with a Toyota Hilux going up the side of a mountain on Sunday morning. ALSO READ: VIDEO: Renault Duster lives up to reputation as solid off-roader Petrol not as frugal as diesel Part two of the controversy is directly linked to fuel consumption. The previous turbodiesel offered numbers that saw owners getting under five litres per 100km. Renault says you should get 6.5L/100km with the new one. But the reality was I averaged closer to eight, with the car settling at 7.8 litres per 100km. I think that in a world where the Chinese can't get much below 10 litres per 100km for most of their very popular SUVs, this new petrol turbo's return is not bad at all. Being of the inside of the new Duster is a better place to be than the old one. There is still a lot of hard plastics around, but the cabin does feel more upmarket. You have a new 10-inch floating infotainment screen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, you get an updated digital cluster with clean graphics and customisable views. In the centre console you have USB-Cs, a wireless charging pad, and actual climate control buttons that are easy to use. The Duster features a digital instrument cluster. Picture: Mark Jones Renault Duster is a tight spot In terms of tech and safety, the Intens spec Duster features a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, and tyre-pressure monitoring into the mix. Cruise control is standard, and the rear-view camera is clear and helpful. ALSO READ: Smart new Renault Duster facing a tough battle against rivals I so desperately want to love the new Renault Duster. And I really like this Intens 4×2 EDC way more than I did the Zen 4×4 with manual box. But at R519 999, once again, there is just too much choice out there like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Chery Tiggo Cross to name only just two of the many crossover SUVs in this segment. The real problem for Renault is that too many of their competitors make a stronger bid for your money. And they will probably get it too. The Renault Duster is backed by a five-year/150 000km mechanical warranty, three-year/45 000km service plan and six-year anti-corrosion warranty.
