Opel Frontera SA launch delayed to 2026: What to expect
What to expect
According to The Citizen, unveiled last year as the replacement for the Crossland, the Frontera changes segment from being a body-on-frame SUV, previously sold locally as the Isuzu Frontier, to a unibody crossover with five or seven seats based on parent company Stellantis's Smart Car platform.
Measuring 4 385mm long, 1 795mm wide and 1 635mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2 675mm, the Frontera offers between 460 litres and 1 600 litres of boot space. Unlike the original, it is built in Slovakia rather than by Isuzu in Japan and comes without an all-wheel-drive option.
Hybrid or EV
Also without a manual gearbox option, the Frontera uses a mild-hybrid powertrain as standard.
It pairs the well-known 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech petrol engine in two states of tune – 74kW and 100kW – with a 21kW electric motor integrated into a newly developed six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The fully electric version, simply called the Frontera Electric, features a 44kWh battery pack producing 83kW and offers up to 305km of range on a single charge. A long-range version, claiming up to 400km, will arrive later.
In its home market, two trims are available: Edition and GS Line. Notable features include the Opel Pure Panel setup with two 10-inch displays, up to 17-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, IntelliLux LED headlights, a six-speaker sound system and up to five USB-C ports.
The GS Line adds dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-look steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging, auto-folding electric mirrors, front parking sensors (the Edition only gets rear), a reverse camera and Blind Spot Monitoring.
Standard safety features across both trims include tyre pressure monitoring, Hill Start Assist, cruise control, Driver Attention Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist.
For South Africa
Speaking to The Citizen at Stellantis's Media Connect event at Montecasino last week, Opel Middle East and Africa head Falk Zimpel confirmed that a mid-2026 market debut for the Frontera has been approved, suggesting a launch around June or July.
Priced from €23 900 (about R499 000) in Germany and from £23 995 (about R577 000) in the UK – where sister brand Vauxhall calls the Edition the Design – details on local pricing and spec will be announced closer to launch.
However, it is expected to possibly forgo the mild-hybrid powertrain for the conventional 1.2-litre PureTech turbo developing 96kW/230Nm, as used in the Corsa. The electric variant is unlikely to join the South African range in the near future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Crime in Johannesburg: The reality of doing business in the CBD
A walkabout of the city showed the varying degrees of degradation and danger faced by business owners in the Johannesburg CBD. At the foot of each of Johannesburg's claustrophobic concrete towers are the men and women who keep the city ticking over. For those outside the city, the smothering buildings cast intimidating shadows, but at street level, attitudes grow harder daily. Desensitised to the lingering threat of crime, business is conducted on streets not so much crumbling, but simply stripped of their value by those acting with relative impunity. Members of the Democratic Alliance took a tour of the Johannesburg CBD on Tuesday to gauge the impact crime was having on business owners and residents. Police visibility needed Shop owners all have similar stories to tell, centring around a desire for the municipality to do more to make the streets presentable and safe. The owner of a store on the corner of Eloff and Market Streets selling high-end camera equipment behind thick iron bars said the mere perception of the city's crime was enough to keep people away. Delisile Muwonge of SA Camera Land said that when those inquiring3333333 about her competitively priced products over the phone realised her premises were in the heart of the CBD, the phone line would more often than not go dead. She claimed her store had been robbed four times in recent years and even witnessed the police unable to apprehend suspects who fled within a few meters of officers. 'We need more police in the streets because we never see them unless they are coming to check if I am selling stolen goods,' Muwonge told The Citizen. Crime improving for some Not all traders are downbeat about business and safety in the CBD, those like Sakile Ziqubu, manager of clothing store Side Step. He works in the Small Street Mall, which runs between Commissioner and Rahima Moosa Streets, and relays security in the tight and busy walkways is improving. 'We used to have robberies, muggings and people getting jumped at the ATM, but now there are guards at each entrance and the wardens patrol all the time,' said Ziqubu. He added that the municipality was engaging with business owners to address security concerns, but that private security was more visible than police or their metropolitan colleagues. Bree Street repairs Lillian Ngoyi Street remains a corrugated iron scar through the heart of the city, and an affected businessman vented his frustration at the length of the repairs and the hollow periodic photo opportunities. 'They are two years too late. What have they been doing to put pressure on them to fix this? We see them here taking photos and talking, but nothing happens,' said the man. The repairs have created two dark corridors on either side of what was Bree Street, which the man says are frequented by pickpockets and shoplifters — many being foreign nationals. 'I am South African, but I am the one who feels like a foreigner. This is killing us and the municipality does not care about any of us,' he vented, stressing he could not be named for fear of being targeted. Lillian Ngoyi Street near Eloff Street, 22 July 2025. Picture: Jarryd Westerdale. Block by block differences A walk from the Carlton Centre to Johannesburg Central Police Station illustrates the city's mixed fortunes, from vagrancy to manicured squares in between the offices of corporate giants. However, infrastructure theft has left street corners invariably without either manhole covers, brickwork, functioning street lights or working traffic signals. Cleanliness varies from block to block, mirrored by the hijacked and abandoned buildings that dot the skyline. DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said that clearing these buildings should be a priority as they were hives of criminality. 'We have found wanted suspects and stolen property in these buildings and syndicates use these buildings as a way to recruit men and women with little to no opportunities,' Msimanga told The Citizen. A derelict building on Von Brandis Street, 22 June. Picture: Jarryd Westerdale. Entities working in 'silos' Holding municipal entities to account was what the opposition was hoping to do, with DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda-Echeozonjoku highlighting how the problem with entities working in 'silos'. 'You can't fix the city by dealing with one particular entity. The entities are using EPWP workers to pick up the litter, but why are they not also working with businesses, with residents to have coordinated clean-ups as well?' said Kayser-Echeozonjoku. 'You will see that the areas where it is clean are where businesses have taken control. The city should really assist in having some understanding or collaboration with the private sector to keep the city,' she added. Kayser-Echeozonjoku said they would take the day's findings and seek answers from responsible parties in the Gauteng legislature and municipal section 79 committees. The tour ended with the DA delegation inspecting Johannesburg Central police station and questioning management. 'The building needs to serve the community. It should be creating a space where the people of Johannesburg and victims of crime feel safe to report crime. 'If residents and business owners don't trust the people who are meant to protect them, that only breeds further criminality and suffering,' said Msimanga. NOW READ: These are the suburbs most people are moving to in Johannesburg
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Stellantis to launch Leapmotor EVs in South Africa later this year
Stellantis plans to sell Chinese-branded electric vehicles (EVs) developed by its partner Leapmotor in South Africa starting with the C10 from September, the company said on Tuesday. The C10 is an electric SUV with a petrol engine used only to charge the battery. More Leapmotor models are expected to be launched next year, including fully electric models, said Mike Whitfield, MD of Stellantis South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Leapmotor created waves with its recent rollout of the all-electric B10 SUV equipped with smart-driving features and lidar sensing technology for less than $18,000 (R316,865). In Stellantis bought a 21% stake in Leapmotor for $1.6bn (R28.17bn). The two carmakers also formed the joint venture Leapmotor International, in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake. Leapmotor will help the world's fourth largest carmaker widen its range of affordable EVs, as it presses ahead with electrification while other Chinese carmakers including BYD and Chery Auto are aggressively expanding into Africa. 'South Africa is a critical market for Stellantis and we are committed to unlocking its potential through product, innovation and meaningful partnerships,' Whitfield said. Stellantis, which entered the South African market four years ago, is building a new plant in the country with a maximum capacity of 100,000 vehicles by 2030. It plans to become the No 1 player in the Middle East and Africa region with 1-million vehicles sold by 2030, with 35% expected to be electric. In 2024 it sold 500,000 cars in the Middle East and Africa. With more than 60% of the South African market concentrated below the R400,000 price point, Stellantis's Citroën C3 range is gaining strong traction, with the upcoming C3 Basalt set to complete a competitive line-up in the accessible B-hatch and SUV segments early next year, Whitfield said. Stellantis will also launch the Citroën C3 Hola panel van, its entry into the growing commercial vehicle sector aimed at small business owners.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Citroën Basalt's entry ticket to South Africa approved for 2026
Fastback-styled crossover will become the third Indian-made Citroën sold in South Africa, and also its new flagship above the C3 and C3 Aircross. Basalt has been approved for South Africa in 2026. Image: Citroën India Reported towards the end of last year as being under consideration for South Africa, Citroën parent company, Stellantis, formerly confirmed the arrival of the Basalt at its annual Media Connect event in Johannesburg earlier this year from next year. Fastback flagship Set to become the third Indian assembled and developed model to be sold locally after the C3 and C3 Aircross, the fastback coupe-styled Basalt will make its debut in the early part of the new year, and become the brand's de facto flagship. NOW READ: Dramatic coupe-styled Citroën Basalt finally revealed Based on the same Smart Car platform as its siblings, the Basalt measures 4 352 mm long, 1 756 mm wide and 1 593 mm tall with its wheelbase stretching 2 651 mm. With or without pressure Its boot able to accommodate 470-liters of luggage, the Basalt comes in a choice of three trim levels in India, You, Plus and Max, with propulsion being provided by the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech engine with or without turbocharging. Coupe-styled Basalt will become Citroën South Africa's flagship model. Image: Citroën India In the case of the former, outputs are 60kW/115Nm, while the force-assisted unit develops 81kW/205Nm. Drive is routed to the front wheels only. The standard transmission option is a five-speed manual for the former, with the latter offering either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Spec sheet In terms of specification, and depending on the trim grade, the Basalt can be had with 16-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic air-conditioning with rear vents, leatherette seats, a 10.2-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless smartphone charger and a six-speaker sound system. Included further are folding electric mirrors, a multi-function steering wheel, three USB ports, keyless entry, front and rear armrests, and remote engine start. Interior mirrors that of the C3 Aircross. Image: Citroën India On the safety and driver assistance side, and again depending on the trim level, the Basalt features six airbags, cruise control, a tyre pressure monitor, a reverse camera and rear parking sensors, Hill Hold Assist and Electronic Stability Control. In total, five mono-tone colours are available in India; Polar White, Platinum Grey, Steel Grey, Cosmo Blue and Garnet Red. A dual-tone finish, involving the former and latter hues being contrasted by a black roof, can be had as an option. Stay tuned 'We have a clear vision to grow our presence in South Africa and across the Sub-Saharan region,' Stellantis South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa Managing Director, Mike Whitfield, said in a statement on Tuesday (22 July). 'This growth is anchored in three pillars: consolidating our brands, strengthening our dealer footprint, and rebuilding trust with customers through consistent delivery and innovation'. Priced from Rs 832 000, which amounts to R169 329 when directly converted into rand, more details surrounding the Basalt will likely only emerge closer to year-end or shortly before its market arrival in 2026. ALSO READ: Citroën C3's affordable price tag a sight for sore eyes
