Latest news with #Grandland
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel Frontera SA launch delayed to 2026: What to expect
Planned for unveiling this year, Opel has pushed the launch of the revived Frontera to next year as part of its expanded crossover/SUV range, which currently consists of the Mokka and all-new Grandland. 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.
IOL News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Meet the revamped Opel Grandland: a striking German SUV aiming to dethrone Chinese rivals
Opel has completely revamped their Grandland SUV. Image: Supplied Opel has completely revamped its Grandland SUV incorporating many of the features first seen in the Experimental concept car and now introduced on a production model. It's bulkier and more angular than the outgoing model, which was more of a wallflower than extrovert thanks to 173mm of extra length, 54mm extra width and standing 19mm higher. Exterior They have introduced a new execution of the Opel brand face: the 3D Vizor that's combined with the illuminated Opel Griffin logo made more prominent using Edge Light Technology. Making its debut on the Grandland is Intelli-Lux Pixel Matrix HD with 51,200 elements for high-definition light distribution. Based on traffic, a camera detects oncoming objects which then cuts them out providing a brighter and more homogeneous light pattern. There's a funky welcome and goodbye animation with graphical projections in front of the vehicle. At the rear of the Grandland the distinctive compass lighting signature with the first integration of the illuminated 'OPEL' wordmark, also makes its debut while the LED brake light bar stretches across its full width. There's no more chrome lettering as Opel's Greenovation approach replaces it with embossed lettering. Standing on 19-inch alloys, cladded elements around the wheels and lower body and combined with a two-tone floating roof the family SUV is one of the more attractive ones around. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Opel Grandland receives the distinctive compass lighting signature with the first integration of the illuminated 'OPEL' wordmark. Image: Supplied Interior The interior has also been thoroughly upgraded to a more modern and neater look and feel although there were some elements around the centre console especially that felt less than premium. Behind the steering wheel is what Opel calls a discrete 10-inch instrument cluster that neatly fits under the top of the dashboard without dominating your view. In the short time we got to drive it the 16-inch infotainment system provided clear and crisp graphics and seemed easy enough to operate. They have also introduced Pure Mode that reduces the content on the screens and head-up display providing a less distracting experience. Fortunately frequently used settings like climate control and volume can still be accessed by physical buttons. The new Pixel Box has a translucent glass face behind which is a wireless charger and USB ports allowing you to keep an eye on the charging process and preventing the phone from sliding around and falling out. Single powertrain While the platform allows for New Energy Vehicle set-ups, locally it is powered by the company's PureTech turbo-charged petrol engine with 134kW and 300Nm coupled to a six speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. For some sporty driving there are now paddle shifters. The GS Line for now is the only model range available. Behind thee steering wheel of the Opel Grandland is a discrete 10-inch instrument cluster. Image: Supplied Driving Climbing into the cabin the ergonomic AGR seats provide a very comfortable perch. AGR is the German 'Campaign for Healthier Backs' and the seats (the driver's seat is ventilated and features a massage function) have lateral comfort adjustment thanks to two pneumatic pockets located in the backrest's side bolsters. There's also an Intelli-Seat feature in the front seats, a slot that relieves pressure on the tailbone on long journeys. We'll be able to pass better judgement on the Grandland's suspension set-up when we get it for a full review, but it's fitted with frequency selective damping (FSD) technology used in the chassis. FSD creates a second hydraulic circuit in the damper chamber to mechanically adapt the damping force about the frequency. Depending on the situation, road surface conditions and driving style, it enables different damping characteristics. Brief driving impressions through Fourways towards Kyalami though were fairly positive. Once it has reached its ideal rev-range it powers along nicely despite being a bit sluggish on take-off. The driving position is comfortable and the steering wheel rake and reach adjustable. Safety Fitted with Intelli-Drive 2.0 system it receives Automatic Cruise Control with Stop and Go function, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Adaptation and In Crash Braking, semi-automatic lane-change assist and Recommended Speed Adaption as well as a rear-view camera with an automatic cleaning function. In a market that's regularly flooded with new SUVs here's hoping that another German rival can take on the Chinese that seem to have a strong foothold. It comes with a five year/100,000km warranty with Roadside Assistance, a five year/90,000km service plan and a 12 year/unlimited kilometre anticorrosion warranty. Pricing GS Line 1,6T AT: R789,900.00
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel Frontera's South African arrival pushed back to ‘mid-2026'
Third "modern" Opel SUV after the Mokka and Grandland will debut last, and possibly without hybrid assistance as offered from the start in Europe. No longer made by Isuzu, the all-new Frontera has now been re-approved for South Africa from 2026. Image: Opel Planned for unveiling this year, Opel has revised the launch date for the revived Frontera to next year as part of its renewed crossover/SUV range currently consisting of the Mokka of the all-new Grandland. What to expect? Unveiled last year as the replacement for the Crossland, the Frontera changes segment from being a body-on-frame SUV sold on local soil as the Isuzu Frontier, to a unibody crossover with five or seven seats based on parent company Stellantis' Smart Car platform. ALSO READ: Opel unwraps more of revived Frontera approved for South Africa Measuring 4 385 mm long, 1 795 mm wide and 1 635 mm with its wheelbase stretching 2 675 mm, the Frontera offers between 460-litres and 1 600-litres of boot space, but unlike the original, is built in Slovakia rather than by Isuzu in Japan, and without the option of an all-paw gripping system. Hybrid or EV Also without the option of a manual gearbox, the Frontera derives motivation from a mild-hybrid powertrain as standard. Depicted base Frontera Edition can be had with 16-inch steel wheels or 16-inch alloys. Image: Opel Consisting of the stalwart 1.2-litre turbocharged PureTech petrol engine in two states of tune; 74 kW and 100 kW, the unit is bolstered further by a 21 kW electric motor housed within a newly developed six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The EV Frontera Electric is unlikely to form part of the local range next year. Image: Opel The fully electric option, simply called the Frontera Electric, makes do with a 44-kWh battery pack that develops 83 kW, and offers up to 305 km of range on a single charge. Arriving later, the long range version will have a claimed distance of 400 km. Likely spec In its home market, two trim levels are offered; Edition and GS Line, with notable features comprising the Opel Pure Panel made-up of two 10-inch displays, up to 17-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, Opel's IntelliLux LED headlights, a six-speaker sound system and up to five type-C USB ports. Standard across all models is the Opel Pure Panel made-up of two 10-inch displays. Image: Opel Reserved for the GS Line are dual-zone climate control, rain sense wipers, an imitation leather-trimmed steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charger, auto folding electric mirrors, front parking sensors to go with the Edition's rear, a reverse camera and Blind Spot Monitoring. With the split rear back folded down, the Frontera's boot can take 1 600-litres of luggage. Image: Opel Standard across both grades safety-wise is a tyre pressure monitor, 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' Media Connect event held at Montecasino last week, which included the launch of the all-new Grandland, Opel Middle East and Africa Head, Falk Zimpel, said a mid-2026 market debut for the Frontera has been approved, alluding to it going on-sale around June or July. Priced from €23 900 (R499 259) in Germany and from £23 995 (R577 942) in the United Kingdom where sister brand Vauxhall refers to the Edition as the Design, details surrounding the Frontera's price and spec for South Africa will only be announced closer its launch next year. However, expect it possibly eschew the mild-hybrid powertrain for the conventional 1.2-litre PureTech turbo that develops 96kW/230Nm in the Corsa. At the same time, the Electric is unlikely to form of the local range anytime soon. ALSO READ: Opel Frontera officially returns as Crossland's reinvented successor
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel makes it official: New Astra in line for South Africa
Said to be an 'advanced stage' of studying, the Astra will most likely make its comeback sometime in 2026. All-new Astra L said to have been a constant topic of discussion for South Africa. Image: Opel In a surprise turnaround, Opel's parent company, Stellantis, has confirmed that it is poised to bring the Astra back to South Africa after initially ruling out its entry due to declining demand for C-segment hatchbacks. Unveiled three years ago as the internally named Astra L, the first generation not to made or produced by long-time former parent company General Motors since being founded by UK sister brand Vauxhall as a rebadged version of the Kadett D in 1979, rides on the same EMP2 platform as the Peugeot 308, but with differences in dimensions and inside. Not coming… The second model at the time, after the Mokka, to incorporate the Blitz's Bold and Pure styling language, the unexpected u-turn comes shortly after a response on X, following its global announcement about the chances of it returning to South Africa. ALSO READ: Comeback star: Long awaited all-new Opel Astra officially revealed 'We have received confirmation that the new Astra will not be made available in South Africa,' the response. … until now Speaking to The Citizen on the sidelines of the new Grandland's unveiling at Montecasino in Johannesburg on Wednesday (9 July), which also formed part of Stellantis' annual Media Connect event, Opel Middle East and Africa Head, Falk Zimpel, said that the investigation in bringing the Astra to market 'is in an advanced stage'. Interior adheres to the same detox principle as the Mokka and new Grandland. Image: Opel Admitting that the model's reintroduction to South Africa had been a topic of much discussion, Zimpel added that the arrival was expected to take place next year, although an exact date of reveal wasn't disclosed. What to expect? Assembled exclusively at Opel's home plant of Rüsselsheim in Germany, the Astra L also became the first to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain, although this would be an unlikely option for the local market. Similar to arch-rival Volkswagen's reinstated Golf 8.5, the local market Astra is likely to only become available with the long-serving 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech turbocharged petrol engine, also used in the Corsa. Astra L is the first in the nameplate's now 46-year history not to have been produced by General Motors. Image: Opel In Europe, the blown three-pot comes in two states of tune: 81kW/205Nm and 96kW/230Nm, with the standard transmission being a six-speed manual and, in the case of the latter, an optional eight-speed automatic. Neither is expected to receive consideration: the 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid, which produces a combined 132 kW, nor the performance all-wheel-drive GSe, which adds a second electric motor for a total output of 165 kW. Additional no-nos are the 1.5-litre Blue CDTI turbodiesel, the 1.2-litre mild-hybrid or the Astra Electric. Golf vs Astra resumes As it stands, the combination of the more powerful PureTech and eight-speed automatic would present the clearest option in rivalling the Golf, which itself makes use of the older 1.4 TSI engine rather than the newer 1.5 TSI Evo, paired to an eight-speed Tiptronic 'box. For the moment, no further details are known; however, some may emerge either before year-end or in the early part of 2026. NOW READ: It is a no: New Opel Astra won't be coming to South Africa
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Opel Grandland puts on a new suit with a point to prove
Rüsselsheim's flagship new SUV adopts a new look and a dramatically improved power, along with a more powerful turbo-petrol engine minus any electrical hardware. Grandland has adopted the same Bold and Pure styling language as the Mokka. Images: Charl Bosch Announced for South Africa last month just over a year after its global unveiling, Stellantis South Africa debuted the all-new second generation Opel Grandland on Wednesday (9 July) as not only the Blitz's flagship model, but also what it describes as a milestone vehicle for the local market. Second of three A ground-up new model which has become the first to premiere the STLA Medium platform locally, the second modern Opel SUV after the Mokka additionally incorporates the latest version of Rüsselsheim's Bold and Pure styling language, though with subtle difference from its smaller sibling. ALSO READ: Approved: All-new Opel Grandland on its way to South Africa Available initially as a single model unlike the outgoing's Grandland's three, the launch around Montecasino involved a comparatively short drive of less than 50 km to as far as Kyalami in what will become the effective third model in Opel's SUV range. Improved looks Aside from its design involving the newest take on the Opel Vizor grille and Compass in which the Blitz badge becomes the central 'directional' focus, the Grandland's switch in platform not only involves a more distinctive appearance, but gains on every dimensional front compared to its predecessor. At 4 650 mm long, 1 655 mm tall and 1 905 mm wide, the second generation measures 173 mm longer, 19 mm taller and 64 mm wider, though its wheelbase is unchanged at 2 784 mm. The knock-on effect is an increase in boot space from 514-litres to 550-litres, however, with the second row down, space decreases slightly from 1 652-litres to 1 641-litres. Rear design is more substantial and omits the Opel Blitz logo for an illuminated block letter badge. Slimmed down to the previous mid-range GS Line trim grade with more derivatives to follow, the Grandland's redesign also introduces Opel's latest Matrix LED IntelliLux headlights in addition to an illuminated LED light bar. The setup, officially called Pixel Matrix, involves each light cluster comprising 25 600 micro LEDs to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, helped by the forward facing camera system. In another first, the Blitz badge has been dropped on the tailgate and replaced by an illuminated block letter OPEL logo. Boot space with the rear seats up as improved from 514-litres to 550-litres. As part of the GS Line exterior, the Grandland comes standard with sportier bumpers and door sills, as well as 19-inch alloy wheels and a spoiler integrated into the bootlid. Also streamlined are the choice of colours with five now being available; Grafik Grey, Copper Coin, Ice Floe White, Perla Nera Black and Deep Sea Green. Transformation inside Inside, the dated looking interior of the previous Grandland makes for Opel's so-called detox layout in which most of the most physical switchgear has been integrated into the new 16-inch infotainment display. Excluded are the major functions for the dual-zone climate control located separately in the form of touch-sensitive icons, plus three toggle switches to adjust the temperature. Interior has been radically uprated as per Opel's detox philosophy. Retained are a physical dial for the sound system, buttons for the hazard lights and door locks, and haptic switches on the new multi-function steering wheel. Aside from the infotainment being the biggest size-wise in any Opel production, the 10-inch instrument cluster has been recessed into the dashboard instead of being placed on top or on the steering column in a freestanding design. One of the biggest curiosities of the interior is the so-called Pixel Box integrated into the centre console. Down the centre, the floating console continues, now with the same toggle switch gear selector as the Mokka, but additionally with what Opel calls the Pixel Box. In essence, this involves a lidded cubby for the wireless smartphone charger and USB ports being fitted with an illuminated translucid glass 'face' supposed to safeguard one's phone from sliding off a conventional 'open' pad and around the cabin. Another addition is the lack of leather upholstery replaced by fabric made entirely out of recycled materials. Spec sheet In terms of specifications and beside the features already mentioned, the Grandland comes equipped with ambient lighting, an electric tailgate, push-button start and keyless entry, an eight-speaker sound system, Head-Up Display and rain sense wipers. Seats are trimmed in fabrics made from recycled materials. Included further are: heated and electrically folding mirrors; heated steering wheel; ventilated, heated and massaging electric front seats; refrigerated central storage area and armrest; heated rear seats; memory function for the driver's chair; integrated satellite navigation; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto On the safety and driver assistance side, the GS Line features a tyre pressure monitor, Interior Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring, Hill Start Assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. More punch for stalwart engine Up front, and despite its platform having been developed to accommodate electric powerplants, the Grandland continues to derive motivation from a turbocharged petrol engine, albeit not the hybrid units offered in Europe. Instead, the South African offering soldiers on with the long-serving 1.6-litre PureTech unit, but revised to now produce 134kW/300Nm instead of the previous 121kW/240Nm. Sending the amount of twist to the front wheels once again falls to a six-speed automatic gearbox augmented, finally, by paddle shifters. The drive Out on the drive, the Grandland felt comfortable and composed as, in addition to its new underpinnings, it also gets frequency selective dampers that adjusts depending on the scanned road surface. Along with roll bars and springs tuned specifically for it and not shared with its fellow STLA Medium siblings, the Peugeot 3008, 5008, Citroën C5 Aircross and Jeep Compass, the electric power steering offers more feedback than before, while three driving modes are still offered; Eco, Normal and Sport. Slim 10-inch instrument cluster has been recessed into the dashboard. Tipping the scales at a fraction over 1.8-tonnes, the updates to the Grandland's engine only becomes apparent higher-up the rev range. Feeling somewhat lethargic low-down, the engine starts to come on song at the revs climb, to the point of pulling strong with an almost relentless pull. The 'box itself, though, is largely slick and didn't require intervention of the paddle shifters sorely missed on the previous generation. Conclusion While an in-depth review will only emerge once on test, the initial impression of the new Opel Grandland is impressive considering what it offers. At R789 900, it is placed squarely at legacy rivals from Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai, but unsurprisingly well up on the Chinese alternatives from Great Wall Motors (GWM) and Chery. A price that still comes with significant value, plus a five-year/100 000 km warranty and five-year/90 000 km service plan, it remains to be seen though whether it would resonate the same with buyers who come signing on the dotted line, never mind the stigma of being labelled as nothing but 'a rebadged Peugeot'. NOW READ: Early debut: Electrically assisted all-new Opel Grandland revealed
