Stellantis-Owned Opel Builds A Factory All-Electric Resto-Mod!

Now that the Opel brand is under the Stellantis umbrella, the German automaker is gearing up for the electrified wave of vehicles in the works for the company. The brand’s most recent project was to take a 1970 Opel Manta A, ditch the gasoline-powered four-cylinder engine under the hood in favor of an all-electric powertrain. The result is this stunning resto-mod, which Opel is calling the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD.

The Manta GSe ElektroMOD retains its original four-speed manual transmission but mates it to an electric motor producing 145 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque, which sends power to the rear wheels. While the power levels don’t seem extraordinary, it is a good upgrade over the original Manta A powerplant which made 105 horsepower in GT/E form. Being an electric vehicle also means that power is available instantly.

Recently, the Jeep® brand introduced the Wrangler Magneto Concept at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari, which also featured an all-electric powertrain equipped with a manual transmission. So, it appears that manual transmissions can live on in electric vehicles.

As with the production Opel Corsa-e and Opel Mokka-e, the Manta GSe ElektroMOD can also recover braking energy and store it in the battery. Opel says that the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD is only equipped with a 31-kWh battery, which it estimates to give the Manta a range of about 124 miles (200 kilometers). 

That number is far off the range of most electric vehicles today. Opel states that charging takes place via a 9-kW onboard charger for single-phase and three-phase AC charging. This means it takes just under four hours to fully charge the Manta battery, kind of disappointing for those who would want to take the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD for a weekend cruise down some twisty backroads. Hopefully, there is some kind of pit stop with available electric vehicle charging stations.

As for the styling, the car looks amazing in its neon-yellow paint. The exterior is also enhanced by a modern take on the classic Manta A front styling, which incorporates the new Opel Pixel-Vizor stretching across the entire width of the vehicle. Acting as a protective visor, the Opel Pixel-Visor is actually a screen that can display various messages and images. The Manta GSe ElektroMOD can display messages like “My German heart has been ELEKTRified” written across the new front or “I am on a zero e-mission”, and “I am an ElektroMOD”.

Opel also updated the exterior lighting to LED technology for the integrated daytime running lamps, the main headlamps, and the strikingly three-dimensional taillights. There are now 17-inch light-aluminum wheels from Ronal, with staggered 195/40 R17 tires at the front and 205/40 R17 at the rear. Opel dumped the chrome fender trims to clean up the exterior and put a modern “Manta” script on the trunk.

Inside, the Manta GSe ElektroMOD features the latest Opel digital technology. The classic round instruments have been replaced with a wide digital screen, which Opel calls the “Opel Pure Panel”. Two integrated, driver-oriented, 12-inch and 10-inch widescreens show important information about the car such as charge status and range. For those who cruise to music, there is a Bluetooth box from legendary amplifier brand Marshall.

The black leather seats with a long center yellow stripe are out of an Opel ADAM S. This means the seats provide much more comfort and lateral support than the original OEM seats from the Manta. There is also a Petri three-spoke steering wheel reworked by Opel that includes a yellow stripe at the top center of the wheel. Surfaces also include sporty touches of Matte Grey and Yellow accents throughout. There is even a headliner made of Alcantara to give the Manta GSe ElektroMOD a much more premium performance feel.

While the car provides dismal electrified performance, it looks amazing and showcases how well classic design works with modern technology. What do you think of the new Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD concept? Let us know in the comments below, or in the MoparInsiders forums.

Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD Concept Image Gallery: