The RestoMod trend, which is in full swing with the old ones, has just made a happy victim: the iconic Opel Manta, launched 50 years ago.
Opel Manta GSe ElectroMOD – The lightning of the Blitz fell on the innocent cut, who did not ask for so much. Time toa study carried out by the Opel design teams, the dashing fiftieth is propelled into the 2020s, like the DeLorean of Back to the future, by modernizing certain elements of its design, and adopting an engine in tune with the times. Here is the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD.
More than a restoration
This is the very essence of the RestoMod movement, which consists of bring vintage vehicles up to date, going well beyond the simple restoration process, even if it means making the purists jump. In recent years, we have witnessed the modernization of a number of old, essentially from a mechanical point of view, with a view to making them more reliable and offering them better approval, in order to broaden their field of action.
The original Opel Manta
Between tradition and modernity
Thus, by theadaptation of modern elements (brakes, steering, etc.), many owners, once held back by fear of breakdown, even concerned about their safety, finally allow themselves daily use of their baby. In the same vein, other wizards go even further by revisiting the very design of these collectors, with more or less happiness. The aim is to find the right balance between tradition and modernity, without distorting the original silhouette.
Just return of things
It was the leitmotiv Opel designers on this project to revive the Manta, by administering the aesthetic codes of recent house achievements. Thus, the sympathetic coupe adopts the famous Vizor grille, encompassing the vehicle logo and optics, as inaugurated by the new generation of Mokka, few months ago. But it is ultimately a fair return of things, insofar as the SUV was itself inspired by the original grille of its great-grandmother, to develop this new facies that will display all future Opels in the future.
Rustic accent
The Vizor de la Mante GSe is even more futuristic by integrating an LED screen allowing him to communicate with his environment through messages appearing in full letters. Above the air intake, made fictitious, the black hood contrasts with the bright yellow of the rest of the body, while the sides feature 17 ”rims specially designed by Ronal.
At the rear, the original lights give way to four round shaped LEDs, well in tune with the times. Modern elements that contrast with the rusticity of door handles and other mirrors. But the whole thing finally goes together.
On battery
An identical observation is established aboard the Manta GSe, displaying behind its antique three-spoke steering wheel the lacquered slab Pure Panel du Mokka which has two digital screens of 12 and 10 ”diagonal, in particular ensuring the capacity of the vehicle’s battery. Because yes, the old one swapped its good old 4-cylinder 105 hp against an electromotor developing 108 kW, or about 147 hp, for a torque of up to 255 Nm, transmitted to the rear wheels.
Opel had the good taste to renew the 4-speed manual transmission from the original Manta, despite its virtuous conversion, while a fifth report engages the automatic driving mode. If, on the engine side, the Mante GSe shows itself more powerful than the Mokka-e (136 hp), it is satisfied with a weaker battery with a capacity of 31 kWh ensuring approximately 200 km of autonomy. It is associated with a 9 kW charger which gives it back colors in less than 4 hours.
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