2026 Opel Manta Electric crossover: Everything we know

In 2021, Opel announced that it will introduce an all-new fully electric vehicle. To be named Opel Manta-e, this new electric vehicle will revive the Manta brand from the yesteryears. At the Stellantis EV Day 2021 on July 8, 2021, Opel’s then-CEO Michael Lohscheller said that the company would be launching the Opel Manta Electric by mid-decade of the 2020s.

Opel Manta Electric production plans

Opel EV Day 2021
Opel’s then-CEO Michael Lohscheller said that the company would be launching the Opel Manta-e by mid-decade of the 2020s at EV Day 2021. Image courtesy: Youtube channel of Opel.

The Manta Electric will play an important role in Opel’s pure electrification plans in Europe by 2028. Opel is going the pure-electric way in the Chinese auto market, with the company eyeing the European car markets with the same strategy.

‘Green is the new cool’ – Opel will re-invent the Manta-e by mid-decade, and bring a very emotional car to the market, which will excite our customers.

Michael Lohscheller, former CEO of Opel, at Stellantis EV Day 2021

Design

Unlike the one-off Manta GSe ElektroMOD and the Manta from yesteryears which are two-door coupes, the reborn Opel Manta Electric will be a five-door crossover. According to the teaser unveiled at EV Day 2021 by Stellantis (parent company of Opel), the Opel Manta Electric might have a radical design with a sharp coupe-like roofline and flared wheel arches, with a curved design for the bonnet and boot lid.

Opel Manta electric SUV side
Opel should present a concept car that previews the design of the Manta Electric by the end of 2023. Image: Opel/Stellantis

Opel has mentioned at the bottom of the teaser that the illustration does not represent production intent. The final design might have extensive changes to make it practical and simpler to produce. No other details have been disclosed by Opel, including its interior and powertrain options. We expect Opel to present the Manta-e concept at a motor show or a company event this year.

Current Opel models feature Intelli-Lux LED Pixel light technology. The Manta Electric could feature the brand’s next-gen lighting technology and maybe even a closed-off upper grille with an integrated display to project safety signs for oncoming pedestrians and cars. The Manta GSe ElektroMOD’s Pixel-Vizor front end could debut as a series-production feature on the Manta Electric.

Opel CEO Uwe Hochgeschurtz says that advanced adaptive light systems are connected to many assistance systems. Their job is not just to illuminate the road ahead. The company has joined hands with the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) to research new lighting technologies. The duo will start advanced adaptive light systems tests with a prototype at the end of the year. “We want to develop all-new lighting systems and bring them to the market,” Hochgeschurtz said.

Platform & Specifications

There is no information on the powertrain, but it will be based on the STLA platform announced by Stellantis in 2021. The four STLA platforms are quite flexible to accommodate varying dimensions and component sharing while offering all types of drivetrains – front-wheel, rear-wheel, all-wheel, and 4xe (four-wheel) layouts.

Opel electrification strategy
Opel will be an all-electric range by 2028, including the production model of the Manta-e. Image courtesy: Youtube channel of Opel.

The Opel Manta Electric SUV coupe should sit on the STLA Medium platform, which Stellantis is developing for premium C-segment and D-segment models. STLA Medium platform-based will get battery packs with 87-104 kWh of gross energy, and they will be capable of delivering a range of up to 700 km (435 miles). 125-180 kW electric drive modules will power these EVs. The top-end variant(s) could have a dual-motor AWD powertrain. Stellantis expects STLA Medium platform EVs to accelerate from 0-60 mph as quickly as in two seconds flat, although this SUV-coupe might not be the model recording that best possible time.

Electrification plans of Opel

Apart from the long-term vision of 100 per cent pure electric cars, Opel is targeting to make its entire portfolio electrified (hybrid) by 2024, under its plan of ‘journeying from cold to cool.’ To achieve this plan, Opel has already electrified nine models, including its entire light commercial vehicle lineup and passenger vehicles like Mokka-e and Corsa-e and the upcoming Astra. The lineup will also include a fuel cell-powered Vivaro Fleet vehicle.

Opel electrification plan
Apart from taking the 100% pure electric pathway to 2028, Opel plans to electrify its entire portfolio by 2024 with hybrids. Image courtesy: Youtube channel of Opel.

Electrification will make Opel a younger and more modern brand, which in turn will have the same effect on its customers, said Hochgeschurtz. Hochgeschurtz was speaking in an interview with Automotive News Europe, explaining how electrified Opel models would bring a positive change in their attitude toward mobility. The ‘e’ suffix in these models, including the Corsa-e and Mokka-e, stands for electric and emotional.

Vauxhall Manta electric to launch mid-decade

On March 3, 2022, Vauxhall announced that the Manta would be offered with a pure-electric powertrain by mid-decade in the UK market. The battery-electric model is expected to have a best-in-class DC charging capability of 20 miles (32 km) per minute, according to the guidance given by the company in the press release.

Vauxhall states that the Manta Electric launching by mid-decade would be a “fascinating and astoundingly spacious new interpretation of a classic.” The brand adds that it would be “emissions-free, versatile and a car that will appeal to the heart and mind.” Vauxhall is switching to electric vehicles, and by 2028, the brand will only sell electric cars. This timeline is seven years ahead of the UK government’s deadline for phasing out petrol and diesel cars.

Opel Manta Electric FAQs

What is the Opel Manta-e?

The Manta-e is a future four-door all-electric crossover SUV, completely different from the Manta coupe of the past.

What is the Opel Manta Electric release date?

The new Manta-e will be introduced by the mid-decade in Europe, likely riding on the STLA Medium platform.

What will be the key rivals of Opel Manta Electric?

The Opel Manta Electric will supposedly take on the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E & VW ID.5.

Featured image: Opel/Stellantis