A driver’s EV? Opel Manta Elektromod has four-speed manual
Manual gearbox, rear-wheel-drive and a sporty engine note. For decades, it’s been the recipe for proper sporting cars.
Little wonder electric cars are seen by many traditionalists as point-and-press bore boxes, but Opel is trying to inject more driver involvement into the EV world with its delightful-looking Manta GSe Elektromod.
No singing, high-revving four-cylinder playing through an exhaust of course, but included is a four-speed manual gearbox so the driver can do his or her own cog-swapping, while the electric motor’s 108kW and 255Nm are directed only through the rear wheels.
Manual innovator
No series production electric car uses a manual gearbox, although Jeep has teased one with the Magneto EV concept.
We have also seen one in use on a Brisbane-based electromod 1965 Ford Cortina Mk1 with Tesla batteries. The Opel, like the electric Cortina, gives the driver the choice of manually shifting the original four-speed gearbox or simply engaging fourth gear and driving automatically.
Opel teased its electric Manta back in March, but has now revealed more images and detail about what is, for now, a one-off to highlight the brand’s move towards a comprehensive electric line-up.
Its design is inspired by the Opel Manta model from 1970 – a rear-drive sporting coupe which enjoyed some rally success in its day. Gone is the original’s 77kW petrol engine to be replaced by the more powerful electric setup with 31kWh lithium-ion battery.
“The new Manta is future-proof: electric, emissions-free and full of emotions,” said the German brand, now a subsidiary of the giant Stellantis automotive manufacturer. “Opel is already electric with many models – and now the legendary Manta is too,” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.
The 31kWh battery is smaller than that found in Opel’s current production EVs – the Corsa-E and Mokka-E – so range is just 200-kilometres.
Like the electric Corsa and Mokka, regenerative braking returns some charge to the battery, while “regular charging takes place via a 9kW on-board charger for single-phase and three-phase AC charging,” meaning it takes “just under four hours to fully charge the Manta battery.”
Retro heaven
Sporting neon yellow paintwork and of-its-era black bonnet (which never stopped being cool), the Manta GSe sports skinny LED daytime running lights, LED main headlights and three-dimensional LED taillights.
Also playing the old-school card, wheels are by long-time retro favourite Ronal, while the front grille is replaced by an LED screen that can scroll between the Opel badge, Manta badge or saying something naff like “I am on a zero e-mission”.
Inside, the Manta GSe has the retro layout and reworked Petri three-spoke steering wheel and round manual gear shifter of the original 70s offerings.
A pair of digital screens – 12-inch and 10-inch – are laid into the dashboard – a shame there was no move to include classic round instruments as per the original, but Opel decided the Mokka’s Opel Pure Panel screen was a better fit.
Will the warm reception to retro-style electric cars – Renault 5 and Honda E included – compel Opel to make a production version of the Manta GSe?
We’re told this is a one-off, but if the idea is to highlight how fun electric cars car be, and if the Opel EV showroom’s looking a dash dull (Corsa-E, anyone?), trading on past glories looks a damn fine idea.
