Opel announced a little over a month ago the arrival of a new sports acronym called GSE. These derive from the classic GS designation but added the “e” for electric. Just a couple of weeks after that announcement, the brand launched the sportiest – and most efficient – variant of the Opel Astra. Now it is the turn of the Opel Grandland, which also takes the acronym GSe to present a maximum power of up to 300 hp and a set-up focused on performance.
The new Opel Grandland GSe is presented as an alternative to the other plug-in hybrid variant, the Opel Grandland Hybrid4, as well as a generational replacement for the previous Opel Grandland X Hybrid4, which already had 300 hp. This new sports alternative once again has the same number of horses under the right pedal but also inserts new elements both in the design section and in the pure performance.
Aesthetically, the Opel Grandland GSe evolves slightly, since it inserts renewed elements such as a black hood (optional) or new specific 19-inch wheels, which are inspired by the Opel Manta GSe prototype that the brand showed to the public a little over a year ago; It also shows a renewed rear diffuser and the insertion of the GSe logo spread over some parts of its physiognomy.
In general terms, the new Opel Grandland GSe does not modify its bumpers or substantial elements of the design, likewise, its evolution is equally linear for its cabin. For this space, Opel has reserved AGR-certified sports front seats. These features improved body support for times when the wearer wants to squeeze the full potential out of this new sporty variant.
However, the greatest tuning of this model focuses on what is not seen. Its plug-in hybrid mechanics is supported by a 1.6 turbo gasoline engine along with two electric motors (one located on each axle) that make the renewed sports SUV a permanent electric all-wheel drive model. The total power of the model thus reaches 300 hp, while its fuel consumption is limited to an average of 1.3 liters/100 km and CO2 emission levels of just 30 grams per kilometer.
Thanks to this mechanism, the Opel Grandland GSe is capable of running from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds and reaching a top speed of 135 km/h in electric mode and 235 km/h in mixed mode. However, this is not all, since Opel has also made substantial changes in other mechanical sections.
Like the new Opel Astra GSe, the electrified SUV takes a more dynamic and sporty set-up to add fun to the wheel. These variations reside mainly in a firmer and more rigid address to favor the driver’s sensations, as well as harder suspensions for a flatter cornering. These have a McPherson-type scheme for the front axle and a multi-link axle at the rear. The plug-in hybrid SUV has shock absorbers and springs signed by KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology, which are adaptive depending on the situation and the chosen driving mode.
At the moment, Opel has not announced a specific date of arrival on the Spanish market, although it is expected to occur in early 2023. They have not talked about a specific figure for prices either, although if we look at the range of the current Opel Grandland, the variant of the new sports GSe may land for a starting price close to 50,000 euros.
