New Opel GSe bring back the name and the game
Published on 06th October 2022 at 15:15
Great to see once more, the Opel GSe badge will appear as the insignia for their electric models. First to be seen will be the new Opel Astra GSe hatchback and the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer GSe estate plug-in hybrids, Opel’s strategy being that by 2025 they will be an all-electric brand
Delivering a very healthy 165 kW/ 225hp and 360Nm of torque, the 2023 GSe promises a WLTP combined fuel consumption figure of : 1.1 - 1.2 l/100 km, with CO2 emissions of 25-26 g / km.
In their desire to also deliver on sporty driving dynamics, Opel have equipped the new Opel Astra GSe models with a dedicated chassis, lowered by 10 millimetres, all to aid stability during cornering, under braking and while driving at higher motorway speeds.
Drivers who like some sport in their drive should appreciate the steering re-calibration of the GSe-, while underneath, the springs and oil-filled dampers of the front and rear suspension are also specially tuned not only for dynamic driving but also for comfort. The dampers feature KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology, which enables different damping characteristics at high frequencies (suspension control) versus low frequencies (body control). The ESP settings are also exclusive to GSe models, with the activation threshold adjusted upwards to match the dynamic driving behaviour.
Already here this summer, the new-generation Opel Astra hatchback will be joined by the Sport Tourer estate version in 2023. The street stance of the new GSe will be noticeable via its 18-inch light-alloy wheels, inspired by the all-electric Manta GSe concept, the specific front bumper and fascia, and the GSe emblem on the tailgate.
Inside, the driver sits into an interior highlighted by Alcantara-trimmed performance front seats, which are unique to the GSe and are AGR certified.
For those that need to know, the Opel GSe label was traditionally an abbreviation of Grand Sport Einspritzung (Grand Sport Injection) as on the Opel Commodore GS/E and the Opel Monza GSE. GSe is now Opel's top-of-the-range, sporty sub-brand, standing for Grand Sport electric.
