Following Opel’s sale to PSA Groupe, we found out the German brand’s emission strategy was in pretty sorry shape. Now, the French automaker will work double time to roll out new and efficient engines and more electrified options to meet looming European Union emission standards.
Opel announced previously that its first electrified offering will be the Grandland X crossover. The brand will introduce a Grandland X plug-in hybrid, set to arrive by 2020. But, there will be more. The next-generation Opel Corsa will arrive with a battery-electric version to give the brand two all-electric cars. The first is the Opel Ampera-e, itself a rebadged 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. An electrified Opel Combo will also roll out in the next few months, according to the brand.
In the announcement, Opel also disclosed the next-generation Corsa is on schedule to debut before 2020. It will be one of the first Opel vehicles to transition from General Motors architecture to PSA.
The French automaker has already aired its displeasure over the Opel sale with GM privately. The company alleged GM did not disclose the full magnitude of Opel’s emission strategy, which could leave PSA to front the bill if Opel doesn’t meet regulations in the near future. These electrified offerings will be key to the brand in the near future.
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I thought few automakers had EV technology solid enough to ensure acceptable range: namely Tesla and GM.
So in other words PSA will produce money loosing electric cars about as popular as the California spec Fiat 500.
Why wasn’t GM planning? Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Ford, Kia as well as other non EU-based companies have plans to avoid emissions fines. Did GM not realize that sooner or later the entire globe will have EU like standards (or restrict sales as in China?) What will GM do when a Democrat wins here?
GM must have a full range of electric, hydrogen and efficient internal combustion engines to choose from.
I’m not among the Barra fans. She is overly focused on the car of tomorrow while ignoring the vehicle of today.
GM has 20 Electric Models in the pipeline. They ditched Opal because it was a money loser and they wanted to focus mainly on China and US markets.
You haven’t been following GM and Opel over the last decade, have you?
Opel products only lost money on paper and last year would have turned a profit if not for the falling Sterling.
Opel product furnished Buick China, was prominent at Buick NA, and many Chevrolet sedans rode on Opel platforms and technology due to Russelheim handling all “future cars” for the division. Reowe uses an Opel platform. Even Cadillac XTS rides on Opel bits.
Opel recieved little remuneration for this massive contribution. Most licencing fees went to Maryland or stayed in China.
Europe is a troubled market, Opel a damaged brand, but we can’t overlook GMs failure to plan ahead.
Two electric cars starting in 2019, four by 2020. New electric chassis in 2021, for full electric and hydrogen fuel vehicles, 20 in all.
The core of PSA’s plug-in hybrid drive train (for larger cars) is the electric rear axle.
A journalist of the German site Motor-talk was able to experience an early test car for the drive train which is planned to be introduced first for the DS 7 in 2019 and then in the Opel Grandland. www .motor-talk .de/news/start-frei-fuer-die-anti-co2-allzweckwaffe-von-psa-t6215047.html
This system actually has two electric motors: the one in the back and another one in the front, side by side with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).