John Kelly (Waterford)Co.Waterford, Waterford Business Park, X91 CC83 Waterford
Stylish and dynamic, spacious, and versatile, and powered by a fully electrified drivetrain portfolio, the stunning new Opel Grandland has been unveiled by the German carmaker, boasting a range of up to 700km (WLTP). The newcomer brings to life many design features first seen on the Opel Experimental concept car, including a 3D Vizor with illuminated Blitz logo proudly sitting at the centre, and permanently illuminated OPEL lettering at the rear. The new Opel Grandland will make its way to Irish showrooms in late 2024.
“The new Grandland is a milestone for Opel. With it, every Opel without exception is now available electrically. This is a big step in our electric offensive. The new Grandland was designed and developed in Rüsselsheim and will be built in Eisenach. The relationship to the Opel Experimental is unmistakable. It offers innovations that were first seen on this extraordinary concept car. The new Grandland will therefore strengthen our position in the important C-SUV segment,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl
The next generation Grandland is the first Opel to benefit from the introduction of the new Stellantis STLA Medium BEV-native production platform. Thanks to the new architecture and its flat battery packaging allowing for up to 98 kWh, combined with a new-generation electric motor and heat pump, the new Grandland Electric can deliver a range of up to 700km (WLTP). At a public fast charging station, it only takes around 26 minutes to recharge to 80% of the battery capacity. Customers can also opt for a Grandland Plug-in Hybrid with up to 85km emissions-free range (WLTP), or the Grandland Hybrid with 48-volt technology, both offering further exciting solutions that deliver on driving pleasure while curbing consumption and CO2 emissions.
The impressive stance of the new Grandland becomes apparent at the very first glance. The newcomer is confident and robust, measuring 4650mm in length (+173mm compared to its predecessor), 1905mm in width (+64mm) and 1660mm in height (+19mm). Combined with up to 20” alloy wheels and sporting a two-toned floating roof, contrast cladding, and sharp wheel-arch lines, it sits boldly at the top of Opel’s SUV portfolio. Grandeur is added by the new Opel 3D Vizor brand face, combined with the illuminated Opel Blitz logo which is made even more prominent using Edge Light Technology. At the rear, a distinctive illuminated lighting signature also makes its production model debut. Fully in line with Opel’s Greenovation approach to conserve all resources related to the automobile, the name of the car is no longer displayed by chrome lettering – instead it is centrally embossed in the tailgate.
Occupants of the new Grandland are greeted by a warm, engaging ambience. The slightly driveroriented 16” central display and high centre console generate a sporty feeling. The top of the instrument panel has a beautiful technical appearance, enhanced by an edge light, and is aesthetically divided into two surface finishes. A wide and fully digital cluster and Intelli-HUD head up display provide essential information, allowing the driver to focus on driving pleasure and avoiding the need to take eyes off the road. Selecting Pure Mode further reduces distraction when driving. In typical Opel tradition, frequently used settings such as climate control can be operated intuitively via physical buttons.
Opel’s ergonomic AGR seats, certified by Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V. (Campaign for Healthy Backs), enjoy an award-winning reputation and the new Grandland continues this long-standing tradition, now adding electric bolsters for even more comfort. The patented Intelli-Seat feature in the front seats, designed to relieve pressure on the tailbone, comes as standard and ensures outstanding comfort even during long journeys. All fabrics in the interior are 100% recycled
The new Grandland further offers an extensive array of driver assistance systems including Automatic Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Extended Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent speed adaptation, and In Crash Braking, a system with the purpose of helping avoid secondary collision in case of an accident, all as standard. An optional Opel Intelli-Drive 2.0 system integrates numerous electronic assistants and combines them with semi-automatic lane-change assist and Recommended Speed Adaption. Parking is also made easier by front and rear park assist, a rearview camera with automatic cleaning function and the 360-degree Intelli-Vision camera.
A latest-generation Intelli-Lux Pixel Matrix HD system offers over 50,000 elements (51,200 to be precise, with 25,600 on each side) for high-definition light. Oncoming objects are detected by a camera and the Intelli-Lux Pixel Matrix HD light cuts out these objects precisely to deliver a much brighter light, whilst ensuring that other road users are not glared at. New welcome/goodbye animations with graphical projections at the front of the vehicle are featured.
With oodles of interior space, the long wheelbase of 2,784mm and steep tailgate emphasise the increased roominess in cabin and trunk; passengers in the rear enjoy 20mm of additional legroom compared to the outgoing Grandland. The rear seats can be folded down 40:20:40 and thus, create a load volume of up to 1,641 litres. Indeed, as a family-oriented vehicle, a strong focus was given on interior versatility. With over 35 litres of interior storage compartments, the goal was not only to package numerous storages but also to find innovative solutions making life easier for customers while improving comfort and wellbeing. The highlight of these clever solutions is the new Opel Pixel Box. With its illuminated translucid glass, the Pixel Box is both visually appealing and highly functional. The wireless smartphone charger is located behind the glass so that devices can be charged while being stored safely.
While the Grandland benefits from an electrified powertrain portfolio, it also delivers dynamic and comfortable driving pleasure, made possible by dampers with frequency selective damping technology. Depending on the road surface conditions and driving style, this unique technology enables different damping characteristics for comfortable gliding, no matter the surface, on cobblestones or over a manhole cover. The Grandland reacts even more immediately and directly to any command from the driver and, as is typical for Opel, remains stable when braking, cornering and at high speeds on the Autobahn. The Opel DNA is further emphasised by specific spring, antiroll bar, steering and ESC tuning.
Thanks to its state-of-the-art new platform, innovative new technologies in combination with numerous design features first seen on the Opel Experimental concept car, the new Grandland sits comfortably at the helm of Opel’s SUV portfolio while bringing a new level of all-electric freedom to Opel’s ongoing electrification strategy.