Opel’s GSE label, introduced in 2022 as an electrified sports sub-brand, is taking the step towards fully electric sports cars. Under the OMG! GSE campaign, Opel has given a first hint at what we might expect with the Mokka GSE Rally, the successor to the Corsa-e Rally from 2021.
Opel has been a pioneer in electric rally cars, offering full factory support with the Corsa-e Rally and now the Mokka GSE Rally, which is built to the FIA’s eRally5 regulations and will enter the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, with the first race on May 23-24 at the ELE Rally in Eindhoven.
Veloce power for the Opel Mokka GSE Rally
The Opel Mokka GSE Rally uses some known components to seriously power up the small electric SUV. The 280 hp front-mounted motor is borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e, while the 54 kWh and 400 V battery remain the same from the series-production Mokka.
Other modifications to transform the SUV into a full-blown rally car include Bilstein suspension, a stripped interior with a roll cage and two bucket seats with racing harnesses, the removal of safety systems like ABS, ESP, lane-keep assist, and traction control, and finally… a racing gearbox with a limited-slip differential.
Street models coming before the end of 2025
But perhaps more relevant to consumers is the use of the GSE label on a fully electric car. Opel already teased upcoming high-performance and fully electric models with the OMG! GSE campaign, and it seems that the Mokka is a likely candidate for the special treatment, as the components can be carried over from the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Abarth 600e.
Opel promises the GSE models will have “a chassis set-up that directly integrates the driver and offers exciting driving pleasure. In addition, the GSE, like all other models with the Blitz, is designed to be stable when braking, cornering, and at high speeds on the Autobahn.”
So a 280 hp street-legal Mokka is likely, and we would not be surprised to see GSE versions of the new Grandland, after all, the previous generation kicked off the GSE label, and Astra, all of which are available with fully electric drivetrains, as is every current Opel in the range. Opel promises: “There will be more this year. So better not blink or miss all the fun!”
