Opel teases tougher Frontera

Opel has pulled the wraps off a concept vehicle dubbed the Frontera Gravel. This beefed-up version of the new Frontera electric SUV hints at a future where family haulers dream of dirt roads, even if they mostly stick to school runs. The question on everyone's mind: is this rugged EV just playing dress-up, or is there some real adventure in its circuits?

The Frontera Gravel, a one-off design study, certainly looks the part of an off-road explorer. Opel's design team in Russelsheim, Germany, collaborated with motorsport tuning outfits BlackFish and XS, drawing inspiration from what they call the "enthusiast community." The result is a Frontera sporting a collection of gear that screams "wilderness."

Up top, a Thule Canyon XT roof rack stands ready for extra cargo, flanked by auxiliary LED lights for the darkest trails – or just poorly lit supermarket parking lots. A front-mounted winch adds a touch of serious recovery capability, while a side storage box and even decorative snow tracks mounted to the rear pillars complete the adventurous aesthetic. The entire vehicle is wrapped in a matte Desert Stone finish, contrasted by a black hood and roof, with bright orange accents popping on the skid plates, mirror caps, and badging.

This rugged Frontera rolls on 16-inch Borbet CWE wheels, shod with chunky BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. These enhance its visual toughness and also promise a bit more grip should the driver venture onto unpaved surfaces.

Inside, the theme continues with microfiber seats featuring matching orange details and a black headliner, aiming for a more robust and purposeful cabin atmosphere. Opel clearly wants potential customers to imagine a more daring side to the Frontera, an electric car designed for everyday practicality but with an eye for weekend escapades.

Underneath all the off-road paraphernalia, however, the Frontera Gravel shares its foundation with the standard Frontera Electric. This means a front-wheel-drive system. While Opel suggests the concept can tackle "soft-roading adventures," citing its low center of gravity and the instant torque delivery characteristic of electric cars, the lack of all-wheel drive might raise an eyebrow among serious off-road enthusiasts.

The most potent version of the production Frontera Electric, which this concept is based on, has a single electric motor producing 115 kilowatts (equivalent to 154 horsepower) and is powered by a 54 kWh battery. This setup is rated for a range of up to 249 miles on a single charge, which is respectable for an EV in its class but might limit more ambitious overland journeys.

Opel has not indicated any immediate plans to fit the Frontera with an all-wheel-drive system. This could easily be achieved by adding an electric motor to the rear axle, a solution seen in other Stellantis vehicles like the Jeep Avenger 4Xe and the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4.

The Frontera Gravel concept will have its public debut on May 30th at the XS Carnight event in Wörthersee, Austria. While officially a show car, Opel seems genuinely interested in gauging public reaction. Rebecca Reinermann, Opel and Vauxhall's Vice President of Marketing, stated the concept is "built to fire up our fanbase and test the demand for a bolder, more rugged Frontera."

If the enthusiasm is strong enough, a production version could emerge, potentially offering a stylish, adventure-themed electric car to compete with other rugged-looking small SUVs, such as upcoming tougher variants of the Dacia Duster.

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