Opel Manta Is Coming Back For A New Electric Vehicle

As part of its shift into an EV-only brand in Europe, Vauxhall-Opel will resuscitate the historic Manta name for a new battery-electric car that will be on sale by the middle of the decade.

During parent company Stellantis' EV Day 2021 event, when the car giant revealed a £21.8 billion commitment in electrification, Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller announced the rebirth of the Manta, which was originally a rear-wheel-drive coupé.

“Opel will reimagine the Manta-e by mid-decade, and deliver a very emotional car to the market that will delight our customers,” Lohscheller promised, outlining a strategy for Opel, including British arm Vauxhall, to go electric-only in Europe by 2028.

Opel recently unveiled a factory-built battery-electric updated version of the original Manta A to demonstrate its EV technology, while the new car will be completely redesigned. During the introduction, a single teaser image of a conceptual design for the revived machine was displayed, implying that the new Manta could be an SUV-coupé.

Although it will use one of four Stellantis specialized EV platforms, no more details about the automobile have been revealed. It'll almost certainly be built on the STLA Medium or STLA Large platforms, which are designed for premium and all-wheel-drive performance cars, respectively. Both platforms are built to accommodate a wide range of power outputs and are capable of front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive.

STLA Medium cars have up to 104kWh of battery capacity, allowing for 440 miles of range, whereas SLTA Large cars have up to 118kWh of battery capacity, allowing for 500 miles of range. The first-generation Manta A, centered on the Ascona saloon, was introduced in 1970 as a Ford Capri competition. The name was inspired by the Manta Ray idea, which was also used to inspire the Chevrolet Corvette C3.

Manta was produced in the UK as an Opel until 1975, when the second-generation Manta B arrived, when it was rebadged as the Vauxhall Cavalier Sports Hatch and Coupe. Vauxhall only sold that model until 1981, while the third-generation Manta B2, which debuted in 1982, was not available in the United Kingdom.

In 1989, the Manta was superseded by the Calibra, which was distributed in the UK.