There's a lot happening under Stellantis' roof these days, as the automotive giant is looking to make its brands futureproof by constantly expanding the family with an emphasis on zero emissions. One model that is in the making as we speak is the Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) Frontera.
Does this name sound familiar? It is because Opel used it on two generations of high riders, which came to life on the right side of the pond between 1991 and 2004. As you can imagine, these featured internal combustion engines, yet the next Frontera will be a battery-electric vehicle.
Opel stepped forward last week to make the official announcement, accompanied by a couple of shadowy teasers. It was impossible to make out most design traits, yet we could still see a new interpretation of the Vizor face featuring the Blitz logo and a very boxy overall design that might remind some of the Mercedes GLB up to a point.
Where will it sit in Opel's (Vauxhall's) portfolio? In all likelihood, at the bottom end, as it is expected to act as the successor to the aging Crossland. As a result, we are probably looking at a subcompact machine that has a similar footprint. Still, you shouldn't let its exterior proportions trick you into thinking it will have a cramped cockpit, as the clever packaging should give it interior space similar to the upper class.
Photo: Kolesa
It might also be a bit larger than we think, so until the automaker steps forward to release more images of it or our spy photographers capture a prototype testing in the open, we're left scratching our heads. Nevertheless, we are not the only ones who think it will be a subcompact crossover, as so is Kolesa, with their rendering artist sketching out the upcoming model with a heavy dose of "trust us, bro."
We can see that it has a front hood that's very similar to that of the upcoming model, as well as a familiar face featuring a pair of LED headlamps, a closed-off grille with the corporate logo on it, a large air intake in the bumper, and fog lamps to the sides. The roofline is on the edgy side of things, and it kind of looks like a Jeep Renegade from the side. Out back, it has a pair of large taillamps and a rear windscreen that reminds us even more of the Renegade.
There are other similarities with the Jeep Renegade, so we reckon this model was used for inspiration alongside the official teasers. We will find out everything about the all-new Opel Frontera later this year, as that's when it will be unveiled. Should Stellantis rebadge it as a Dodge and sell it on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, too?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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