Opel on Wednesday launched the Astra GSe as the primary mannequin in a brand new vary of electrified efficiency vehicles.

The vary might be bought below the GSe sub-brand, the designation taken from the GSE badge that featured on performance-oriented variations of Opel’s Commodore and Monza within the Seventies and ’80s. Again then the E signified “einspritzung,” the German phrase for “injection,” however immediately it stands for “electrified efficiency.”

The Astra GSe is a plug-in hybrid, with its powertrain consisting of a 1.6-liter turbo-4 and electrical motor combo producing a peak 221 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. A 12.4-kwh battery makes a small electrical vary doable.

The identical powertrain options within the common Astra, however the GSe combines it with a sport-tuned chassis. Key modifications to the chassis embrace new springs, Koni adjustable dampers, a 10-mm decrease journey, 18-inch mild alloys, and recalibrated steering and digital stability management programs.

The GSe therapy additionally provides some visible fashions. Along with the brand new wheels, the Astra GSe additionally sports activities a brand new entrance finish. Inside, there are sport seats up entrance lined in Alcantara.

The Astra GSe may be ordered as each the common hatch and Sports activities Tourer wagon.

Gross sales in markets the place Opel operates begin later this 12 months.

“The brand new Astra GSe and new Astra Sports activities Tourer GSe are the perfect vehicles for launching our dynamic new sub-brand, in full alignment with our technique to turn out to be an all-electric model by 2028,” Florian Huettl, Opel’s CEO, stated in an announcement.