Werbung
Werbung

Opel Rocks-e: Opel rocks the city

With the Rocks-e, the Rüsselsheimers are launching their first "SUM" – which seems very familiar

Old acquaintance: The Rocks-e is based on the Citroën Ami. | Photo: Opel
Old acquaintance: The Rocks-e is based on the Citroën Ami. | Photo: Opel
Werbung
Werbung
Thomas Kanzler

After SUV and CUV, now comes SUM: This stands for Sustainable Urban Motion and is, according to Opel, the answer to the mobility requirements of our time. Completely different, completely new, completely electric – this is how Opel promotes the Rocks-e. It is intended to fill the gap between scooters/e-scooters and regular cars.

A total of 250 components

The battery-electric "SUM" consists of the same 250 components as its sibling model from the Stellantis Group, the Citroën Ami. This means, among other things: a 5.5 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 75 kilometers according to WLTP and can be recharged within 3.5 hours at a household socket.

Despite its tiny external dimensions, it offers space for two adults in a very airy feeling interior thanks to the generous glazing, and there is also a 63-liter storage area in the passenger footwell. Other data is similar; the turning circle is exceptionally small (7.20 meters), the vehicle weight is very low at 471 kilograms including the battery, and charging the battery at a standard household socket is quick and straightforward.

The Opel designers chose to give their model individuality through the two-tone color scheme of the body panels made from dyed-through plastic. The dark front and rear sections are a nod to the sporty Opel models with black hoods. In contrast, the market launch of the identical Citroën Ami remained, quite literally, in the gray area. The lightweight vehicle with 6 kW (8 hp) was originally supposed to hit the German market in the first quarter of 2021, which never happened.

A problem for the lightweights: the subsidy guidelines

A sticking point might be that lightweight vehicles are not subsidized by the legislator as full-fledged electric cars with up to 9,000 euros premium. In France, the Ami price list starts at around 6,000 euros after deducting a 900-euro premium. For the Opel Rocks-e, you would have to budget around 7,000 euros, compared to about 11,000 euros for a Dacia Spring with four doors, four seats, air conditioning, and 33 kW (45 hp) after the subsidy, which can reach speeds of up to 125 km/h. Accordingly, the Ami has not really "rocked" the German market so far.

The target group is supposed to be anyone seeking affordable mobility in urban environments, but also suburban commuters and novice drivers who, thanks to the new AM driver's license class in Germany, are allowed to drive the Rocks-e from the age of 15. However, this classification as a lightweight vehicle also means the top speed is limited to 45 km/h. When asked whether the Rocks-e might sometimes become a traffic obstacle on the roads due to this speed limit, an Opel employee commented that in today's rush hour in major German cities, one can already be glad to even come close to reaching that speed.

Nevertheless: The new Rocks-e is expected to be available for order online or through direct sales at selected dealers from the end of 2021. The price has not been set yet, but it is expected to be significantly lower than that of a conventional small car. There will be three equipment lines available, and a range of customization options will also be offered. After the German market in 2022, further markets are set to follow. By then, there might also be new updates regarding purchase premiums and further opportunities to "rock" the city in the Rocks-e – through carsharing, rentals, or subscription models. So that Opel's first "SUM" will still be buzzing through German cities from 2022!

What does that mean?

New mobility also means establishing new modes of transport. How challenging that can be is demonstrated by the Citroën Ami, also known as the Opel Rocks-e: The French vehicle was already highly announced in 2019 but never came to fruition. Now Opel is making a second attempt. It will be intriguing to see if the Rocks-e can "rock" the sales charts as "Rox-y Music" once did.

Translated automatically from German.
Werbung

Branchenguide

Werbung