Opel May Be Onto Something With Manta GSe ElektroMod’s Pixel-Vizor Digital Grille

Opel has released more pieces of the Manta GSe ElektroMod puzzle, announcing at the same time that the special project will be presented in full on May 19.

Building on a 1970 Manta A that was sitting in the Opel Classic warehouse, it has been converted to run on electricity, replacing its four-cylinder petrol engine and other components with an electric motor and battery pack that have yet to be detailed.

Read More: Opel Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Its “Pony Car”, The Manta

Now, besides tampering with the oily bits and making this old-timer dead quiet, the team behind the GSe ElektroMod has given it a so-called ‘Pixel-Vizor’ front grille. The ‘Vizor’ part was actually inspired by the face of the original Manta and implemented in the latest Mokka and Crossland, while the ‘Pixel’ hints at its digital makeover.

Stretching across the entire width of the vehicle, the Pixel-Vizor can “communicate with its environment”, according to Opel, displaying different messages, as highlighted in the latest teaser video. ‘My German heart has been ELEKTRified’, ‘I am on a zero e-mission’ and ‘I am an ElektroMOD’ are some of things visible on the untraditional grille screen, which adds a few animation splashes too, including the silhouette of a manta ray and lighting bolts.

“The Manta GSe ElektroMod is the work of passionate designers, 3D modelers, engineers, technicians, mechanics, product and brand experts”, said Opel’s global brand design manager, Pierre-Olivier Garcia, on behalf of the team. “With the Manta GSe, we are building a bridge from the great Opel tradition to a very desirable sustainable future. This mixture of zeitgeist and modern is absolutely fascinating.”

As interesting as it may appear to some, the grille has the potential of sparking a new trend, so let’s hope the automotive industry will sweep this idea under the rug.