The Opel Grandland X champions environmental care with a new plug-in hybrid variant

The intentions of Opel to electrify its model range were revealed with the upcoming arrival of an electric version of the Corsa, but the first preliminaries were offered by the Grandland X. One of the most successful SUVs from the German brand has said “no” to pollution and “yes” to caring for the environment, as its plug-in hybrid version demonstrates. With this premise, we can see how Opel is beginning to take its first steps towards a line-up of vehicles that will not only considerably reduce their emissions, but will also deliver better performance.

This new powertrain is associated with an all-wheel-drive system, which is why the Opel Grandland X carries the Hybrid4 designation, and which also influences certain aesthetic aspects. In this way, the lightning bolt brand has given a first glimpse of what will happen in 2024, the date planned for the electrification of its entire model range.

More efficiency and power for the Grandland X

One of the most positive aspects of hybridisation is its ability to reduce emissions and to offer a certain range in 100% electric mode. However, the engineers at Opel wanted to go further with the Grandland X, a model that benefits not only from these features but also from a substantial increase in power.

To be more specific, the German SUV is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine capable of producing 200 CV. To make it a plug-in hybrid, Opel has added two electric motors to the set which can raise the total output to 300 CV, a figure that puts the Grandland X dangerously close to the territory of sporty SUVs.

One of the electric motors is mounted on the front axle, and its power is managed through an electrified 8-speed automatic gearbox. Meanwhile, the second motor and the differential have been installed on the rear axle, with the aim of providing power to all the wheels when conditions require it.

At the same time, the Opel Grandland Hybrid4 offers up to four driving modes: electric, hybrid, 4×4 and sport. In the first, the SUV from the lightning bolt brand can travel a total of 50 km without consuming a single drop of fuel and, once its energy as an electric vehicle has been depleted, it will take 1 hour and 50 minutes to fully charge the battery through a 7.4 kW wall charging point.

One-pedal driving

Another novelty in the new Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 is the system dubbed “one-pedal driving”. To be more precise, it is more of a function, which can be carried out thanks to the regenerative braking included in the PHEV version of the German SUV.

What these brakes do is recover the mechanical energy that is produced when we stop our vehicle, instead of losing it as heat. By converting this excess kinetic energy into electrical energy, whether using it immediately or storing it in the battery, the fully electric range of the Grandland X Hybrid4 can increase by up to 10% on average.

At the same time, the driver can change the way this energy is managed in order to achieve that “one-pedal driving” effect. The drag torque generated by the electric motor is so high that it is not necessary to press the brake pedal to bring the Opel SUV to a complete stop under standard traffic conditions.