While carmakers keep tripping over themselves to pack ever-bigger screens and overcomplicated digital gimmicks into their cabins, a handful of budget models seem content to sit that trend out. One Reddit user in Germany stirred a discussion after noticing that the entry-level version of a Stellantis SUV doesn’t have an infotainment system or touchscreen of any kind and, unsurprisingly, their post went viral.

The model in question is the Opel Frontera, a revived nameplate that shares absolutely nothing with its old-school, ladder-frame predecessor based on the Isuzu MU. Instead, this new generation trades toughness for a modern, urban-friendly setup, sharing its platform with the Citroen C3 Aircross.

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According to Opel’s official German configurator, the base Frontera Edition leaves out several features available in the higher GS and Ultimate trims.

Simple Tech For Bigger Savings

Despite its minimalist approach, the most affordable Frontera still includes a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. However, where you’d usually find a touchscreen on the glossy black dashboard, there’s a smartphone holder instead.

The crossover comes with a basic radio, a microphone for voice commands and calls, and two front speakers that only function when a phone is connected via Bluetooth. A USB Type-C port offers quick charging on the move, while the manual air-conditioning system keeps things old-school with rotary dials on the center console.

Buyers who want more can opt for the Tech package, which adds the 10-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, navigation, a rearview camera, wireless charging, and a front armrest with storage. The Comfort package brings heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and automatic climate control, while the Design package adds a white roof, black roof rails, and matching white details for the 16-inch steel wheels.

Pricing The Basics

So how affordable is the entry-level Frontera? In Germany, the Edition trim starts at €24,190 ($28,300) for the Hybrid 110 with the 1.2-liter engine, and climbs to €31,190 ($36,500) for the Electric Extended Range 113 PS model. The optional Tech and Comfort packages add €1,000 ($1,200) each, while the Design pack will set you back another €450 ($525).

More: Stellantis Turns Its Cheapest SUV Into A Tree House With A View

Further up the range, the GS trim adds between €3,500 and €3,700 ($4,100) to the entry-level price, while the Ultimate trim costs only €300 ($350) more than the GS.

Interestingly, in France, the Frontera Edition includes an infotainment display as standard, even with a slightly lower base price of €23,845 ($27,900). Other small Opel models like the Corsa and Mokka also include screens across all trims.

Screen-Less Models Are Trending

Of course, Opel isn’t alone in the “screen-less” concept. Several automakers now offer base trims that rely on smartphone docking stations instead of built-in displays. Dacia has led the charge, with all its models, aside from the Bigster, offered in a basic “Essential” specification without a touchscreen.

Within the Stellantis family, the same philosophy applies to the Citroën C3, C3 Aircross, and Fiat Grande Panda, all of which share the Smart Car platform with the Frontera.

More: Dacia’s Tiny EV Declares War On Europe’s Overpriced Cars

A host of upcoming budget urban EVs, like the VW ID.Up (ID.Every1) and the Renault Twingo, are also expected to let drivers use their smartphones for multimedia and navigation. This will allow automakers to offer them at a lower starting price.

Do You Really Need A Screen?

While many buyers love the look of large infotainment systems, some prefer the simplicity of using their own device, which can be easily updated over time. There’s also a practical advantage: without a screen dominating the dashboard, essential controls like heating and ventilation remain physical, straightforward, and easy to use.

Beyond Europe, you’ll find countless screen-less models in Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and South America. In contrast, Chinese buyers have access to massive screens and high-tech features in the vast majority of passenger vehicles.

Opening Photo: Reddit

Did you know that October 1 is International Coffee Day? You probably didn’t, but now Stellantis has made sure you won’t forget. And what better way than with a special version of the Opel Mokka Electric. The name alone fits the theme, since “Mokka” is the German word for mocha, which in turn traces back to the Yemeni port of Mocha, once a vital center of the global coffee trade.

Coffee Bar On Wheels

From the outside, the Mokka looks standard apart from a small coffee emblem at the back. But flip open the tailgate, and you’ll find two coffee machines, one for ground beans, one for pods. The setup also includes a coffee grinder, a milk steamer, a knock box, and even a fridge. All the gear is integrated into custom drawers and cupboards with Opel branding.

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Unfortunately, that means there is no space left for luggage. The company even added a coffee icon in the menu of the 10-inch infotainment display.

Opel says that the Mokka Coffee is designed to “make breaks on holiday trips or in the normal stress of everyday life more pleasant and tasteful”. And since this is an EV, having access to all this equipment can keep you occupied during charging stops.

The automaker could have easily fitted the coffee-making equipment to the performance-focused Opel Mokka GSE with 278 hp (207 kW / 282 PS) and a sharper chassis setup. However, since this project is more aimed towards relaxation, they went for the standard Mokka Electric instead with 154 hp (115 kW / 156 PS). As with most of its Stellantis stablemates, the subcompact SUV is fitted with a 54 kWh battery pack, offering a WLTP range of 402 km (250 mile) between charges.

More: Opel Mokka Electric Transformed Into A Two-Seater LCV With Drawer Modules

Interestingly, this is not the first time Stellantis has reimagined the cargo area of the Opel Mokka Electric. Back in 2023, the company unveiled an LCV version of the small SUV with two seats and a racking system designed for professionals.

As you might have guessed, the Opel Mokka “Coffee” will remain a one-off. Still, if you are convinced you need something like this in your life, you can always try a similar DIY conversion based on any vehicle with a decent boot.

Opel

As cars edge closer to taking over more driving duties, the question of how they interact with the people around them becomes increasingly important. Technology may be ready to let drivers take their hands and eyes off the task, but it also raises a new challenge: how does a car signal its intentions to those outside it? In that spirit, Opel has built a Grandland prototype with a lighting system designed to speak directly to pedestrians.

More: Skoda’s Illuminated Grille Shows Pedestrians When It’s Safe To Cross The Road

The test model is equipped with Level 3 driver assistance, which allows the person behind the wheel to disengage under certain conditions. Once the vehicle is in charge, though, a fresh layer of communication is needed to make sure people on the street understand what the car is about to do.

Lights As A Language

The Grandland prototype has been fitted with a new camera system that can detect objects and gestures, combined with an AI-backed “intention prediction” function. This allows it to better recognize real world scenarios like when a pedestrian emerges from parked vehicles or a child steps on the road when chasing a ball.

When operating in Level 3 autonomy (or higher), the SUV’s front and rear indicators shine in cyan. This color was chosen as it is not associated with any other vehicle function. When a pedestrian is detected in the path of the vehicle, it starts braking and the LED headlights change from white to magenta.

Furthermore, a small screen that normally displays Opel’s Blitz emblem shows a warning sign or a pedestrian alongside a halt gesture. When the car has come to standstill, the LEDs turns green and the display shows a walking figure. In more complex situations when the AI algorithm can’t figure out what to do, the driver is prompted to take control of the vehicle.

Rethinking Headlights

Philipp Röckl, Global Lead Lighting at Stellantis, explains the thinking behind the project:

“Headlights clearly play an important part in increasing road safety – but modern lighting systems are capable of so much more. For example, lighting signatures can easily be animated and used for animations. And the illuminated Blitz on the Grandland can be substituted by a display that can both show the illuminated emblem and be used to communicate with other road users and pedestrians. By using existing lighting elements, it makes it easy to add communication features once we will introduce autonomous driving features in our cars”

The Grandland with the unique equipment and lighting features follows a number of prototypes and production vehicles from other brands that examine the same issue.

The model was created in-house in Opel’s Russelsheim headquarters in Germany and was showcased at the International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL) in Darmstadt. It is the result of a collaboration between the Opel Concept Workshop and students from the TU Darmstadt university.

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Stellantis and TU Darmstadt have formed a strategic partnership for joint research into new lighting technologies since 2022. As part of this, the automaker is currently funding three doctoral students at the university’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology.

On her part, Julisa Le, Stellantis’ Lead Innovation Engineer, said:

“We specifically chose colors that are not already associated with other vehicle functions to avoid misunderstandings. For example, red is intuitively understandable, but it is already used for stop lights or the rear lights of cars. Cyan and magenta have been thoroughly evaluated for perception purposes and are currently not present in any traffic situations. Both ensure clear, unambiguous communication with other road users.”

Opel

Update: We’ve added live photos straight from the floor of the Munich Motor Show, giving the Corsa GSE Vision GT concept even more presence than Opel’s renders alone could convey.

Opel has just lifted the veil on an intriguing concept that it teased last week, though it is not a new high-performance model that consumers will be able to buy. Instead, the one-off Opel Corsa GSE is the latest Vision GT creation that’ll be added to Gran Turismo 7 later this year.

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Like other Vision GT cars, the Corsa GSE goes far beyond what Opel would actually sell to the public – both in terms of design and performance.

Read: The Most Powerful Opel Ever Comes With A Shocking Price Tag

Regarding the powertrain, it has fitted two electric motors, one at each axle, that deliver a combined 789 hp (588 kW / 800 PS) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. It has also been imagined with an 79 hp (59 kW / 80 PS) overboost function that can be used for four-second bursts and needs 80 seconds to recharge.

The wild hot hatch accelerates from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 2.0 seconds, and has a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h). Providing the motors with their juice is an 82 kWh battery pack. Opel says that the car’s lightweight construction results in it weighing just 1,170 kg (2,579 lbs).

Visually, the Opel Corsa GSE Vision Grand Turismo features bespoke parts which allow it to sit lower and wider than the current Corsa, despite having a similar footprint. Key design details include the flared arches, the latest iteration of the Vizor grille, and the combination of a large rear wing and pronounced diffuser.

The interior is just as radical and includes a lightweight driver’s seat with six-point seatbelts and sensors that alert the driver to other vehicles on the road. If a car enters the car’s blind spot, a warning will appear through the special illuminated fabrics on the dashboard and door inserts.

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While this will remain firmly a concept, Opel notes that it serves as a “preview of upcoming GSE models”. This might include a hot hatch version of the next Corsa, following the example of the fully electric Peugeot E-208 GTI. The brand recently relaunched its performance sub-brand with the Opel Mokka GSE that pumps out 278 hp (207 kW / 280 PS) and 255 lb-ft (345 Nm) of torque, enough to send the EV to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds.

A New Corsa Is Coming Soon

The Opel Corsa, currently in its sixth-generation, is a sibling to the Peugeot 208. The next iteration is expected to arrive in 2028, riding on the STLA Small underpinnings. Unlike its predecessor, the subcompact hatchback will reportedly be limited to fully electric power. Still, the current model could remain on sale as an ICE-powered alternative with gasoline and mild-hybrid options.

Styling-wise, the production model will likely borrow a few cues from the wild Corsa GSE concept like the slimmer Opel Vizor grille at the front. However, it will adopt a more conventional five-door bodystyle which is the new norm in the segment, doing without the oversized aero of the track-focused concept.

Stellantis