While most SUV owners wouldn’t dare leave the pavement, the desire to look like they might has never been stronger. To keep up with the trend, Stellantis’ Opel division has unveiled the Frontera Gravel concept, a rugged-looking spin on its family-friendly SUV that hints at a more adventurous trim level down the line.

Developed at Opel’s Russelsheim design center, the one-off concept was created with input from the “enthusiast community” and assembled in collaboration with motorsport tuning specialists BlackFish and XS.

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The Frontera Gravel immediately sets itself apart with a lineup of off-road-inspired accessories: a Thule Canyon XT roof rack, additional LED lights on the hood and roof, a front-mounted winch, a side storage box, and even snow tracks attached to the D-pillars. It also rides on 16-inch Borbet CWE wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, helping it at least look the part, even if it never leaves the campsite parking lot.

The body is finished in a matte Desert Stone wrap, contrasted by a black hood and roof. Orange accents show up on the skid plates, mirror caps, roof rack, and badging, while custom stickers complete the package. Inside, the microfibre seats get matching orange detailing, and a black headliner adds to the rugged vibe.

Electric, Front-Wheel Drive, and… Soft-Road Capable?

Opel

Opel confirmed that the Frontera Gravel is based on the production Frontera Electric, which comes only with front-wheel drive. While not exactly off-road royalty, Opel insists the concept can handle “soft-roading adventures” thanks to its low center of gravity and healthy torque output.

The most powerful version of the Frontera Electric packs a single 154 hp (156 PS / 115 kW) motor and a 54 kWh battery, delivering a range of up to 400 km (249 miles). It’s not exactly overland-ready, but it should be enough for a spirited weekend getaway, assuming your idea of rugged terrain includes gravel trails and not much else.

All-Wheel Drive Remains Off the Table

Unfortunately, Opel doesn’t seem to be interested in an AWD Frontera, something that could happen with the addition of an electrified rear axle to the mild-hybrid version. This solution has already been applied to the Jeep Avenger 4Xe and the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4, and will soon find its way into the upcoming Fiat Grande Panda 4×4.

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The Frontera Gravel will make its public debut on May 30 at the XS Carnight event in Wörthersee, Austria. Although it’s officially a concept, a production version seems like a real possibility. Opel could use it to compete with similarly rugged trims like the upcoming Dakar-inspired Dacia Duster variant.

Rebecca Reinermann, Opel and Vauxhall’s Vice President of Marketing, stated: “The new Opel Frontera is already standout. It is rugged, practical, and perfect for families and everyday adventures. But with the Frontera GRAVEL show car, we’ve pushed the limits, imagining a tougher, more daring, trailblazing version. This concept is built to fire up our fanbase and test the demand for a bolder, more rugged Frontera in the future. It’s all about freedom, adventure, excitement and pushing boundaries.”