Opel Rocks-e: Promotion drum | STERN.de

Opel Rocks-e
Advertising drum

History repeats itself, they say. Whether this is really the case has been hotly debated for decades. In the case of Opel and Citroën, there is now an argument with the Ami and the Opel Rocks-e that this is actually the case. But only at first glance. Flashback: In 1922, Citroën presented the 5 CV. The car was a success for French automakers. Well copied, better than badly built, the Opel managers probably thought at the time, and two years later they brought out the Opel 4/12. Due to its green color, the vehicle was quickly given the nickname “Tree Frog” and sold well. Of course, Citroën sued against what in their opinion was cheeky plagiarism, but the request was rejected by the court with reference to the different radiator grille and the different color. Back to the present. Last year, Citroën presented the Ami, an electric cube that should revolutionize city traffic. But now the E-panel van does not have a double rhombus on the front, but the Opel Blitz. So another cheeky concept theft? Of course not! Opel and Citroën are united under one corporate roof. In the worst case, this confusion is due to a poorly organized brand planning by the Stellantis strategists.

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So the Opel Rocks-e and not the American should revolutionize inner-city traffic and, above all, act as a promotional drum. “With this vehicle we are introducing young people to the brand,” says product manager Keanu Eftekhari, outlining one of the Opel tasks. The Opel employees wisely speak of a vehicle rather than a car. After all, you can drive the Rocks-e with an AM driving license – i.e. from 15 years of age. The electric cube does not compete with a small car, but with other means of movement for inner cities, such as an e-scooter. “The advantage of the Rocks-e is that it is weatherproof”; beams Eftekhari. However, for reasons of weight and range, there is no actual heating. The blower for defrosting the windshield creates an increase of six degrees compared to the outside temperature.

With Rocks-e you stand out. Positive. People turn around on almost every corner and ask what kind of vehicle it is. This is also due to the fact that you are sitting in a glass cube. As pleasant as the light-flooded aquarium with its glass lid is, when the sun shines at an unfavorable angle, the display is difficult to read. There is a net-like roller blind that is attached by hand. In summer it can get warm. Top-hung windows provide ventilation, but they hit the exterior mirror if it is not properly adjusted. In general, all mirrors are quite small and can only be adjusted by hand. The 471 kilogram cube has LED headlights that illuminate the road well and attract attention.

Technically, the Rocks-e is identical to the Citroën Ami. Only in the design did the Rüsselsheimers bring in their own touch with a few plastic applications and splashes of color. So the Rocks-e also has a purely electrical rated output of 6 kW / 8 PS (maximum 9 kW / 12 PS when accelerating) and is up to 45 km / h fast. At 2.41 meters in length, the Rocks-e is around 30 centimeters shorter than the current Smart Fortwo and has a turning circle of just 7.20 meters, which is worth gold when it comes to city dancing. The search for a parking space loses its horror anyway, in an emergency you simply put the Rocks-e across. The top speed is easily enough on the busy streets of Frankfurt. However, the American lacks the narrow shoulders of a scooter, so you have to queue up in a traffic jam and cannot circle past the sheet metal snake. The comfort is more like that of a bumper car than that of a car. Because the chassis of the Opel has to do without insulation and shock absorbers. The e-cube rumbles across the streets and accompanies the forward thrust with a pithy electric motor noise that makes you think you’re sitting in a sports car. The Rocks-e is still practical: Older people can quickly go to the supermarket and stow their purchases in the passenger compartment. There is even a hook for bags.

With a full 5.5 kilowatt hour battery, the Rocks-e can travel up to 75 kilometers (WLTP). A 220-volt household socket, which fills the energy storage device within 3.5 hours, is sufficient to charge the batteries. The Rocks-e can also be plugged into a wallbox via an adapter, but this does not affect the charging speed. On the other hand, it is annoying that the charging cable, which is stowed behind the passenger door, does not pull itself in as with a good vacuum cleaner, but has to be strapped into the storage space by hand. Not a big act in summer with a little practice, in winter, when it’s below zero, far less inspiring. The fact that the battery cannot be removed also limits the Citroën Ami somewhat. Not everyone has an outlet in front of the house or in the garage.

Navigate using a smartphone, which is supplied with power via a USB port. The two better equipped models TeKno and Klub can also be linked to the Rocks-e app. The Rocks-e will be available from mid-November. To get started, only the TeKno version is available for 8,790 euros; the other two will follow in March next year. Opel currently does not offer leasing, but financing that runs for 48 months. At the beginning, for example, you pay 2,595 euros for the basic model (costs 7,990 euros), then 49 euros per month and finally a final installment of 3,753 euros.

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