Live Edition still sits above petrol models, but also $7000 cheaper than SRi before rebate.

THE battery-fed edition of a crossover that heads Opel’s effort to settle long-term as an electric car brand has adopted an entry specification until now restricted to a petrol budget version.

Announcement of a Mokka-e ‘Live Edition’ that will avail from July but can be ordered from now on means the make whose badge is a lightning bolt has two fully electric ‘e’ models that now fully replicate in specification versions with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol.

Until now, the Mokka-e has restricted to a $69,990 SRi format, while the petrols have been in $38,990 Edition and $44,990 SRi formats.

As the naming convention spells out, the ‘Live’ is an ‘Edition’ with an electric powertrain, with fewer technology appointments than the SRi.

Though $7000 cheaper than the Mokka-e SRi – with both being eligible for a $8625 Clean Car discount that brings the new version to $54,365 - the premium for that single motor, 50kWh battery-fed electric drivetrain still keeps it $10,000 above the dearest fossil fuel models.

The entry electric omits several high-end features from Mokka-e SRi. These include provision for level two autonomous driving, the 12 inch and 10 inch dual screens and matrix LED headlights. It also drops down from 18-inch to 17-inch rims.

Noah Robertson, Opel commercial manager, says the role of the Live Edition is to focus “on the value exchange of 363km of range, 30 minutes’ fast-charging and a plush, high-quality German engineered ride.

“The ‘Live’ part (of the name) pays homage to our Live Elektrisch brand line, which means to live with energy, and part of the ‘New German Energy’ Opel represents with its ‘Bold and Pure’ design philosophy, electrified mix and energising driving and brand experience. “

Once represented by Holden, usually behind the Aussie badge, Opel re-emerged in New Zealand eight months ago, having reborn as a product of France’s PSA, which bought rhe German brand from General Motors in 2016 and has turned it around.

Opel here is part of the Autodistributors NZ business which also distributes the Peugeot and Citroen products that share a high degree of technology, but at a higher price.

Robertson says there’s no intent to drop the Mokka-e SRi; in all likelihood, that derivative seems set to settle in as the local effort’s best-selling variant.

The Live Edition was always planned. “It always part of a longer term plan to expand the range to include even more accessible trim options for the Mokka-e.

“For our launch last year though, historical data suggested buyers generally demand more options being ticked on their European cars, so we thought this preference may especially carry over to EVs.

“This year, customer feedback has been to bring in an entrance priced Mokka-e, similar to the two options we have for the (internal combustion engined) Mokka.”