Opel will use the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show in March to debut its latest iteration of the popular Mokka SUV. Dubbed the Mokka X, the vehicle will feature a new exterior, a redesigned interior, a next generation engine, and loads of connectivity.
Since first introducing the Mokka at the end of 2012, Opel has sold over 500,000 of the mid-sized SUVs, but it clearly felt a refresh was in order.
The exterior facelift includes a wing-shaped horizontal front grille incorporating the signature double wing-shaped LED daytime running lights, more sculpted surfaces, and fewer plastic inserts. By carrying the more sculpted design through to the rear of the vehicle, the result is a slightly more muscular-looking vehicle.
While few images were available of the interior, Opel is stressing the changes it has made to the dashboard by eliminating some of the buttons to present a "purer design." This was accomplished by incorporating a touchscreen infotainment system – available in either 7 or 8 inches – and reorganizing the instrument cluster in a more horizontal layout.
Two versions of the new generation of the IntelliLink infotainment system will be available for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection. In addition, Opel OnStar will be extended to another 16 countries this year, bringing the total number to 29. All of that connectivity is said to essentially turn the Mokka X into a powerful 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot.
The powerplant/drivetrain combo also gets an update with a new generation 112-kW/152-hp, 1.4-liter Direct Injection Turbo coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, and adaptive all-wheel drive.
New Adaptive Forward Lighting LED headlamps complete the changes and give drivers nine different lighting patterns that automatically adjust to different driving situations. The original Mokka has been noted for its versatility, and soon after it was introduced, several accessories enhanced that notion, including a unique bicycle carrier called the FlexFix.
The Mokka X will hit the market in the fall of 2016 (Northern Hemisphere), but no details are available on pricing or if it will continue to be sold as a Vauxhall Mokka X in the UK or as an update to the Buick Encore currently sold in America and China.
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