The European version of Buick Encore has been revealed as Opel Mokka. It’ll make its debut at the next Geneva Motor Show.
It is 99 per cent identical to its Buick brother, but it comes with slightly revised styling and more choices for the engine. It also has an interesting name – inspired by Mochachino Coffee – reflecting on its small and fluffy, yet strong and sophisticated character.
The Mokka gets Opel’s own front grille, while the bumpers are also modified to look different over the Encore. The car’s sporty character is also re-enforced by its higher ground clearance which also makes it suitable for gravel roads, as well as its 1540 mm wide tracks. Some 18-inch wheels contribute to both the looks and drivability of the little crossover.
This being an Opel, lots of ‘Flex’ cleverness is going on. It gets Flex-Fix bicycle carrier, exclusive to Opel, reenforcing the ‘active lifestyle’ character of the car. It also provides up to 1,372 liter of loading space, as well as up to 19 storage locations.
The Mokka will be available by the end of 2012, with front and all-wheel-drive and three engines, including an 85 kW/115 hp, 1.6 liter naturally-aspirated engine as well as a 103 kW/140 hp 1.4 l Turbo with 200 Nm of torque, and a 93 kw/130 hp 1.7 CDTI turbo diesel with 300 Nm of torque. Both the 1.4 Turbo and the 1.7 CDTI can be combined either with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. All manual transmissions are equipped with the fuel saving Opel Start/Stop system.
