Manufacturer Opel (General Motors) Model years 2013–present | Production 2012–present Designer Carsten Aengenheyster | |
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Also called Bitter Mokka
Buick Encore
Vauxhall Mokka X (Facelift)
Vauxhall Mokka
Chevrolet Trax Assembly Bupyeong, South Korea (GM Korea)
Shanghai, China (Shanghai GM)
Zaragoza, Spain
Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)
Minsk, Belarus (Unison) | ||
The Vauxhall Mokka is a mini sport utility vehicle engineered and built by the German car manufacturer Opel (part of General Motors) since 2012. Sales started in late 2013. The Mokka is now built in Bupyeong, South Korea and Zaragoza, Spain. It is also marketed as the Vauxhall Mokka in the United Kingdom and as the Buick Encore in North America and China.
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Production and sales
In September 2007, What Car? produced computer generated images, which showed a Corsa C–based SUV. However, this never made it to production.
The Mokka is positioned below the Antara and the Zafira Tourer in the Opel lineup and is available in both front-wheel and four-wheel drive versions. The Mokka name derives from the small, round coffee beans of the Coffea Arabica variety.
The Mokka is based on the GM Gamma II platform and is available in a choice of three engines: a 115 PS (85 kW; 113 bhp) 1.6-litre petrol, a 140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp) 1.4-litre turbo petrol and a 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) 1.7 diesel. The four-wheel drive option is a "smart" 4x4 system that maintains 100% drive at the front wheels until the system detects slip, fast starts or tight cornering, in which case it can send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels.
Production and sales started in autumn of 2012; by February 2013, Opel Mokka had over 80,000 orders, and after two months 100,000 orders. In October 2014, over 300,000 Mokkas were ordered in Europe. In January 2016 Opel announced 500,000 firm orders for Mokka overall.
Engines
Engines are available with the 5-speed (only with 1.6 engine) or 6-speed manual transmission. The only optional available automatic transmission is the 6-speed with active select mode, which can be ordered for the 1.4 Turbo and 1.7 CDTI engines, with or without 4x4. Automatic version did not have Start/Stop system in the beginning.
In the Russian market, a version with a 1.8 L A18XER (Korean designation F18DA) petrol engine is available. The cars for the Russian market were assembled by Avtotor (Kaliningrad, Russia) and later by Unison (Minsk, Belarus) in 2015.
In October, 2014, Opel introduced its all-new engine, the so-called "whisper diesel" 1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX engine with 136 PS which will, in beginning of 2015, replace 1.7 CDTI with 130 PS.
Facelift (Mokka X)
The updated Opel Mokka now bears the name "Mokka X". The Mokka X wears a new face with sleeker headlights, a revised interior, and new LED tail lights.
Buick Encore
The North American version of the Mokka was unveiled as the Buick Encore at Detroit's 2012 North American International Auto Show and officially went on sale for the 2013 model year in January 2013. It is Buick's first subcompact crossover SUV and is available in front or all-wheel drive. The only powertrain offered currently is a 1.4-liter turbo gasoline engine coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Trailer towing is not permitted. AMC/Renault briefly used the Encore name on its 1984-86 subcompact hatchback.
The Buick Encore is also sold in Mexico and China. Buick's VentiPorts have reappeared at the Encore's introduction, a styling feature unique to Buick dating back to 1949.
For 2016, the Encore added a new Sport Touring Edition which included unique 18" aluminum alloy wheels with midnight silver finish, rear spoiler, body-color door handles and a more powerful 1.4 L Turbo engine. The new engine is a GM Ecotec in-line four cylinder with direct injection delivering 154 HP.
The interior is refreshed with a new dashboard design. The cabin uses premium quality material in its manufacture. There is an updated gauge cluster with a 4.2-inch information screen. Center stack is blended in the dashboard. There is an infotainment system with a new 8-inch frame less screen.