New Opel Mokka's high-tech cabin previewed

The Mazda CX-3 rivalling Opel Mokka has been teased once again, and this time it's the class-leading interior technology of the upcoming small SUV that is the focus.

Created by the now PSA-owned brand to replace the small SUV that provided the basis for the discontinued Holden Trax, the new Opel Mokka is set to get a new 'Pure Panel' dashboard that's said to be a "high-tech cockpit that is both fully digital and yet focused – 'detoxed'".

The new artistic rendering released overnight suggests the next Opel Mokka will have screens that stretch almost the entire width of its dashboard.

Designers of the latest digital dash tech say they worked hard to reduce any 'irritating visual stimuli' that could distract the driver.

With a lack buttons and minor controls, the new dash design is claimed to eliminate the need to navigate into sub-menus and promises to be intuitive to operate.

“With the new Mokka, we bring the Opel Pure Panel to our customers for the first time. Large displays, seamlessly integrated into one horizontal information format, a minimal number of physical controls and clear detoxed digital information, all together create an optimised customer experience,” said Opel Design Vice President, Mark Adams.

As well previewing its cabin, Opel has also released pictures of a heavily camouflaged Opel Mokka undergoing testing.

Based on PSA's latest CMP architecture that underpins the new Peugeot 2008, the new Opel Mokka is also set to share its French sibling's powertrains – including a pure-electric version.

We expect the next-generation Mokka to be offered with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in 75kW, 97kW or 115kW tunes.

A single 1.5-litre turbo-diesel will also be available with either 75kW or 97kW, while all engines will come with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic.

The new pure-electric version expected in 2021, meanwhile, will get a single 100kW motor that’s fed power from a 50kWh lithium-ion battery.

Expect a WLTP-verified range of 310km.

Inside, thanks to what’s thought to be a longer wheelbase, the Mokka should offer far more space compared to the new Nissan JUKE.

Helping it go head-to-head with other rivals like the upcoming Ford Puma, the next Mokka should be jam-packed full of new technology including the car-maker’s latest semi-autonomous driving aids.

There’s still no word on whether Opel will return to the Australian market, but if the rumoured 2022 date is correct, expect the Holden Trax to return as the new Opel Mokka around then.