GENEVA — The Opel Flextreme GT/E, to be publicly unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, represents the next evolution of the plug-in hybrid technology that underpins the Opel Ampera and the Chevrolet Volt.
As always, General Motors prefers not to call these cars hybrids, instead using the term E-REV, which stands for extended-range electric vehicle. GM released a teaser shot of its newest plug-in creation last week. Today the company released full-body renderings and additional details on the concept car.
The Flextreme GT/E is a four-door, four-place car with futuristic styling and an ultralow drag coefficient of 0.22. It uses a 120kW (161-horsepower) electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack to drive the front wheels. As in the Volt, there's also a 71-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine onboard that acts as a generator to extend driving range to 300 miles.
On battery power alone, the Flextreme has a range of 40 miles. The vehicle could be plugged into a household circuit and, according to Opel, would take less than 3 hours to recharge.
The electric motor, which produces peak torque of 273 pound-feet, would allow the Opel Flextreme to reach 60 mph in less than 9 seconds and achieve a top speed of about125 mph.
The Flextreme's sculptured shape helps smooth airflow, says Opel, as do its active side spoilers, which deploy and extend along the body at speeds above 30 mph.
The car also features 21-inch low-rolling-resistance tires, LED headlamps and taillamps, rear-hinged doors, carbon-composite body panels, aluminum alloy structural components, polycarbonate windows and a transparent fixed-glass roof that adapts to changing light conditions.
Inside Line says: We like the new design direction the Europeans are taking with their Volt derivative. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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jepontiac says:
02:59 AM, 02/19/2010
It is better looking than the Ampera, which was a Volt with a different nose.
herrstreet says:
07:07 PM, 02/18/2010
It is cool but looks like a Citroen.