February 18, 2010

The Shape of Things to Come: Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept
World Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2010

Press Release

Opel Flextreme GT/E
© GM Co.

Rüsselsheim — Opel will unveil its Flextreme GT/E concept car at the 80th Geneva Motor Show (March 4–14), that will boost the company's credentials as a leader in green technologies, offering expressive design with efficient environmental performance — and engineered with German precision.

In Opel's strategy for achieving more independence from fossil fuels, electricity plays a key role. The 4.7-meter long Flextreme GT/E concept illustrates how extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology can be plugged into large or mid-size vehicles, as well as compact cars such as the upcoming Ampera.

Opel calls this strategy e-mobility unlimited: adapting the highly efficient E-REV drive system — which removes the limitations of battery-only power — to vehicles across all market segments. To enjoy zero CO2 driving emissions Opel-style, the Flextreme GT/E concept shows that size doesn't matter.

The purposeful design also enables the Flextreme GT/E to achieve a projected drag co-efficient of just 0.22, which helps it reach a 200 km/h-plus top speed as well as conserve energy and extend its driving range. Stand-out visual features include a low and wide stance, wing-shaped lights front and rear, a distinctive nose and grille, floating C-pillars and muscular, sculptured bodywork.

“The Flextreme GT/E concept shows the shape of things to come from Opel,” says Frank Weber, Vice President, Corporate and Product Planning. “Bold, expressive and highly efficient, it represents the product strategy we will apply to all our future vehicles, large and small, across all market segments.”

Exterior design: expressing efficiency with emotion

The low, coupé-like proportions of the Flextreme GT/E explore the potential for evolving Opel's new design language — sculptural artistry meets German precision — within an envelope optimized for aerodynamic efficiency.

The clean, frontal styling features a low hood line and an extended nose section, which is clasped by wing-shaped, signature LED headlamps. These are deeply carved into the front fenders and across the hood line. The new trapezoidal grille execution is slim but bold. The prominent wing-shaped chrome bar carries a large Opel emblem, which doubles as a socket for charging the Flextreme GT/E's battery pack.

The upper section of the grille is used to admit cooling air, the lower portion being covered by a translucent panel. The absence of additional air intakes allows a low frontal area for aerodynamic efficiency and also enables the Flextreme GT/E to meet future pedestrian protection requirements.

Be Sociable, Share!

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Comments are closed.