A wndswept shape conceals an advanced, battery-powered drivetrain in the new Opel Flextreme concept vehicle.
If the Opel Ampera was supposed to push the envelope in terms of both design and technology, the European maker’s new Flextreme concept vehicle takes things to the “next step.”
Building on Opel’s new “Sculptural Artistry” design language, the Ampera wraps a slick and ultra-efficient body around the plug-in hybrid powertrain Opel is using in next year’s Ampera sedan – technology first developed for the American-made Chevrolet Volt.
“This is the next step in our design language,” said Mark Adams, Opel’s design director, during a preview of the Flextreme, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The sports coupe shape has an unusual low drag coefficient of just 0.22, Adams noted, something that’s a distinct advantage with an electric vehicle. The better you cheat the wind, the longer and faster you can go, despite the limitations of your onboard power pack. With the Flextreme, that means a top speed of 125 mph, roughly 30 mph faster than the Volt or Ampera.
If the Flextreme name seems familiar, that’s because Opel has used it before as the embodiment of the latest is styling or technology, in concept form. The latest design to revive the Flextreme moniker features all the usual details one might expect of an extremely aerodynamic shape, including a sleek nose that doesn’t disturb airflow, sealed underbody and a long, high tail. Add to that the unusual, blade-like fins that pop out of the rear quarter panels to further improve airflow where the wind detaches from Flextreme’s body.
Under the skin, however, the concept vehicle’s powertrain is the same as Volt’s or Ampera’s. A lithium-ion battery pack provides power to an electric motor, yielding about 40 miles range per charge. When the batteries run down, a small internal combustion engine fires up. GM prefers to refer to the technology as an extended-range electric vehicle, or E-REV, since the wheels are never actually driven by anything but electric power.
Volt launches in the U.S., late this year, the Opel Ampera reaching European dealerships soon afterwards. For now, there are no plans to put Flextreme into production, but it could give a hint at what’s to come. The basic design could share platforms with the more conventionally-powered Opel Insignia, but Flextreme would be more likely to serve as a sort of high-line technology leader for the German-based brand.