GM Europe's new concept: Opel Flextreme GT/E
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The Opel Flextreme GT/E concept car is an endeavour to
visualise the qualities that may characterise the re-energising Opel/Vauxhall brands: High emotional appeal,
efficient environmental performance and expressive design – engineered with German precision.
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21st February, 2010
Opel will unveil its Flextreme GT/E concept car at the 80th Geneva Motor
Show in Switzerland next month, that will boost the company’s credentials as a leader in eco-friendly 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 metre
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 Opel 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 optimised for aerodynamic efficiency.
The clean, frontal styling features a low bonnet line and an extended nose section, which is clasped by wing-shaped,
signature LED headlamps. These are deeply carved into the front guards and across the bonnet 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.
The sculpted bonnet, with an Opel signature central crease line, features narrow longitudinal vents on either side
to draw air out of the engine compartment. The 'muscular' guards and wheel-arches sweep back into the side-body.
In profile, the Flextreme GT/E is distinguished by innovative, stubbed C-pillars. This floating design allows the
'glasshouse' to be extended rearwards under the arching roofline, emphasising the flowing lines of the side body. The
car’s dynamic 'character' is further underlined by a fresh expression of Opel’s signature blade motif, now a swooping
swage line from the base of the C-pillar into the lower front guard.
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Access to the cabin is enhanced by the adoption of rear-hinged rear doors, an evolution of the Opel
FlexDoors concept from the new generation Meriva monocab. To preserve the clean exterior looks, all door
handles are replaced by light sensors. These trigger the doors open when covered by the driver’s or
passenger’s hand. To reduce air turbulence, exterior front door mirrors are also absent, replaced by small
camera pods in the base of the A-pillars.
At the rear, a strong 'shoulder' line embraces sculpted wheel-arches that further emphasise the
Flextreme GT/E’s wide, ground-hugging stance. The coupé look is completed by a steeply raked tailgate,
carrying wing-shaped LED light units which echo the form of the front headlamps. Like that of the Insignia
Sports Tourer, the tailgate has a wraparound design for improved boot access. Its deep glass screen is
slightly convex to improve airflow.
The translucency of the fixed glass panel in the centre of the roof is adaptive, allowing sunlight to
warm the interior in the cold of winter, but darkening for coolness in summer. A duct at the rear edge of
the roof is for additional cooling of the battery and electronic components.
Managing airflow and saving weight
Integral to the Flextreme GT/E’s expressive looks is the efficiency of the design execution. The small
frontal area, low roof height (1,308 mm) and a flat, enclosed underbody all enable the car to cleave the
air with a minimum of disturbance.
A series of measures optimise airflow management. The 21 inch alloy wheels are relatively narrow, to
reduce wind resistance, and fitted with 195/45, low rolling resistance tyres. Clear, flush-mounted trim
inserts also minimise air turbulence.
The minimal front intake improves airflow around the 'nose' of the car and the underbody sweeps up,
venturi-like, at the rear to further reduce drag.
The Flextreme GT/E also explores the potential for active shape shifting. At speeds above 50 km/h, a
vertical panel extends along the body from the air extraction slot behind each rear wheel-arch. These 350
mm-long side spoilers guide high-speed airflow around the rear corners of the car, further reducing the
amount of turbulence.
Mass reduction measures for the body include the use of light weight, carbon composite outer panels,
polycarbonate window glazing and aluminium alloy structural components. Compared to conventional
materials, these offer a 40 per cent weight saving which further contributes to reduced energy
consumption and an increased driving range.
Innovative propulsion
The efficient concept also includes GM’s ground-breaking E-REV drive system, already developed for
the Opel Ampera. The Flextreme GT/E shows the versatility of this technology by displaying it in a larger,
mid-size vehicle format.
Despite its greater size and a maximum speed of more than 200 kilometres per hour, the Flextreme GT/E
is projected to offer performance similar to that of the Ampera: a battery-powered driving range of up to
60 km – with zero CO2 tailpipe emissions – and a total range of more than 500 km. Average fuel consumption
is estimated at 1.6 l/100 km, with CO2 emissions of less than 40 g/km.
Unlike a hybrid vehicle, the wheels of the Flextreme GT/E are powered at all times by electricity. For
typical journeys up to 60 km, energy is supplied by a T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack located under the
floor and rear seat.
However, unlike a battery-only electric vehicle, the Flextreme GT/E eliminates any possibility of range
anxiety through fear of being stranded without power. The small petrol engine/generator is seamlessly
engaged to provide electricity whenever the battery’s supply becomes depleted. In this mode, the driving
range is extended to more than 500 km, until the plug-in battery pack can be recharged or the car is
refuelled.
The motor in the electric drive unit delivers a substantial 370 Nm of instant torque, giving lively
performance and projected zero to 100 km/h acceleration in less than nine seconds.
The Flextreme GT/E concept is a further step in Opel’s unfolding strategy for the electrification of
the automobile, which includes a wide portfolio of products using battery, extended-range, hybrid and fuel
cell technologies.
Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept: Technical Data
| Body style |
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| Type |
5-door coupé, 4-seat upper mid-size concept vehicle |
| Co-efficient of drag |
0.22 |
| Exterior dimensions |
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| Overall length (mm) |
4,762 |
| Height (mm) |
1,308 |
| Width (mm) |
1,871 |
| Wheelbase (mm) |
2,900 |
| Front track (mm) |
1,600 |
| Rear track (mm) |
1,600 |
| Wheels/Tyres
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| Wheel size |
21 inch |
| Tyres |
195/45 R 21; extra low-rolling resistance |
| Powertrain
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| Type |
Electric drive, front-wheel-drive |
| Battery system: |
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| Type |
Advanced lithium-ion (manganese spinel)
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| Energy |
16 kWh |
| Nominal voltage |
350 volts |
| On-board charger |
3.3 kW |
| 100% recharge time (230V outlet)
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< 3.0 hours |
| Electric drive unit: |
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| Max. power |
120 kW |
| Torque |
370 Nm |
| Generator: |
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| Power |
53 kW peak output |
| Engine type |
4-cylinder 1.4 litre petrol-fuelled combustion engine |
| Performance
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| Pure electric mode range |
60 km |
| Full range, range extender engaged
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> 500 km |
| CO2 emissions, combined cycle (est.)
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< 40 g/km |
| 0 – 100 km/h acceleration |
< 9.0 seconds |
| Maximum speed |
> 200 km/h |
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