Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM
Frankfurt Preview: First hint of the Opel E-Flex concept!
Another of Opel's premieres at the Frankfurt Motor Show will be their own take on the E-Flex architecture. The power-train will be similar to the Volt but with a small diesel engine taking the place of the gas/E85 range extender. The Opel-badged vehicle will have a different body style from the Volt and now we the first clue as to at least what the shape will be. Bloomberg reported today that GM may build 60,000 Volts in the first year and it seems likely that if they do build that many, it will also include Opel variants in addition to Chevrolets.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ug 3:43AM (8/23/2007)
I'd rather have this than the Volt.
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rgseidl 7:38AM (8/23/2007)
Looks like an Opel Corsa in profile, i.e. the smallest car in Opel's range. The Astra might be a better platform.
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scatter 9:25AM (8/23/2007)
Do you think? I reckon it looks a bit flatter than a Corsa, maybe somewhere between the two? The Volt looks very chunky and overweight but hopefully the Opel might go for a lightweight body and squeeze a larger electric range out of it?
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Snark 9:29AM (8/23/2007)
"Looks like an Opel Corsa in profile, i.e. the smallest car in Opel's range."
Are you kidding me? This is two classes larger than the Corsa; I'd estimate that it's larger than a Pontiac Vibe, maybe even as big as a 3-series wagon.
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Tim 9:46AM (8/23/2007)
I thought the EV-1 shape was pretty sexy except for the covered wheel wells. I also liked Will Smith's car in I-Robot. Aero rocks! A high tech car should look high tech.
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Dave 10:02AM (8/23/2007)
This will be a great car for France, where 75% of their electricity comes from nukes.
France is also the location of the multinational project that is working on nuclear fusion power generation.
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Dave 10:06AM (8/23/2007)
"Aero rocks! A high tech car should look high tech."
The problem with aero design is that it often requires a car's length to be extended. This doesn't work well in crowded cities. And aero design is nearly pointless for a city car that spends 90% of its time at speeds under 30 mph.
Compare the Loremo (designed for aerodynamics) to the Fiat Panda (Car of the Year in Europe) and you get the idea.
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scatter 10:43AM (8/23/2007)
The Loremo's only 30cm longer than the Panda - not bad at all!
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Tim 11:22AM (8/23/2007)
Dave- Form, function, and cost is all about compromises. I personally prefer the high tech sleek look, but I do appreciate function. Opinions vary, but I believe that the Scion xB is the ugliest vehicle ever produced even though it makes sense in an urban environment. Maybe that’s why Chevy’s “triplets” seem to follow the same basic form. YUCK!
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2007/04/video_ed_welbur.html
Anyway, thanks to FREE market competition, we have choices.
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Tim Russell 12:33PM (8/23/2007)
ug and others I need to clear something up here. A concept car often has nothing to do with what the final product looks like. The Volt concept was thrown togeather on the same platform as the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice so it got the long hood look. Anyway the part of the concept that's important is the E-Flex system. In production the Volt will probably be a unique (to make sure people know what it is for the green street cred) looking front driver 4 door. I guess it bugs me that people use the looks of a 2006/2007 concept car as a club against the whole idea.
What we should hope for is that they get the E-Flex system to work as the want it to and it can be applied to a line of efficent vehicles. The name Volt has a good buzz and they should keep it.
What I'd like:
A sporty commuter with the e-motor in back driving the rear wheels. Battery's down low in the floor/center tunnel to keep the center of gravity low. Put the genset up front for weight balance. Could be loads of fun and green at the same time.
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