Frankfurt Preview: Opel Flextreme pics leaked! E-Flex goes diesel!
Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, MINI, Frankfurt Motor Show
Click the photo of the Opel Flextreme for a high res gallery
One of the most eagerly anticipated debuts of the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show made an early debut this weekend thanks to another site that shall remain un-named. We present for your edification the third variant of the GM E-Flex platform, the Opel Flextreme. Like the Chevy Volt that appeared with a flex-fuel range extender in Detroit and with a fuel cell in Shanghai, the Flextreme is a series hybrid electric vehicle that can be plugged in and charged to yield a 40 mile range.
However since this is a European variant the Opel highlights the "flex" part of E-Flex by using a 1.3L four cylinder diesel to charge the lithium ion battery pack. The Flextreme also has a completely different body design switching from the sedan layout of the Volt to the more popular in Europe one-box hatch design. The car features a suicide door arrangement for the second row portals although this is unlikely to make it to production. Designers like this for concepts because it makes it easier to show off the interior on auto show stands.
The design does feature some of the elements of the GTC coupe concept that debuted last spring in Geneva such as the side panel shaping and the headlights. The side contours have also turned up on the spy photos of the next generation Vectra that is now expected to debut at Geneva in 2008. One other unique feature of the Flextreme is the integration of a pair of Segway scooters. As rumored, when the scooters are installed in their compartment in the back of the car, they are recharged from the on-board electrical system.
We'll have live pics and more details from Frankfurt on Monday and Tuesday.
[Source: General Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-08-2007 @ 12:59AM
Dave said...
An EV with a 40 mile range makes sense in France where gas is expensive and 75% of the electricity comes from nukes.
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9-08-2007 @ 6:10AM
Domenick said...
Only in Europe, you say. Pity.
I say keep the suicide doors and swap out the Segways for the much cooler Gopeds.
http://www.goped.com/products/esr750ex/default.asp
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9-08-2007 @ 8:33AM
Kent Beuchert said...
The diesel is Europe-only becuause 1) Europe likes diesels 2) Europe's diesel emission regs are much looser than those in the US, which would require several thousand dollars of added equipment. Look for Saturn and/or Pontiac to embody a crossover/SUV on the E-Flex platform.
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9-08-2007 @ 10:51AM
jcwinnie said...
O.K. this is a series hybrid; it conforms to the Frank Axiom (Big Electric - Little ICE). Good!
Unfortunately, the ICE paradigm people at this Green Wash are focussed on the range extender.
The Scania question of the day, since this would seem to be more puffery propulsion: Could the diesel engine run on ethanol, specifically cellulosic ethanol?
Then the range extender du jour would seem to meet a pretty good LCFS (Low Carbon Fuel Standard).
But... Back to the Big Issue, Kammenites.
What's the best way to store those Mega Joules, Sam "The Franfurter" Abuelsamid? Maybe DENSO could show you how to decrease the required size of the battery pack by introducing an ultra cap pack.
And, the Chinese Connection could show you how every Tom, Dick and Mary might be able to afford said, GM Does-It-Run-On-Hyperbole-for-the-Day-Yet-Mobile, n'cest pa?
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9-08-2007 @ 3:42PM
1985 Gripen said...
With a tiny 1.3-liter diesel engine that doesn't run full-time I wonder if the NOx emissions (the Achilles heel of diesels) would be low enough to meet U.S. 50-state emissions requirements.
The reason most diesels to be sold in the U.S. require heavy filtering and/or urea injection is because the gross NOx output is much higher than in gasoline engines.
Also, diesels usually require a PM (particulate matter) filter but this technology is ubiquitous, even being commonplace in Europe, where emissions standards are much looser, so I'm sure it's an inexpensive addition to the car.
jcwinnie: I've never heard of a diesel car running on ethanol, cellulosic or not. Maybe you meant biodiesel? I know GM (and others) are working on HCCI engines which work much like diesels but use gasoline as fuel.
As for picking on GM for coming out with new technologies (which seems really stupid to me), why don't you target Ford's Volvo? They announced earlier this year they'll be introducing a diesel-powered series hybrid version of the C30 at an event in Shanghai this Fall and they're introducing a flex-fuel powered one (the "ReCharge") at Frankfurt next week. Sounds like Ford's Volvo is nipping at the heels of GM's Chevy and Opel...
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9-08-2007 @ 7:40PM
mike said...
The Opel looks better then the Volt.
GM should consider adding this model to somebody's lineup, Pontiac?
Aerodynamics look better too.
Why does the ICE have to be so big? Running continuously and tuned to run at just one speed....
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9-08-2007 @ 9:35PM
1985 Gripen said...
mike: Saturn is quickly becoming "American Opel". Also, it seems to be going the direction that SAAB is destined to become "Premium Opel".
As for the size of the ICE question, I was wondering the same thing! I mean, it's basically just a diesel electric generator. Honda makes those things so small you can stow one in an RV...
I would also like to read an estimate on how many miles-per-gallon the Opel Flextreme is expected to achieve. Being a diesel it's got to have some extreme range!
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9-10-2007 @ 8:14AM
Snark said...
"The Scania question of the day, since this would seem to be more puffery propulsion: Could the diesel engine run on ethanol, specifically cellulosic ethanol?"
Absolutely not; forgive me, but that's a really silly question. It could run on biodiesel, but it needs a high cetane fuel, not something like ethanol.
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9-10-2007 @ 10:08AM
Dave said...
The size of the ICE is defined by the amount of power needed to maintain cruising speed (80+ mph, if GM actually wants to sell any of these, I suspect) by itself, no battery assist. So the ICE will probably produce at least 30 hp. (Not the previously mentioned RV size)
Once the batteries are discharged, or any time cabin heat is required, the ICE will run constantly, so emmissions waivers are unlikely.
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