Opel Flextreme: GM Under Tension

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

At this year's Detroit Motor Show, Chevrolet made an impressive appearance with the “Volt” electric study. With the Opel Flextreme, they want to underline their expertise in electric drives.

From Stefan Grundhoff

The IAA is intended to mark the start of an electric age on European soil. For example, Opel is showing the E-Flex at the trade fair, a 4.80 meter long and emphatically sporty crossover, which should not only shine with its design, but also with its innovative drive technology. The E-Flex architecture uses an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries to drive the Opel Flextreme. In pure battery operation, the Flextreme has a range of 55 kilometers. A 1.3 liter diesel engine on board generates additional electricity if necessary to charge the battery and increase the range. For many commuters, the 55 km range of a fully charged Flextreme would be enough to be able to travel without the use of the diesel engine and without CO2 emissions.

Reluctance to design

The aahs and oohs were great when the partly transparent Chevy Volt was driven onto the Detroit exhibition stage more than half a year ago. Chevrolet, which in the past few years did not exactly attract attention through milestones in design history, showed courage and inventiveness with the Volt. The Opel Flextreme is not as brave as the Volt, but shows where the journey should go. The Flextreme takes up the new Opel design language that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show with the GTC Coupé.

With doors opening in opposite directions, which provide easy access to the interior, a large transparent roof and two tailgates that open laterally upwards, the study continues the Opel tradition of particularly flexible and practical body concepts in an attractive design. “We want to replace gasoline in the medium term,” says Benoit Schlumberger, who is responsible for the compact segment in GM development. "By 2030 we will need 70 percent more energy worldwide." The fact that the Americans have been focusing on the sensible use of electrical energy for some time is nothing new.

Basic system

But GM developer Frank Weber believes that General Motors, like most other manufacturers, is not concerned with individual prototypes. "The joy of driving must also be given with our E-Flex concept." E-Flex is a multifunctional electrical concept with which the Chevrolet Volt first attracted attention. At E-Flex there are various electric modules that can be integrated into the model depending on the vehicle and drive concept. So it is the combination of diesel and electric drive at the IAA. So far there have been two problems that critics have raised, so GM claims to have come a mighty step further. The developments are so far that the electric engine has an output of 120 kW / 163 hp and 370 Nm of torque. In the next step, the basic engine should have at least 136 kW and have a 16 KWh energy storage.

Next Step

Saving energy is still the main problem for all companies. The batteries are heavy, expensive and take a long time to charge. At least one is ready for the new generation of General Motors prototypes to recharge their batteries at the normal 220-volt socket. “One battery charge covers at least 55 kilometers”, says Frank Weber, “whoever is on the road for longer distances has a 1.3-liter common rail diesel of the latest generation on board. This so-called range extender has a 27 liter tank. This enables ranges of several hundred kilometers. The electric drive has a great advantage. 100 kilometers cost just under seven euros with a diesel vehicle. With an electric drive it is just 1.50 euros.