If you find the Opel / Vauxhall Ampera and consequently the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids a little too plain and boring for your tastes, then you ought to a look at this handsome conceptual proposal from GM's European arm.
The 4.7-meter long Opel Flextreme GT/E concept with its coupe-like proportions and suicide-style rear doors illustrates how GM's extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology can be plugged into a larger size vehicle with a more emotional design DNA.
Despite its good looks, the concept model has been optimized for aerodynamic efficiency featuring among other things a pair of retractable spoilers hidden behind each rear wheel-arch that extend out 350-mm at speeds over 50 km/h or 31mph to guide high-speed airflow around the rear corners of the car, further reducing the amount of turbulence.
According to the Germans, the Flextreme GT/E achieves a projected drag co-efficient of just 0.22.
The study uses the Volt's E-REV drive system, meaning the front wheels are always driven by an electric motor producing 160HP (120kW) and 370Nm of torque with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine kicking in to supply electricity once the lithium-ion batteries are depleted.
Opel said that the Flextreme GT/E is estimated to offer performance similar to that of the Ampera with a battery-powered driving range of up to 65km or 40 miles and a total range of over 500km or 311 miles. Average fuel consumption is estimated at 1.6lt/100km or 147mpg US, with CO2 emissions of under 40g/km.
The five-door concept is said to be able to accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in less than nine seconds and achieve a top speed in excess of 200km/h or 124 mph.
