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FIRST LOOK: GM Opel E-Flex Concept Car

August 23rd, 2007 | Posted in: Brand, Opel, PHEV, Sightings

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At the Frankfurt Auto Show on Septebmer 10th, GM is expect to announce the sister car to the Chevy Volt.

As you know, Opel is GM’s main European car company, and sells vehicles all across the continent.

Well whats good for the U.S. is good for the world.

We will see the Chevy Volt here in the U.S., and Europe will get the same technology in a car under the Opel name.

I can say for sure, after speaking to GM spokesman Rob Peterson directly, E85 capability will indeed remain in the Volt.  Here in the U.S., diesel capability is not expected.

However, the Opel E-Flex car is expected to use a diesel on-board generator.

That will complete the quartad of flex fuel options: gas, ethanol, hydrogen, and diesel.

There are no complete pictures, or public name for the new Opel, but we will have them here as soon as they are made public.

Above is the first public photo of the car GM has released.

Posted by: Lyle

15 Responses to “FIRST LOOK: GM Opel E-Flex Concept Car”


  1. Keith Rogers
    Vote -1 Vote +1Keith Rogers     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 am

    That’s great news. It would be fun to fillup with E85 on vacation in the mid-west and that option can only help sales! But what a yucky picture… hard to get excited with art like that??  

    (Quote)


  2. kent beuchert
    Vote -1 Vote +1kent beuchert     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 am

    I had heard that the Opel would be sort of a crossover vehicle, and that seems right. I would like GM to offer such a people mover here either as a Pontiac or Saturn or Buick. They could do what Saturn and Opel did with their Solstice sibling, and keep
    most of the body panels the same and change the interior and grill, lights, etc.
    Big question : where will the Opel be built?
    I assume that a 40 mile range would be far more comprehensive in Europe, where I believe that commute distances tend to be shorter.  

    (Quote)


  3. PaulW
    Vote -1 Vote +1PaulW     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 am

    Do you know if Chevy would consider using E-Flex for an HHR model? I love the Volt but need to have some more room, like the HHR has.  

    (Quote)


  4. Matt986
    Vote -1 Vote +1Matt986     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 10:18 am

    I’d actually like a crossover design rather than the Volt concept. Or a five door hatch like the Mazda 3.

    But that’s just me.  

    (Quote)


  5. OptimisticMF
    Vote -1 Vote +1OptimisticMF     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 10:25 am

    Lyle,

    Please find out if there are any long term plans for diesel in the US. I plan on leasing my first Volt, with the assumption that they’ll improve the technology and iron out some kinks in 2-3 years. I would really like to be able to go diesel by then. I would think that given the nature of the mileage extender (uncomplicated, steady RPM), it would be easier to engineer something to meet the tougher US standards than with a regular ICE drivetrain.

    Just my 2 cents, but that’s why I’m not an engineer…  

    (Quote)


  6. Steven B
    Vote -1 Vote +1Steven B     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 12:01 pm

    From my point of view, I love, love, love the Volt just as it is. I’m not praising the car, it can sing its own song, but I love the current design. I have a hybrid Civic right now, and love it. I have no need for anything other than a compact sedan, and the high-performance E-flex design is something I’m all about. Just my opinion, though.  

    (Quote)


  7. Jean-Charles Jacquemin
    Vote -1 Vote +1Jean-Charles Jacquemin     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    In reply to Kent Beuchert :

    You are right, the commuting distance here in Belgium is on average shorter than 40 miles.

    On the german site of AUTO, moto und Sport, Carl Peter Forster, head of GM Europe said that the Opel electric car could travel 60 km without using fossil fuel (that is just like the Volt !) Here is the citation in german) from the site followed by the web adress :

    “Was heißt “ultimativ gesehen”?
    Forster: Sobald wir in die Massenproduktion gehen können, um die Fixkosten zu drücken. Ich denke, dank der globalen Synergien im GM-Konzern können wir schon Ende 2010 so weit sein – auch für einen Einsatz in Europa bei Opel. Das schöne daran ist, dass wir hier im Gegensatz zum Hybrid bei einer Reichweite von 60 Kilomentern absolut keine fossilen Brennstoffe mehr verbrennen müssen, sondern auf regenerativ erzeugten Strom zurückgreifen können.”
    http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/wirtschaft_-_handel/hxcms_article_505519_14140.hbs

    As said by the end of 2010, we should have an “Opel Volt” on sale and I am ready to buy the first one.  

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  8. Dave
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dave     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 3:01 pm

    I like this design more than the Volt. Looks like there’s more head room and a rear cargo area behind the back seat with a liftgate. I wonder if my dog would fit back there.  

    (Quote)


  9. Brian
    Vote -1 Vote +1Brian     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 3:13 pm

    It doesn’t look like a crossover to me. It looks more like a Prius-sized vehicle, or a Dodge Caliber. It may look similarly shaped to a CUV, but it’s definitely much smaller.  

    (Quote)


  10. Apex
    Vote -1 Vote +1Apex     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 3:25 pm

    I guess it should be obvious by now to all skeptics that GM isn’t kidding about the E-Flex platform at all.

    Good info Lyle … keep it coming. :-)   

    (Quote)


  11. Steve F
    Vote -1 Vote +1Steve F     Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 8:02 pm

    I think it looks like the Opel Astra (soon Saturn
    Astra). Understand the Opel Astra is best selling car in Europe. Having it based that design would be good. Myself I would prefer a Volt based on a Astra type design rather then the orginal Volt. The original Volt looks unique and fast but do not think it is pratical.  

    (Quote)


  12. Bernd
    Vote -1 Vote +1Bernd     Says:
    August 24th, 2007 at 3:45 am

    Where comes this Foto from?
    Is there a Source available?. It would be nice to see it in an higher resolution?  

    (Quote)


  13. Estero
    Vote -1 Vote +1Estero     Says:
    August 24th, 2007 at 9:16 am

    Interesting photo!

    Lyle, what do you make of the battery pack? It appears to have round components rather than square or rectangular.  

    (Quote)


  14. Jean-Charles Jacquemin
    Vote -1 Vote +1Jean-Charles Jacquemin     Says:
    August 24th, 2007 at 9:22 am

  15. Questions
    Vote -1 Vote +1Questions     Says:
    August 27th, 2007 at 9:49 am

    # kent beuchert Says:
    August 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 am Quote

    I had heard that the Opel would be sort of a crossover vehicle, and that seems right. I would like GM to offer such a people mover here either as a Pontiac or Saturn or Buick. They could do what Saturn and Opel did with their Solstice sibling, and keep
    most of the body panels the same and change the interior and grill, lights, etc.
    Big question : where will the Opel be built?
    I assume that a 40 mile range would be far more comprehensive in Europe, where I believe that commute distances tend to be shorter.
    ==========================================

    Any European crossover will most certainly be too small for Americans and would have an upward size pressure should it come over.

    Either way, what you might not have remembered is that if it becomes an Opel, it will likely re-appear here as a Saturn in the future.  

    (Quote)

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