Motor Show: Frankfurt 2007: Opel Flextreme

A generator is connected to the diesel engine for recharging the batteries on the move, and the batteries can also be charged from any mains supply. For many commuters, the diesel engine need never be activated if the batteries are recharged manually. A full recharge takes three hours.

The 4796mm-long Flextreme's rear-hinged rear doors, large transparent roof and pair of side-opening, upward-swinging tailgate doors all aid practicality, access and a sense of roominess inside, and it also shows an underfloor storage system which accommodates two Segway electric scooters, which can be recharged from an in-car socket.

To aid fuel efficiency the car's weight is kept low by the use of polycarbonate trim panels, aerodynamically efficient lightweight wheels and a polycarbonate windscreen. The fabric/mesh seats, anchored to the floor with a single track, are especially light too.

A panoramic dash displays information from the two external cameras - one forward- and the other rear-facing - fitted in place of mirrors. There are touchscreen controls for air conditioning, navigation and entertainment, as well as for the gearbox, which has only Drive, Park and Reverse settings.

E-Flex, the term GM uses to describe the Flextreme's powertrain, refers to the versatility of the propulsion system. It could go into production with a hydrogen fuel cell or petrol engine in place of the diesel, and could use hydrogen or petrol from a variety of sources. The Volt concept was first seen with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder E85-compatible petrol engine, and then with a fuel cell.

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