Autoblog

GM is not going to let the Volt or its E-Flex powertrain get lonely. The first Volt -- the one due in late 2010 -- hasn't been finished yet, yet is so popular that GM is publicly theorizing about how far it can spread the technology through the empire. Ideas include a smaller car with a smaller battery pack that could go 20 miles on pure electric, and be much cheaper. A proper wagon, just "a little bit bigger," could also make the cut.

And those variants don't all need to be Chevrolets. Other GM brands will certainly be blessed with Volt technology, if not an outright case of brand engineering. Cadillac is one of the wolves thought to be circling the Volt's henhouse, and using Volt systems in a Caddy might allow GM to make a profit on such a car without tax breaks. If there were a more economical Volt with a shorter electric range, Saturn would seem to be a prime candidate.

It looks like the sole E-Flex powertrain option not planned is an electric-only car, one without a range-extending gasoline engine. GM feels that people would find it too risky to have no backup. But back to that first car, the plain vanilla Chevy Volt that's still two years away from showrooms – a Volt team member doesn't appear to have forgotten the prime directive: "You always have to do the first car right and well." Amen.



[Source: CNN Money]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Flexstreme.

The first Chevy Volt and its E-Flex brethren are still more than two years away, but vice chairman and corporate quote machine Bob Lutz is already targeting 2020 for 1 million annual worldwide sales. The lofty target would go a long way towards the General's goal of meeting tough fuel economy and CO2 standards in the U.S. and Europe, while also providing customers a mass-market choice that can run mainly on electricity. While E-Flex will be a big part of GM's long-term plans, the technology will be slowly introduced to the buying public and ramped up as battery costs drop. Europe will get 30,000 E-Flex equipped vehicles in 2011, but at a starting price of about £32,000. GM introduced its E-Flex based Flextreme concept last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

We're excited about any vehicle that promises 40 miles on electricity alone and 150 mpg or more for extended driving. Here's hoping we see 1 million units in 2020 or even before, and lets hope Mr. Lutz, who will be nearly 90 by that time, is around to see it.



[Source: Times Online]

Click above for more shots of the Opel Flextreme concept

When the Volt concept was first unveiled, GM was not sure how to badge European versions of the E-Flex cars. Apparently, the decision has been made and the first Euro-bound EV's from GM will be badged as Opels, with a Vauxhall version coming shortly thereafter. All three models of the E-Flex chassis will be built in Detroit atop the next-gen Delta compact car platform which was designed to carry a large lithium ion battery pack along with a range-extending engine. Though the Europeans would likely favor a diesel powerplant, it seems that the first-generation of all three E-Flex vehicles will use a gasoline-powered engine for on-the-fly battery recharging.

It goes without saying that the Volt and its Euro-clones will be the most expensive vehicles built on the Delta platform, with U.S. pricing estimated to be at least $40 grand. Across the pond, the Opel and Vauxhall E-Flex's will be saddled with at least a 10,000 euro premium. The price of gasoline, which is significantly higher in Europe than in the States, along with any government assistance for purchasers of the EVs, will determine how quickly customers will recoup that added investment.


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

If the Chevy Volt were a 150 mpg dairy cow, the General's marketing department would have a hand on every udder. The Volt is still more than two years from production, and the series hybrid is all over the Internet, TV, and magazines. When a vehicle promises as much as the Volt does, though, any update is big news. This time, engineers have come up with a computer algorithm to accelerate battery durability testing. The test decreases battery testing from ten years to two by duplicating real-life vehicle speed and cargo-carrying conditions in a controlled environment while constantly recharging the batteries. The next step for the Volt is test mules that can put GM's e-Flex system through more unpredictable conditions like snow storms and Michigan potholes.

Since the Volt's 375-pound battery pack resides down the center of the car and beneath its rear seats, GM had some unique packaging issues to optimize interior space. Volt design director Tim Greig described the Volt's four seats as far apart from one another, which gives the vehicle's occupants more personal space. Designers had to be keenly aware of aerodynamics when designing the Volt, which means a lower roof-line, yet a 6' 2" adult can fit in any of the four seats. For more on the Generals Chevy Volt update, go to Autoblog Green, or hit the jump to check out GM's press release.

Click image for a gallery of the Saturn Flextreme

At its annual dealer meeting in San Francisco, what's described as having been a "passing remark" seems to be generating some buzz. Automotive News reports that a GM spokesperson said that the Chevy Volt's underlying technology could make its way into offerings from the automaker's other brands. While the report describes an excited dealer's reaction, the idea of shared E-Flex itself is hardly surprising. For instance, we've seen E-Flex concepts for Saturn/Opel (Flextreme) and Cadillac (Provoq) already, and sharing the tech makes sense when you consider that consumer interest will probably be high whenever the Volt is ultimately produced, and spreading the wealth gives GM multiple avenues (and price points) at which it can cash in on the investment. The General already shares engines and platforms among its brands, so why not E-Flex? It seems like such a natural thing to do, maybe that's why the comment about sharing it was made in passing to begin with. The General's been telegraphing this move through the concepts it's released over the last year.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

click above for more live high-res images of the Cadillac Provoq Concept

We've already covered Cadillac's Provoq E-Flex fuel-cell vehicle during its first public appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, but GM also rolled it across the stage here in Detroit. There were no additional technical details or hints towards production plans (either for the E-Flex powertrain or the BRX crossover that this design represents), but we at least got to spend a few minutes up close and personal with the concept to snap some shots of the whiter-than-the-pure-driven-snow interior. Also note the chromed cowl vent. Oh, and the Provoq wears what has to be the skinniest tires we've seen on a concept car in recent memory.

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Cadillac Provoq at CES

Fresh from the floor of the Sands, where GM supreme leader Rick Wagoner delivered the CES keynote, we have photos of the Cadillac Provoq fuel cell concept, courtesy of our own Sam Abuelsamid. The Provoq, as you likely know by know, makes use of the E-Flex architecture that also underpinned last year's Chevy Volt and Opel Flextreme concepts. If you like what you see, plan on seeing more of it in the not-too-distant future. The styling of the Provoq is likely very close to what we'll see when Cadillac eventually pulls the wraps off its upcoming BRX crossover. That's down the line, however. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for our first look at the Provoq in the metal.

Click on the Cadillac Provoq concept for a high-res image gallery

Following the introductions of the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Flextreme during 2007 auto show season, Cadillac is bringing forth a third design based on the E-Flex architecture. The Cadillac Provoq concept is intended to help give the brand an image of premium sustainability by updating the fuel cell E-Flex powertrain that was shown in a Chevy Volt at the Shanghai Motor Show last year. The Provoq is a luxury crossover design that's considerably larger than the Volt.

With updated Cadillac styling cues on a 180-inch long CUV body, it's stretched 10 inches longer than a Volt to allow comfortable seating for five passengers. The Provoq is built around GM's fifth-generation fuel cell stack combined with a 9kWh lithium ion battery pack. The electrical energy is used to power a 70kW AC motor driving the front wheels and a pair of 40kW hub motors at each rear corner. Like the other E-Flex vehicles, the Provoq has plug-in capability and the battery has enough capacity for about twenty miles of driving range. Combined with the 6kg of compressed hydrogen gas stored in its two tanks, the Provoq has a total range of about 300 miles. Clay Dean's Cadillac design team incorporated some of the aerodynamic lessons learned by the Volt crew, including thermostatically controlled slats in the grille to minimize drag when cooling air flow isn't needed. Check out AutoblogGreen for more details on the Provoq concept.

UPDATE: More high-res pics added to gallery, now 23 total.

[Source: General Motors, AutoblogGreen]

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Opel Flextreme Concept

For those unfamiliar with the suicide-style rear door, it's basically a car door with the hinges located closer to the rear of the car, usually on the C-pillar. The design isn't new, but it recently had a renaissance with cars like the Mazda RX-8 and Rolls-Royce Phantom adopting the unique style.

The rear opening doors will soon be featured on some General Motors products, as revealed by its Vice Chairman Bob Lutz on his blog. GM recently previewed its design, dubbed FlexDoor, on its new Opel Flextreme at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. Engineers were able to do-away with the center B-pillar, which means opening both doors on a single side of the car leaves one giant opening the size of two doors. This was important because designers learned from focus groups that people, especially those who use child-seats, wanted easier access to the rear compartment.

The Flextreme itself is only a concept and Lutz was coy about when we might see them on a production car, so we suggest you don't hold your breath.

[GM Fastlane Blog via The GM Source]

Click to enlarge the Opel Flextreme E-Flex concept

We all got a premature look at the Opel's rendition of the GM's E-Flex platform over the weekend, but now we can reveal more details about the new Opel Flextreme concept. The third car uses a 1.3L common rail diesel engine as its range extender. Unlike the four door coupe/sedan styling of the Volt, this one has a mono-box layout with side-opening gullwing-style hatches over the rear cargo area.

The Flextreme has picked up styling cues from GTC concept coupe that debuted last March in Geneva, including the scalloped door panels and rear quarter shoulders. Aside from the styling, another unique feature of the Flextreme is the special cargo hold in the back that comes loaded with two Segway scooters. To ensure that the Segways are always ready to go, the compartment is equipped with charging points for the scooters.

General Motors has now done computer simulations of E-Flex running the European test cycle (ECE R101) that's used to determine fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The Flextreme scored a CO2 emissions rating of 40g/km which puts it at less than half of the best current production car the Smart ForTwo CDi which scores 88g/km. For more on the Flextreme differences from the Volt and the current state of development, check out AutoblogGreen.

[Sources: General Motors, AutoblogGreen]