Opel Flextreme GT/E receives red dot design concept award

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The Opel Flextreme GT/E concept car has been recognized by an international jury for its outstanding design and has received the prestigious red dot award at a ceremony in Singapore.

With more than 12,000 submissions from 60 countries, “red dot design award” ranks among the largest and most renowned design prizes in the world. The red dot Singapore prize is awarded to the best design concept. The winners serve as a barometer of the future, previewing products to come. The award is granted to concepts by an international panel of design experts and is based the degree of innovation, functionality and quality.

Six other Opel models – the new Astra, the Insignia, the 2007 Flextreme Concept , the Opel GT, Astra GTC, and the 1998 Astra G – already are featured in past red dot design yearbooks.

“The high number of quality entries made this competition extremely challenging and, hence, winning the red dot an exceptional achievement,” says Ken Koo, President of the red dot design award, Asia. “We congratulate Opel.”

The Opel Flextreme GT/E was conceived at the European Design Center in Rüsselsheim and premiered in March 2010 at the 80th International Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. It captures the brand’s new design language, “Sculptural Artistry meets German Precision,” first introduced in 2008 with the Insignia and stretches it within an envelope optimized for aerodynamic efficiency.

The concept car was designed with a very close attention to airflow and weight-saving management. The small frontal area, low roof height (1308 mm) and a flat, enclosed underbody all enable the car to cleave the air with a minimum of disturbance. The Flextreme GT/E also explores the potential for active shape shifting. At speeds above 50 km/h, a vertical panel extends along the body from the air extraction slot behind each rear wheel-arch. These 350 mm-long side spoilers guide high-speed airflow around the rear corners of the car, further reducing the amount of turbulence.

Mass reduction measures for the body include the use of lightweight, carbon composite outer panels, polycarbonate window glazing and aluminum alloy structural components. Compared to conventional materials, these offer a 40 percent weight reduction, further contributing to lower energy consumption and increased driving range.

The efficient concept also includes the ground-breaking drive system already developed for the Opel Ampera. The Flextreme GT/E shows the versatility of this technology by displaying it in a larger, mid-size vehicle format. Despite its greater size and a maximum speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour, the Flextreme GT/E is projected to offer performance similar to that of the Ampera: a battery-powered driving range of between 40 and 80 km and, due to its range-extender, a total range of more than 500 km.

“Receiving a prize from such a respected organization, truly confirms once again that Opel is on the right track offering bold, dynamic style, versatility and state of the art innovations,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of design, Opel/Vauxhall.

Source: Opel (press release/media site)