Geneva Video: Opel Meriva Concept & Agila Minicar

GM Europe’s Chief Marketing Officer Alain Visser, talks about Opel’s Geneva Motor Show stars, the Meriva Concept (see here) with its rear-hinged rear doors and the all-new Agila minicar (click here) that will be launched shortly in the European market. The video includes shots from both vehicles at Opel’s Geneva Show booth. –Video right after the jump

Frankfurt Preview: Opel E-Flex Concept

Chevrolet’s electric powered Volt Concept has just discovered its European alter ego in the form of Opel’s, Frankfurt Show E-Flex Concept. The two concepts share the same basic architecture underneath their differently styled bodies. The only variation is that, whereas the Volt was equipped with a turbocharged, 1.0lt, three-cylinder gasoline engine, the E-Flex takes advantage of Opel’s 1.3lt turbo diesel engine. However, the basic principles remain the same as both models are powered by a front-mounted electric motor that runs on electric power until the Lithium-ion batteries are drained out. -Continued after the jump

Once that batteries are dead, the diesel engine kicks in to “feed” the onboard generator producing electricity while the car is operating. The electricity is then stored in the batteries. As with the Volt, the E-Flex’s Lithium-ion batteries can be recharged by plugging into an electrical outlet. We’ll have more on the E-Flex as soon as Opel releases all the details.