Opel has the appearance of an automaker looking to make a return to form. After announcing a five-year product plan that includes revamping 80 percent of its lineup along with cutting a whopping 20 percent of its workforce, Opel says that it will return to profitability within two years. Now, the automaker has announced that it will attend the Geneva auto show with a new alternative-propulsion vehicle.
Not much is known about the car -- even its name is still a secret -- but it will almost certainly employ the Voltec powertain found in the Chevrolet Volt, as well as the Opel Ampera and Cadillac Converj. The concept's grille not only specifically spells out "VOLTEC," but the emblem has an electronic circuit design and the pattern of the charging outlet found on the Volt, strongly suggesting the hybrid powertrain. An opening in the grille also suggests a need for cooling, meaning there is an internal combustion engine under the hood as found in the Volt. General Motors has often said it hopes to base more models on the Volt as a way of driving down the cost of the technology.
It's possible the new concept will be larger than the other Voltec vehicles though, as Opel says it will prove that "size and comfort do not have to be sacrificed for a vehicle to be environmentally efficient." Opel has also announced plans for an extended-range electric vehicle alongside the Ampera.
Thanks to: Motor Trend
