Anybody read anything about Volkswagen in the news lately? Some sort of scandal? So maybe VW won’t exactly be emphasizing diesel vehicles in its marketing material for a while. But the upside of all that scandal-wracked bad PR is that Volkswagen’s efforts in the arena of electric cars will be redoubled. And this is a good thing. Plans call for two versions of the all-electric I.D. 2020 and 2021. Even the I.D. BUZZ microbus concept shown at Detroit this year could be out as early as 2021. So, yay scandal! But right now we have the e-Golf, and that is a good thing. I first drove an e-Golf, Volkswagen’s current entry in the EV market, several years ago when it was just a “concept.” Maybe it was an “engineering mule.” Whatever it was called, it was a joy to drive. The coolest thing I remember about that car was the way the drivetrain disengaged and allowed the car to coast when you lifted off the accelerator pedal. Every other EV on the market goes into regenerative braking mode as soon as you lift off the accelerator, which makes for what the German engineers call herky-jerky driving. The e-Golf is smooth right out of the box.
These are deeply carved into the front fenders and across the hood line. The new trapezoidal grille execution is slim but bold. The prominent wing-shaped chrome bar carries a large Opel emblem, which doubles as a socket for charging the Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept's battery pack. The upper section of the grille is used to admit cooling air, the lower portion being covered by a translucent panel. The absence of additional air intakes allows a low frontal area for aerodynamic efficiency and also enables the Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept to meet future pedestrian protection requirements. In profile, the Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept is distinguished by innovative, stubbed C-pillars. This floating design allows the glasshouse to be extended rearwards under the arching roofline, emphasizing the flowing lines of the side body. The car's dynamic character is further underlined by a fresh expression of Opel's signature blade motif, now a swooping swage line from the base of the C-pillar into the lower front fender. The translucency of the fixed glass panel in the center of the roof is adaptive, allowing sunlight to warm the interior in the cold of winter, but darkening for coolness in summer.
A duct at the rear edge of the roof is for additional cooling of the battery and electronic components. Integral to the Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept's expressive looks is the efficiency of the design execution. 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 21-inch alloy wheels are relatively narrow, to reduce wind resistance, and fitted with 195/45, low rolling resistance tires. Clear, flush-mounted trim inserts also minimize air turbulence. The Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept 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 saving which further contributes to reduced energy consumption and an increased driving range. The efficient concept also includes GM's ground-breaking E-REV drive system, already developed for the Opel Ampera. The Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept shows the versatility of this technology by displaying it in a larger, mid-size vehicle format. However, unlike a battery-only electric vehicle, the Opel Flextreme GT/E Concept eliminates any possibility of range anxiety through fear of being stranded without power. The small gasoline engine/generator is seamlessly engaged to provide electricity whenever the battery's supply becomes depleted. In this mode, the driving range is extended to more than 500 km, until the plug-in battery pack can be recharged or the car is refueled. The motor in the electric drive unit delivers a substantial 370 Nm of instant torque, giving lively performance and projected zero to 100 km/h acceleration in less than nine seconds.
After golf trips that saw me visit Texas, Georgia and North Carolina in the spring of 2015, along with a lengthy family trip to Alberta last summer, 2016 should be quiet by comparison. As it stands now, I'm planning to take only one golf trip in 2016 but I'm guessing it will prove to be a memorable one. I'm very excited to be visiting Nebraska for the third time in late June of this year. I'm excited to get the chance to play Doak's Red Course for the first time this summer and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing some good friends and enjoying the camaraderie at the 2016 5th Major. I still haven't decided if I'm bringing a friend to Nebraska to be my partner for the event or if I'll just go alone and pair up with another single. Lots of time for that decision! From there, I'll be making my long dreamed about return to the exquisite Sand Hills Golf Club.
