It's a long, low car, with its proportions exaggerated by the long arch of the roofline that ends at the very rear of the vehicle. Adams and his team have sought to reduce the aerodynamic drag as much as possible to maximize the potential of the drivetrain, and the result is a Cd of just 0.22.
The familiar Opel/Vauxhall grille is stretched into a broad mouth mounted very low, the extended nose section helping to circumnavigate ped-pro legislation and avoid a high-set frontage. The wing graphic that debuted with the Insignia features heavily in the front lamps – not just in the shape of the surround but also in the design of the lamp itself. This motif then continues to form the raised section of the hood.
The elongated profile features the Opel/Vauxhall ‘blade' shape – although given a slightly different interpretation here – before wrapping around to a curvaceous tail, with echoes of Insignia in the flip-up angle of the deck lid. Pronounced rear wheelarches, partly separated from the main body of the car, give something of the look of a Porsche 911 Turbo when the car is viewed from the rear. They also house aerodynamic devices that extend backwards at speed, squaring off the rear of the car and reducing the drag.
Adams points out that the team wanted to create something that wasn't easy to pigeon hole, and to that end they've succeeded as the Flextreme GT/E has aspects of sports car, shooting brake and sports saloon in its design. If this is a hint of the car maker's future design direction, then that future looks promising.
