Opel Maxx - to the Maxxximum

OPEL MAXX

by Paul Negyesi

Last year, at the Geneva Autoshow Opel revealed its latest city car concept, named Maxx. Some drawings in the enclosed press release which also appeared around the car in Geneva showed various bodystyles, even suggested a DTM racer.

Just before this years' Geneva show, Opel released a new material about the running prototype, named Maxx 2. There's no official word about the destiny of the car, but who knows - maybe a competitor to the Swatchmobile is in the cards...

The heart of the Maxx 2 is a new 973 cc three-cylinder ECOTEC engine, capable of 37 kW (50 hp) at 5000 rpm. The max. torque is 90 Nm at only 2500 rpm. The structure of the lightweight unit keeps many interesting features like 4-valves per cylinder, two hollowed overhead camshafts. According to the factory these camshafts are 590 g lighter than the usual ones. The camshafts are driven by chain. A hydraulic gadget keeps the chain always tight.

The engine weighs only 82.5 kg which is a mere 12.5 kg lighter than the current smallest Opel powertrain: the 1.2 litre from the Corsa.

Currently Opel constructed two running models. The bodies are made of extruded aluminum panels. Crash tests revealed that the aluminum panels which have been welded together to create the frame with the help of a rollbar bring as much safety as the bigger models do. But twin-airbags, ABS, 3-point safety belts and other safety equipments are all parts of the pack.

As seen in the pictures only a 2-door version exists but the designers already made a scale-model of a racing roadster.

Another clever touch is the transmission. As seen on motorbikes its a sequential type and the gears are changed by an electro-motor with the help of a computer so it's set to be absolutely smooth. The car rides on magnesiumwheels (size: 145/65R15).

The interior is a bit sketchy: the seats are not fully developed, the intstruments are fake. But Opel promises individual choices, like navigating system, mobile phone, various trimming options. The doors and fenders on one of the prototypes are made of carbon fiber, instead of aluminum.