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Opel Flexstreme concept

By Tim Pollard Motor Shows 11 September 2007 03:13 Opel Flextreme: the lowdown Vauxhall’s European sister brand Opel showed off its surprise at Frankfurt today – the new Flextreme concept car. Under that voluminous monocab body lies GM’s E-Flex plug-in hybrid system. It’s the latest trend in hybrids, allowing up to 30 miles of zero-emissions electric operation, after which the diesel engine kicks in to recharge the battery.

VW Up Taxi Concept (2010): first official pictures

Volkswagen has shown off its Up Taxi Concept at a special unveiling in London today. The Up Taxi is VW's vision of a quirky and environmental rival to the classic London black cab, the Hackney carriage, and offers a very good idea of what the Up will eventually look like. The concept has luxurious leather seats and big touchscreens in the front and rear.

Honda Civic (2011) at Frankfurt motor show

This is the ninth generation of Honda’s small car star, which has gestated from trend setting (Civic Mk1 of 1972) to stylistically dull if technically advanced (most) to sci-fi-style wacko but technically mainstream (Civic Mk8). New Civics, over the years, have been about as easy to forecast as David Beckham’s next hairstyle as Honda engineers – never the most predictable bunch – veer from brave to bashful. The new Civic, unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, is eye-catching although less off-centre than generation eight, and is closed basely mechanically on its predecessor.