Like many of today’s automakers, Opel has a vision of what the future would look like. At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the German brand debuted its RAK e Concept, a narrow low-cost urban commuter that seats two. According to Opel, the RAK e has production potential.
The RAK e is a battery-powered four-wheeler built around a steel space frame. Intended to be ultra-lightweight and affordable, it weighs just 838 pounds (380kg). Opel claims that even the youngest of buyers could afford one. Design-wise, the RAK e has a tandem layout (like a motorbike) — one seat in the front and one in the back — and has fully exposed wheels.
Powering the Opel RAK e is a 49-horsepower (36.5kW) electric motor that draws energy from a five-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, allowing the concept to run from 0 to 60 mph in less than 13 seconds and reach a top speed of 75mph (120 km/h). Electric range is estimated at 62 miles, while operating cost is estimated to be only one euro per 100 kilometers ($2.19 per 100 miles).
Looking at the RAK e, we like what the future has in store, although we hope that vehicles like this don’t spell the end for more substantial vehicles. Make the jump for a video and more pictures of Opel’s latest concept in action.
