Cadillac Provoq

The Cadillac Provoq is a concept car that points in two directions on the one hand, it shows off the styling of the Cadillac BRX that will arrive in Britain in late 2009 or early 2010, on the other it showcases parent company GM's E-Flex technology.

Cadillac BRX
Sharing a platform with the Saab 9-4X and parts with the Vauxhall Antara and Chevrolet Captiva, the BRX will pitch against the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 in the 4x4 market.

The engine range has not been revealed, but will include four- and six-cylinder petrols and diesels, including a 255bhp 3.6-litre range-topper. A hybrid-electric model is also possible.

E-Flex latest
Since unveiling the Chevrolet Volt at the Detroit motor show last year, GM has issued a raft of updates about its E-Flex concept, although signs of any cars featuring the technology making it into production have remained sketchy at best.

The Provoq is another concept car, although the fact that E-Flex is being applied to a premium brand underlines GM's belief that it can build eco-friendly cars that still appeal to luxury buyers.

Its front wheels are powered by a 94bhp electric motor, while its rear wheels each have a 54bhp motor driving them. It has a top speed of 100mph and a 0-60mph time of 8.5sec.

Chargeable from mains electricity, the car has a 20-mile electric-only range and a further 280-mile range from its compressed hydrogen gas tanks, with the only emissions being water.