Geneva Preview: Opel/Vauxhall Ampera officially looks better than Volt
by John Neff on Mar 2nd 2009 at 7:57PM 
Click above for image gallery of the Opel Ampera
Holden. Chevy. Opel. Vauxhall. These are the brands that we know will get a version of the plug-in Volt. Granted, the Europeans will call it the Ampera, but under all those models will be the Voltec technology that gives the sedan a 60-km (37-mile) electric-only range and a 500-km (310-mile) total range when the gas tank is filled up. At the Geneva Motor Show this week, General Motors announced that British Volt fans will be able to get a right-hand drive version of the Vauxhall Ampera some time after the Ampera's production start in late 2011.
In Europe, GM is testing a vehicle plug-in infrastructure with utility company Iberdrola of Spain, among others. One difference between the Ampera and Volt is that most European outlets supply higher voltage, between 220v and 240v, instead of the 110v plugs commonly used in the U.S. How this affects the car's charging time remains to be seen. See new pictures of the Opel- and Vauxhall-branded Amperas in the galleries below. If you only have time to look at one image, check out what they've done to the interior. Wow.
Video and more after the jump.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
Geneva World Premiere: Opel Ampera to Debut in 2011
March 2, 2009
Electric car with 500 km extended range
Geneva/Rüsselsheim. The revolutionary Opel Ampera today celebrated its world premiere at the 79th Geneva Motor Show. General Motors Europe president, Carl-Peter Forster, unveiled the extended-range electric vehicle and announced plans to put the car into production in late 2011.
The Ampera will also be offered with right-hand drive in the United Kingdom by Opel's sister-brand, Vauxhall.
"The Opel Ampera further demonstrates GM's leadership in the electrification of the automobile," said Carl-Peter Forster. "Its ground-breaking Voltec electric propulsion system is the kind of game-changing technology the automotive industry needs to respond to energy and environmental challenges."
The five-door, four-seat Ampera is influenced by Opel's award-winning design language of sculptural artistry meets German precision, incorporating several styling cues from the innovative Flextreme and GTC Concept show cars
"There could not be a more fitting way to celebrate Opel's 110 years of innovation in the car industry than by revealing the Ampera," said Alain Visser, GME Vice President Opel.
The Ampera's wheels are turned electrically at all times and speeds. For journeys up to 60 km (MVEG), it runs on electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery, and emits zero CO2. When the battery's energy is depleted, electricity from an engine-generator extends the Ampera's range to more than 500 km.
The Ampera can be plugged into any household 230v outlet for charging. GM Europe is analyzing the requirements of a recharging infrastructure for plug-in electric cars with energy companies, including Iberdrola of Spain.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz 8:04PM (3/02/2009)
I think it looks better than the Volt too... not that the Volt is bad looking btw. I'm more interested in the prices of both when they go on sale though.
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Aron Trimble 9:40AM (3/03/2009)
The Ampera is a car that I would actually consider owning... The Volt, however, looks so much like every other "hybrid" on the road it's sad.
If you are going to be innovative then go all the way!
jon 8:05PM (3/02/2009)
frankly, its appalling that this car really is better looking than the Volt.
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zamafir 8:37PM (3/02/2009)
Really? I'm glad to see GM can make the Volt look like a 2009/2010 production car vs the late 80's look of the volt. This is what the volt should look like, futuristic, good, and I'm shocked how much the black center console, vs the white in the volt, makes the car look a lot nicer inside. Inside and Out this thing looks great. IF there’s any business sense left in GM’s beleaguered managers they’ll toss a Chevy badge on this and call it a day.
jon 8:43PM (3/02/2009)
oh i agree. my point was not that this car looks bad, but rather that it was a mistake for GM not to make the version of the Volt for their flagship brand look this good, instead, we get a re-brand that looks better than the original
Mike M 8:09PM (3/02/2009)
Welcome to my nightmare...
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Kitko 8:12PM (3/02/2009)
There's also different ampere rating in Europe compared to the US standard.
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Jake B 8:29PM (3/02/2009)
Word... I still think the higher current will allow it to charge faster than in the US.
David 1:44AM (3/03/2009)
Good grief... this is so much better looking than the Volt it almost makes me sick. The interior especially, is sleek, sexy and just plain gorgeous. Come on GM. Give us this version and you'll sell them on looks alone!
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alfietcr 8:23PM (3/02/2009)
It does look better, i like it.
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BigWill 8:26PM (3/02/2009)
My only concern about the Ampera is what happens to the battery pack when roving gangs of disgruntled German youth set it on fire.
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Torrent 8:31PM (3/02/2009)
Damn! I love this. That Piano Black interior is truly classy. I hope The Volt gets that.
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z-man 8:43PM (3/02/2009)
I may not be correct on this, but the Volt's interior can be configured w/ the black center console. the red door panels make the inside look cool, but I just know that 10 years from now the will make the car look so dated.
and, oh yeah, it looks infinitely better then the Volt. ( and I am correct on this)
biggins 9:02PM (3/02/2009)
THIS CAR IS AN EMO KID!!!
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ZeitgeistXIII 9:14PM (3/02/2009)
Wow and we are bailing these clowns out? Geez if they do not bring this version here we should get our money back!
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octoberasian 10:03PM (3/02/2009)
Why is it that we can't get this kind of styling in the US?
I just find it unfair and questionable that European and Japanese automotive markets get different stylings which are, in many ways, much better than what the domestic US market gets from the "Big Three." And, not only them, but many of the imports from Japan as well such as Honda.
I'd like to know why.
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graham 10:59PM (3/02/2009)
@ JC and octoberasian and, well, mostly everyone on this site:
couldn't agree with you more, it breaks my petroleum-pumping heart (make that petroleum + electricity) to see all these beautiful cars offered across the Atlantic while we get tame, watered-down versions over here.
However... it breaks my heart even more because I know why this is. All uniquely designed vehicles here in North America are instantly lambasted by my friends (many who couldn't tell a Passat from a Taurus) as being simply "ugly".
A few unique cars sell well to start but they are not the volume leaders like the Camry, Altima, Accord (which went a little bold with its styling and lost considerable market share) or many of the gaining Korean brands. When I speak to my friends and their families they tell me how they consider cars like the Smart, Flex, Cube, PT Cruiser, HHR, Fit, Magnum, etc. as being "ugly" and, while everyone is entitled to their opinion - I don't think half those cars I listed are particularly handsome - the result is almost always unanimously against innovation in design.
zamafir 12:45AM (3/03/2009)
graham ur on it, the big issue (and you notice this reading any german, british, whatever car rags) is the average consumer in america does not have an ounce of passion about cars, they're appliances. Not the case in europe or to some extent japan. If the average camry buyer wanted more, we'd see the same sort of trends over here that we do in europe with models like this.
JRA 9:55PM (3/02/2009)
Because a Chevrolet Volt with different front and rear bumpers and Opel/Vauxhall badges is somehow more superior than itself...
Goobers.
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JC 9:59PM (3/02/2009)
Why do we get all the boring versions of all the cars made when Europe gets the most beautiful and most creative designs!!!! Does every company out there think that all Americans are "ultra conservative" and go for boring bland Accords and Camry's only! This car is stunning!!!!!! GM f**ked up the U.S. version(here we go again!), it looks like a Malibu!
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