Geneva Preview: Opel Ampera teased ahead of Swiss debut

General Motors is bringing its Voltec propulsion technology to our friends across the pond, and as suspected, an Opel-badged version will join the Chevrolet Volt in Europe. The Opel Ampera will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March wearing a new front fascia inspired by the production Insignia, along with a few cues pulled from the Flextreme concept. As for the rest of it, expect most the Volt's interior and body panels to carry over with minor tweaks, along with the Voltec drivetrain that can transport four of the Ampera's occupants for 60 km on electric power alone. So a Volt by any other name would... still be an extended-range electric vehicle. Hit the jump for the press release.


PRESS RELEASE

Opel To Reveal Ampera Electric Car At Geneva Motor Show

Opel Ampera to feature innovative GM Voltec technology

Rüsselsheim. Opel has announced Ampera as the name of its revolutionary extended-range electric car. The five-door, four-seat Opel Ampera will be revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show (March 5-15).

"With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving," said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer.

GM's ground-breaking electric propulsion technology, called Voltec, operates differently from other advanced propulsion systems. For short trips up to 60 km, the Ampera will run only on lithium-ion battery power charged via a standard 230v outlet. For longer distances, the car will continue to drive on electricity that is generated by a small internal combustion engine.

The Ampera will be well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers. For example, approximately 80 percent of German drivers travel less than 50 km daily.

Additional information on the Opel Ampera will be released March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Source : http://www.autoblog.com