Vauxhall opens orders for Ampera E-REV

 

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Posted on 11 Jan 2012 at 11:18

Vauxhall has officially opened the order books for its new Ampera E-REV, confirming UK pricing and specification ahead of its showroom appearance in May.

The Ampera E-REV - Extended-Range Electric Vehicle - features a 1.4-litre 74bhp petrol engine which provides power to a 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which in turn runs a 148bhp electric motor to provide power to the wheels. In pure-electric mode, the Ampera promises a somewhat underwhelming range of 50 miles, but with the engine activated and charging the battery the vehicle should hit around 360 miles, Vauxhall claims.

The entry-level trim will include a DAB radio, seven-inch touch-screen control monitor, cruise control and alloy wheels. The middle trim, known as the Positiv, adds a standard leather interior, heated front seats, front/rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera to the mix.

Finally, the top-end model - the Electron - boasts a high-end infotainment system packing a satellite navigation system, Bose Energy Efficient Series sound system, DVD video player, 30GB hard-drive storage and voice-controlled navigation, telephone and music systems behind a colour touch-screen control system.

Each Ampera will include Vauxhall's Lifetime Warranty for its first owner, good for 100,000 miles, along with an eight-year 100,000 mile battery warranty. As a further incentive, buyers will be joined into a programme called 'MyAmpera,' which provides the telephone number and email address of a personal Ampera agent based at Vauxhall's head office.

"We're breaking completely fresh ground with the Ampera," claimed Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall's chair and managing director, of the launch. "The technology is obviously unique in a production car, but it's the level of personalised customer support we're offering that will be just as important to owners. MyAmpera reinforces this personalisation and will help us engage with our new owners throughout their time with the car."

The Ampera is priced at £29,995 for the basic trim, £32,250 for the Positiv and £33,995 for the Electron, each inclusive of the £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant provided by the Government.

Author: Gareth Halfacree