Comments on: Unveiled: Opel Ampera With Photo Gallery and Video

By: Brad Horton

Brad Horton — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:59:41 +0000

I like this version better. I might stick with my BMW just because I don’t want to buy an electric malibu.

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:22:40 +0000

I like the Ampera styling and color much better than the Volt.

If I am able to spend the amount of money GM wants for the Volt, then I want everyone to visually see that my car is DIFFERENT both in styling and in engineering from everyone else , the Ampera makes this obvious.

“Piano black” is highly desired–look at Samsung using this color on all electronics

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:01:28 +0000

They should have use the Opal GT body, It would have been cooler.

By: John Haystack

John Haystack — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:03:55 +0000

Wow, does the center stack look better in “piano black” than in “bathroom sink white.” Please, please Chevy won’t you give us an option for black.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:13:56 +0000

My vote is for black on the Volt, too!
I’m one of many here, so get going with your contacts there, Lyle!

By: Park City going Green

Park City going Green — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:32:36 +0000

Now that’s a great looking car! Get that to market (including the US market!) and I can put it alongside my Ford Escape hybrid.

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:19:56 +0000

OMG Nasaman, the Opel’s grille is non-functional as well!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-opel-goes-voltec-ampera-coming-in-late-2011/

Second paragraph: “Like the Volt, most of the front fascia is closed off to optimize aerodynamics.”

By: The most important part.

The most important part. — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:17:31 +0000

“The Ampera presented in Geneva was a white four-door sedan with a hatchback — and a set of front headlights that created a menacing, masculine impression. An Opel official demonstrated how the car could easily be plugged into any household electrical supply.” from http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/03/business/EU-Geneva-Motor-Show.php.

See, the existing infrastructure is already ready to start getting plug ins on the road. The grid can still improve as more plug ins hit the roads. This brilliant, obvious action of Opel to show how the Ampera just plain easily works in domestic settings, as is, starts to make up for GM’s recent horrible PR and marketing miscues with the Volt in the US. Oh, I forgot, GM is getting rid of Opel.

By: Jean-Charles Jacquemin

Jean-Charles Jacquemin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:38:05 +0000

DonC #98

You are probably right if electricity prices are staying at the low price we know now during off peak hours but in my country cheap nuclear eletricity may disapear because no new nuke plant may be built.
In fact I think I should apply for French nationality (they are building three new generation N-Plants right now).

Regards,

JC LJGTAWOTR !!

By: DonC

DonC — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:50:04 +0000

#92 BillR – Not that it’s a big deal, but for the 2011 model year, and the Volt will be a 2011 model, the EPA test will be five cycle, including a bit of US06 and cold starts. Until then the manufacturers have the option of using the two cycle urban/highway with a multiplier which we can assume gives higher ratings than the five cycle. FWIW keep in mind that the “Highway” is a misnomer. It should be called “Rural” since it’s a fairly leisurely drive down country roads.

#94 Jean-Charles Jacquemin says “I think other car makers could make parallel hybrids wih a smaller battery than the Volt to answers”

This would be possible but not really advantageous. First, having two propulsion systems and two drive trains is more expensive and complex than having two propulsion systems and one drive train. Second, and more importantly, the greatest benefit the Volt offers is the ability to use very low cost energy from the grid. If the battery becomes smaller then you are relying on the ICE, which means that you are going to spend six times more to run it, use twice as much gas, and emit five times more pollution (five times more initial starts).