The Opel Ampera is the sister car to the Chevy Volt, sharing the same powertrain, interior and basic sheet metal, but with unique styling cues germaine to GM’s European brand.
Though we have seen several Chevrolet Volt preproduction vehilces on the road, only now are the first Amperas hitting the pavement.
The car is expected to begin series production in late 2011 for sales in Europe.
The Geneva Auto Show is set to open in Switzerland on Sunday.
GM is launching a real-world road trip of an Opel Ampera leaving from Opel’s headquarters in Russelheim Gernmanay, and travelling non stop 370 miles to Geneva. The first 40 miles will be purely electric, and the remainder covered by the gas generator.
AutoExpress claims the car will complete the trip from Germany “producing around 40g/km of CO2 and managing 176mpg economy.” Not sure how they came up with that, unless recharging is planned along the way.
“I am really looking forward to putting a lot of “miles” on our first Ampera prototype during this maiden test on public roads,” said Opel/Vauxhall Director of Electric Vehicle Implementation, Gherardo Corsini who will be at the wheel. “With 370 Nm of instantaneous, electric torque under my right foot, it promises to be an interesting and almost silent drive to Geneva.”
I aked Opel spokesperson Andrew Marshall whether they expeced to cover the distance on a single tank of gas.
“The drive to Geneva is a first for us in every way,” he replied. “We don’t know exactly what to expect.”
Sounds like fun. The car embarks on Sunday at 930AM CET. We’ll be watching. You can follow them here. Its a small world after all.
I suspect Nissan won’t be trying this trip in its Leaf EV.
Source (Opel)
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 8:00 am and is filed under Ampera. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+3
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:10 am)All eyes will be on the Ampera, but also, all eyes will be on the reactions of the Europeans.
This is important, because while those of us in this community are always deeply appreciative of all new Voltec advances, the very telling impressions of Europeans will clarify for many of us how Voltec is perceived, understood, and accepted in Europe. This will be really interesting.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:19 am)Greetings from outer space…
Looks like fun, A road trip in a spaceship. I wonder if we can figure the range extended mpg in US gallons from this? Oh, my posts do come from space…
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:20 am)(LOL),
I think Tag can help with that. (g.)
+5
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:25 am)“I aked Opel spokesperson Andrew Marshall whether they expeced to cover the distance on a single tank of gas.”
“claims the car will complete the trip from Germany “producing around 40g/km of CO2 and managing 176mpg economy.””
=========================
So, lets see….370 miles, 176mpg…
370 – 40 = 330 miles on gas, so you use 370/176 is 2.1 gallons. So, we now know the Ampera has a 2.1 gal tank!
Ok, that was just a joke, right?
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:27 am)Uh, they are actually bounced off a satellite, what were you thinking?
All this snow has put me offline a few times.
Cheers
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:29 am)If the trip is non-stop. then how will they be able to re-charge?
I guess they could stop for a 4 hour lunch break…..
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:31 am)Every once in a while I am thrown off kilter by the Ampera. I would like to know what kind of development tasks have been taking place, like have PPV’s or IV’s been built, where have they been built, when were they built. Are Ampera’s going to be built in Hamtramck or in Europe. Same kind of thing for other cars like the Cruze to a lesser extent.
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:35 am)I’m just getting the feeling that Volt and Ampera have 6 gallon gas tanks. Just a hunch as time goes by with these hints regarding usages and emissions rate.
It may be that the topic relates to someone here doing some (speculative) math regarding using the grams per mile of emissions and the total miles, but, what is left out are how many stops to recharge, if any, and, speeds and terrain (hills, etc.).
But on the other hand, there may not be any suggested real-world usage structure to the statements at all, just the lab specs. It’ll be interesting in any case, of course.
+3
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:36 am)Very good news. The more Voltec models on the road. The less R&D expense per model. The car really looks good.
=D-Volt
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:36 am)I do like the wheels and the rear end treatment in the bottom picture. The rest of the pictures show the Volt wheels. Personally I would like to see an *HHR* grill on it. But that would just be me.
I can not believe that something like this has not been done sooner in Europe. The price of fuel over there is just crazy. Though if they all have three gallon fuel tanks the cost of a fill up would be the same (joke). I would think they would just go nuts over this car.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:38 am)I posted the following on Opel’s “Posterous/Facebook” site*… “I wish Opel well on this drive from Rüsselsheim to Geneva! I hope to read your detailed report of the trip, including any stops for petrol and of course overall driveability. And I’m particularly interested in the Ampera’s passing acceleration —i.e., acceleration at speeds from approximately 40 to 80mph.”
* http://opel.posterous.com/tag/ampera
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:42 am)Very good point for us. Kind of goes back to last couple of days. How low can they go?
+2
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:51 am)One portion of the body looks really low to the ground in one of the pictures (behind the front left wheel). It looks like 5 inches or so from what I can estimate.
A variable height air suspension was never mentioned, but, might be worth considering for as inexpensive as that technology can be.
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:52 am)I’m getting a CS mode MPG of 43.2 MPG if they stop and charge 7 times.
I’m getting a CS Mode MPG of 62 MPG if they stop and charge 6 times.
+2
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:54 am)And that says it better that I ever could…
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:07 am)The thing I like most is the license plate.
The size and shape of license plates in the U.S. makes no sense. The width is too narrow, so the letters are too small. And it’s way too tall, making it look out of place on a low sport front end.
Why can’t the U.S. change to European sized license plates?
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:14 am)Since Switzerland borders on Germany, this is really just a day trip (along the A1 & A5 it’s 566 Km & should take only about 5hrs 12min according to Google’s “Get Directions”). It should only require (at most) 1 stop for petrol —unless of course Opel decides to make one or more stop- overs to recharge the battery.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:16 am)Just retraining the convicts would be a huge effort.
Not to mention that every single existing license plate holder is the wrong size.
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:17 am)If they make this trip with 1 full charge and 1 full tank(assuming 6 gallons):
Total MPG for this trip = 370/6 = 61.67 mpg
Generator CS MPG =(370-40)/6 = 55 mpg
Assuming that they use all 6 gallons of their gas.
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:18 am)Wow that’s a cs Mode MPG of 157 MPG. Incredible! This thing is a Prius beater for sure.
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:22 am)But RJW, they claim they get 176MPG.
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:31 am)I just can’t wait to find out what the MPG will be in the ICE mode for this car and the Volt. I hope worse case, it is at least the amount of the Prius.
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:35 am)Joe,
We have a friendly pool going on CS Mode MPG in the forum in the Engineering section. Come on over!
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:42 am)I know. I should have added to my post – “I would like to see how they get 176 mpg!”
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:43 am)Is anyone’s math using Imperial Gallons?
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:51 am)Wouldn’t it depend on the “kind” of road they are negotiating? If it’s straight as an arrow=constant high speed, if twisty =low speed. Lot’s of variable to choose from – BUT I doubt they can appeal to the folks like nasaman (g) and geriatrics (in body only) like me, for the entire trip. I’m *guessing* that they may want to emphasize mileage, with a sprint thrown in to document speed and agility. JMO
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:51 am)I tried KM/liter but that didn’t work. Is the new Avatar cat yawning???
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:55 am)I think outer space is nasaman’s territory (on a lot of levels)(lol), but I deal with “inner space”. Lots of that around here (and I’m not talking “just” about the wealth of intellect here)(g).
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:56 am)I like the Volt’s styling a lot better from the front. It will be intersting to get the details on the drive in terms of gas usage.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:09 am)“The Geneva Auto Show is set to open in Sweden on Sunday.”
Geneva is in Switzerland not Sweden.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:13 am)Just throwing out ideas here, but maybe they did the same as when they quoted the 230 mpg – use the “Utility Factor” (average daily miles driven) figure in the formula? That would a) pump up the number (legitimately, john), AND disguise the size of the gas tank.
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Let’s Just Get The VOLTS ‘ Wheels On The Road!!****No More “Stay Tuned”!
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:16 am)Dham.
The only way you are likely to see anything Ampera get made in Europe anytime soon is if somehow its get thrown into the 3.7B request for loans mix (that loan of course is really, really unpopular at the moment)…this scenario/likelyhood is also made worse currently by the EU’s close eye on the ‘regional money bribes for production guarantees.’
Even before GM decided to take Opel back, apparently Magna/Opel decided it didn’t make sense and they would revisit it again for gen II. 2015ish.
Nick Reilly, who now heads up GM Europe, already put out the required EU ‘plan for success’ and there was some renewed ‘talk’ about the Ampera moving to Europe after a run in Dham, but nothing else.
Officially, I believe this was the last word:
Reinhold Hoben, Opel/ Vauxhall executive director manufacturing, said the Ampera “will initially be built in America but will be moved to a European plant, although no decision has been made yet on where it could be produced.”
It is widely assumed that the Ellesmere Port plant that just got re-upped for new cars and has been promised a third shift would be the place it would go…but it is still in the lobbying stage of who gets dibs.
Plant union convenor John Fetherstone said, “We are capable of building the Ampera and should be the prime candidate for it.” …and they are ‘confident of securing the right to build the Ampera electric car’.
Officially they ‘plan’ on it. But have made no decision to do it…or where.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:16 am)Question: what kind of vertical movement is there? I assume there are mountains to go through? I’d say that is a major factor. I also suspect that they could really stir up interest if they make the trip with no stop for petrol. A 7 gallon tank with 55 mpg cs would easily cover this ground unless the mountains are a major factor (remember regen losses).
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:20 am)Maybe the Leaf should try this. It should just take four half hour charging stops at high speed chargers en route, and probably keeping the top speed under about 50 mph.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:24 am)I think the 175 mpg is the number that they can quote using the European “formula” for mileage. The won’t get that on a single 370 mile trip, of course. The 230 mpg number they use in the US is a composite of AE/CS that reflects what the EPA thinks is a typical usage pattern. I suspect that the EU has a different formula that comes out to 175mpg. I think that it is unlikely that the performance of the Ampera and the Volt are that different from each other.
BTW. Does anybody else think that the Ampera looks like a Saab? I can’t point to any one feature and say it is Saab like but if I saw one driving down the road for the first time my first reaction wold be to wonder if that was some sort of new Saab.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:39 am)The Google map shows the A1 & A5 mostly following the Rhine river valley if I’m not mistaken, which is well removed from the German/Swiss Alps. So there will be little if any mountainous travel.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:52 am)Yes I think you guys are correct. They are just quoting a generic composite MPG probably in European standards.
The link below provides a very good presentation on how the composite MPG will be calculated. Go to page 25 and you will notice that GM’s quote of 80% of all drivers drive less than 40 miles is not recognized. The number is 62%.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/pdfs/merit_review_2009/vehicles_and_systems_simulation/vss_05_duoba.pdf
+2
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:53 am)That front end is a bit over-the-top for my tastes, but I’ve always liked the Opel Lightning Bolt logo more than the Chevy Bowtie – more kinectic, and more modern, at least to my eye.
On a side issue, Toyota sinks further into the slime as their “insular event” continues to unfold – these details begin to beg the question as to how deep this corruption could go ? Could this signal the beginning of the end for the sanctimonious Toyoda cult !?
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/26/report-toyota-whistleblower-documents-trouble-house-panel/
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:53 am)Locked out. Will lurk.
Tag
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:00 am)Or an 8 gal tank w/ 7 gal usable would give 47.1 CS Mode MPG.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:03 am)The most interesting thing that will come out of the Ampera is the demand in Europe vs the US. I am curious how this will play out.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:10 am)I think demand in Europe should be better than the US as they have higher gas prices. I just wonder what they pay for electricity?
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:10 am)This is exciting for us CS mpg wonderors. They probably picked this trip because they knew they wouldn’t have to stop for gas (unless they do). If they don’t, we will be able to make some pretty educated guesses. Maybe they’ll just blurt out what their CS mpg for the trip was when they get there.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:18 am)Should be a big hit in france where most of the KW are nuclear and gas prices are european.
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:18 am)A bit off the topic, but that little roadside charging gizmo he’s plugging his Ampera into looks interesting.
Maybe it was in a previous post I missed, but is that type of charger already a product ou there somewhere? Kinda looks like it.
Electricity vending. Might be an interesting business to get into one day a few years from now.
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:21 am)7 gal usable comes out to 47.1MPG. Oh no that means Prowler won the pool. There’s no way that number can be correct!
Think I should announce the winner?
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:33 am)I just posted it in the engineering section of the forum. We’ll see what the reaction is.
Feb 27th, 2010 (12:00 pm)It’s the hood. Saabs used to (maybe still do) have the hood/fender seam over the side, pretty much like the revised hood on the Volt.
Feb 27th, 2010 (12:09 pm)Yeah, like I been saying, the lack of advertising for the Volt…
If you can do a European Cross Country Road Trip for the Ampera, then you can do an American Cross Country Road Trip for the Volt as well…they’re the same car.
Can’t wait to see The Great American Chevy Volt Cross Country Road Trip.
Hey Ed, what u think?
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (12:17 pm)Off topic, but is it because the Ampera’s side skirts are painted the same color as the rest of the body? The primer gray skirts on the Volt make the body look higher off the ground. I hope the Volt offers the option of matching paint.
+2
Feb 27th, 2010 (12:23 pm)#9
Right! +1
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (12:29 pm)#13
Works for me. +1
I have always minimized any potential problems with the low ride height. To be honest, my wife HATES dragging the spoiler and the tailpipes going in and out of the driveway. This way you push the button and the complaints stop. Priceless!
Citroen has been doing this for something like 50 years, although with hydraulics instead of air. So it’s not exactly an unknown technology.
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:07 pm)LOL!
I wonder how many new jobs would be created to change all the license plate holders…
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:12 pm)I still prefer a VOLT (dark grey) over an AMPERA. The rear end looks good, the front looks too radical to me at least…
Eugene (in LA)
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:20 pm)#34
Or take along the handy dandy “genset on a trailer”, LOL. Or strap it to the roof rack, although not so good for the CdA.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:22 pm)#32
Build it at DHAM and ship it to Europe? Man, you gotta love that. I hope they ship about a million to Europe.
+1 for your always informative work product. Best regards.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:25 pm)#38
God send that it shall be true. +1
Feb 27th, 2010 (1:30 pm)#43
Don’t bet the farm on that one, IMHO.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:07 pm)Its all very interesting. I have to say that I really like the Ampera styling better than the Volt – but there we have it…
Did anyone notice the slides of the Ampera? Look at number 5. What is the green small SUV in the background?? Anything new comming down the pike or yet another advanced Euro offering not available in the US?
Thanks.
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:26 pm)Something does not compute. AMPERA is a VOLT twin. Then why the significant diff in range. AMPERA makes a 370 mile trip hands down. Nitrobahn.com reports the first 40 miles is pure electric. At that point the ER ICE kicks in. Is the fuel tank larger? Or did GM confuse the range? In either case, VOLT has not made any claims of range beyond 300 miles. VOLT buyers are entitled to performance at least equal to its sister Ampera. In EU driving terms 370 miles is quite decent. The early PR claims 500 km range. Divide 620 in half. So AMPERA exceeds its PR range.
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:32 pm)Re building the Ampera in Germany.
I would expect that there would be a playout of the first IPO for GM and the payback to the U.S.A and the Canadian and European governments before the Crown Jewel is shuffled away. What if all that doesn’t happen, you would want to protect that nestegg.
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:35 pm)#60 Streetlight
Does the Ampera use a diesel engine??
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:43 pm)Maybe they use a very long extension cord?
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:46 pm)My wife’s Nissan Altima can do 370 to 390 miles on one 20.5 gallon fill up. If you’re driving easy on a long trip. Around town it’s half of that. Nice to know the VOLT/Ampera can do it on just 7 or 8 gallons.
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:46 pm)I wonder if there is some way to do this economically using electricity directly (seeing as how there’s plenty of it on hand). Kind of hard to get hydraulic or pneumatic pressure in All-Electric mode without an extra motor turning a pump or compressor. Just saying.
Let us hope that the discrepancy is explained by GM/Chevy’s N American caution, and not a larger fuel tank.
Feb 27th, 2010 (2:52 pm)If the same thing has happened to you as happened to “Jackson,” you will need to post using a different email account and name (that’s what I did). The problem is an automatic spam-deflecting program getting too big for it’s electric britches. You can email Lyle to ‘free up’ the quarantined mail, but that gets old after a week or so.
If you don’t have another email account handy, you can make a free one on yahoo mail or hotmail pretty easily. On the positive side, you can set up a new gravatar account for it.
**A WARNING TO ALL**
Take care when using the Ajax editor. If you make several edits to a post in rapid succession, you might find yourselves locked out in similar fashion (can’t prove it, but it matches my experience).
Feb 27th, 2010 (3:26 pm)I wondered about the Jackson–>Taylor conversion given that it’s quite the comedown. Sorry to hear about the problem.
Feb 27th, 2010 (3:29 pm)Given what you’ve said about how your tag line came to be, maybe you’d want to use “Cimetidine Alternatives” if you need to pick up another handle. LOL
Sorry you’re stuck. Bummer.
Feb 27th, 2010 (3:37 pm)Islander said at #59: Did anyone notice the slides of the Ampera? Look at number 5. What is the green small SUV in the background?? Anything new comming down the pike…?!
That green mini-SUVin slide #5 looks more like a ‘good looking’ (i.e., ugly) Renault utilitarian vehicle.
Eugene
Feb 27th, 2010 (3:52 pm)Just out of curiosity, I would like to know what the “driving experience” of the Volt is when you get it up to 100 mph. Maybe they can max out the Volt on the Autobahn in Germany. You can legally go 100 mph all you want on the Autobahn you know. There will probably be plenty of new Volt owners who are going to get it up to top speed at some point on the interstate … for a couple of miles at least … if there’s not much traffic, etc.
I’m sure the EV mode range is going to be pretty low. I’d like to know how quiet the Volt is in EV mode at 100 mph and how quiet it is generator mode when you are going 100 mph. The battery drainage and gas mileage data at 100 mph would be interesting to know about too.
I’d also like to know how well the Volt performs when you stomp the accelerator and try to pass someone on a 2 lane road or on the Autobahn … going from 40 mph to 80 mph and so forth. I pretty much want to hear about all aspects of the driving experience at all sorts of speeds and in different scenarios.
Feb 27th, 2010 (3:58 pm)I agree with others who have stated that it would be nice if the Ampera were to be built in the USA for a while. Now I also hope that they need to soon start building them in Germany as there are to many Volts needing to built here.
And if the real price is comfortably under $30.000.00 after the $7,500.00 tax credit then that time should happen quite quickly.
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:02 pm)I am certain that this kind of experience will be reported — eventually. I wouldn’t look for it to come from this early, “non-stop” range-proving test. Likely the Ampera will be a ‘right lane cruiser’ on this trip (to the annoyance of Beemer and Mercedes jockeys passing it, no doubt).
We will need to keep our eyes out for more from across the pond, since performance accounts are more likely to appear there first, for the reasons you give.
ZT / Jackson
-1
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:03 pm)[...] Vía | GM – Volt [...]
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:10 pm)I don’t know why my quotes never quote everything. Anyway, no matter. I’m with you on the Opel Lightning bolt logo. I think it’s especially suited to the electric drive Ampera, too!
Good luck to them on the drive. Keep fingers crossed nothing goes wrong. Not that I expect it to, mind you, but they are blogging it LIVE and strange things have been known to happen in life. I’m not sure any press is better than no press for things like this. Bad press has a way of haunting cars.
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:16 pm)#73
“La prueba del Opel Ampera en la vida real: 600 kilómetros por Europa says” [blank]
WHY do people do this?!!!
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:23 pm)If any part of the quoted item is highlighted, only that portion will appear in the comment edit box. If you don’t highlight any part of the quoted item, all of it will transfer.
If the quoted item is a response to a previously quoted item, you must highlight everything, including the original quote, in order to make it appear in the comment edit field (but it tends to look mashed-up).
Of course, you can delete any portion of the quoted text once it appears in the edit field (if done carefully to make sure that the “blockquote” statements are preserved), you can still have the ’set apart’ look of the quote for the portion that remains.
If you type your comment within the quoted text, it will appear to be part of the quote, so take care.
Hope this isn’t too much like “Dick and Jane use a browser” (do they still have Dick and Jane?).
Feb 27th, 2010 (4:47 pm)What i really want to know, is what are the sensors on the side of the vehicle?? OK, there’s your normal parking sensors front and rear, but the rear wheel arch definietly has a sensor on it too! at the front just above the headlights are some more things, but i can’t decide if they are sensors or popup headlight washers (though i’ve never seen those ABOVE the headlight).
Will there be a suprise announcement that it has auto parking capabilities? (we know it has a backup camera, and there’s surely enough computing power on board…)
Feb 27th, 2010 (5:09 pm)Baltimore17 at #50 said: Off topic, but is it because the Ampera’s side skirts are painted the same color as the rest of the body? The primer gray skirts on the Volt make the body look higher off the ground. I hope the Volt offers the option of matching paint.
I ALSO HOPE CHEVY WILL PAINT THE VOLT’S SIDE SKIRTS SAME COLOR AS THE REST OF THE CAR BODY. GERMANS DID PAINT SIDE SKIRTS BLACK ON MERCEDES CARS AND GREY ON BMWs ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. NOW (IN 2010) THEY DO PAINT THE ENTIRE CAR SAME COLOR. IT LOOKS MUCH BETTER IN ONE COLOR.
Eugene
+2
Feb 27th, 2010 (6:46 pm)Here are a couple of things to think about the Ampera.
I live part time in France and I predict the Ampera will be a bigger success there than the Volt will be in the US. There are four reasons.
First, due to taxes, gasoline is twice as expensive there as here. So gas savings are more important.
Second, due to the high-priced gas, the average owner has a much smaller car than here, so the Ampera will not be at a disadvantage due to its size.
Third, the standard consumer voltage is 240 volts, so the car will charge twice as fast.
Fourth, about 80% of France’s electricity is generated in nuclear plants. Since fuel is hardly a factor, but the enormous investment is, there is a huge loss when the plants don’t operate at night–which is the perfect time for re-charging. So night-time electricity rates will be very low.
Feb 27th, 2010 (6:51 pm)Test.
Tag
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:06 pm)OK, then, when I get my Volt in Oct who will join me for a cross country??? Sounds like fun!
+1
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:22 pm)Welcome Back
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:24 pm)Thanks Albert,
How many cents/ Kwhr do you pay for electricity. (US$)
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:34 pm)Just got in from a long workday.
I knew you would get here to “simplicate” and “add [humor] lightness”. (lol).
Looks like you’ve been dealing with some sort of “lockout” for the last 7 or so hours, Tag.
Hope it’s not your security/antivirus program being insufficient.
I’ve got this “Kaspersky Antivirus” and “Kaspersky Internet Security 30 day free trial”. I just love these security programs, and, there is no comparison with what I had before.
I just figured out how to open some really incredible report files. During those times when I made some really strong statements two to three weeks ago, it reports that there were something like 9,700* “events” that it blocked. (I probably rocked not just a few “boats”).
(Which tells me to work harder to be more diplomatic. Otherwise, I’d have not known about that with other security programs.) (*And, possibly more readership than otherwise known.)
I think it does far far more than what I ever had before.
I would very highly recommend it, it cost me only 35 bucks for the “one pc” install version.
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:50 pm)Pictures 3,4, & 6 seem to show adequate ground clearance. Probably could make a better guess if we knew the tire size. The show cars are typically lowered. I like to run slightly taller narrower tiers in the winter. The HHR has a set of snows that are a size narrower and taller. No problems but there is not much clearance. Some places will only sell OEM sizes, it would be nice to have an approved winter size tire.
Then again a easy way to increase ground clearance would also be cool.
Feb 27th, 2010 (7:53 pm)Another simple thing to consider is to have a retractable front air dam, that only is forced down by air speeds of, say, 30 mph. That way, it would be sprung-retracted to anticipate those speed humps in neighborhoods as well as steeply-pitched driveway entrances. (Approaching them at a 45 degree angle if possible might help there a bit also.) (As I mentioned before, any ideas I suggest become the sole property of GM as a contribution to further the Voltec program, in case anyone might wonder).
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:24 pm)WAY OT: “Locked out” was probably a poor choice of words. Over the last several days more and more of my comments have been blocked. When it gets to be 3 in a row, I get frustrated. Given my glacial typing speed (4 fingers and, on a good day, a thumb), it’s frustrating when the work never gets there. I type “by sight” as opposed to “by touch”, so when I wear the letters off enough keys I have to buy a new keyboard! Not surprisingly, my accuracy isn’t exactly top shelf, so I DO use the editor early and often – even though I proof every post first. But they get blocked *before* I edit that post. That “vague wording” satire post several days ago that DonC liked took a VERY long time to type. Well worth it – seriously.
I’d be seriously wounded if I had to change my name. You did so well making the shift, with style and good humor. I don’t know how long you’d used Jackson, but Tagamet is who I *am*. Other than my initial handle, which lasted a few weeks decades ago, this is who I’m known as on *every* site I’ve been on, but nowhere else has ever come close to the family on here.
RE: the Dick and Jane reading series, I’m pretty sure that they are collectors items now, but I can tell you that *I* used a well-worn set back in the middle of the last century (1950’s), Then again, I was in the 4th grade at the time (g).
I’m sweating about this post being blocked.
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:43 pm)Thanks, Dan. Right now I don’t want to change any variables as I try to sort things out. Although I *think* that I have my system pretty well buttoned up, as Bob says, “We can’t know what we don’t know”. Maybe my machine is a bot for the Chinese govt…
For now, I’m going to reduce the frequency and length of my posts.
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
PS I wouldn’t have thought that you’d rocked more than 6500 boats (g)
Feb 27th, 2010 (8:47 pm)Thanks!
Be well and believe,
Tagamet
Feb 27th, 2010 (9:22 pm)Tag,
Just for peace of mind (or is that piece of mind?), when you type in a long post, you should put it in your copy buffer, before hitting the Submit button.
Just highlight all your comment, press Ctrl-C (copy), and if your comment gets trashed, just start it again and press Ctrl-V (paste).
As a programmer these 2 (well, you could say 4) keystrokes have saved my sanity many times.
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:02 pm)Thanks JEC
I’ve tried cutting and pasting, but it either gets blocked again, I get a “You already posted that”, or I play “Guess the keyword” game unsuccessfully. I suppose that I could save them as txt files, and at least *I’ll* know what I typed (sigh).
Given how precise programming text can be, I can see how sanity would definitely be at risk. I remember struggling with *DOS* commands! (lol)
PS You GIVE someone a piece of your mind. You HAVE peace of mind.
This too shall pass,
Tagamet
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:13 pm)I was always told that a person shouldn’t give someone else a piece of their mind if they don’t have enough to spare. And if you go around giving others pieces of your mind, you *won’t* have peace of mind. The trick is to have a *sound* mind.
And “This too shall pass” is Biblical. It says in the “good Book,” “it came to pass,” which means, “it didn’t come to stay.”
Be Well (have a sound mind)
Michael
Feb 27th, 2010 (10:36 pm)hi Dan Petit #86 …
In the early years of Chaparral Racing they came out with an on-the-fly adjustable rear spoiler. This was an ingenious system whereby the upward pitch would increase as the steering wheel was turned left or right. This provided a metered amount of down force on the rear during cornering with a lifting of the force on high speed straights. This system was very effective and immediately banned from racing.
For the Volt and Ampera. Rather than a down/up front dam. The relatively smooth underbelly can be shaped to help reduce drag. The world of yacht racing has played with slotting, scalloping, and twin tunneling to reduce drag. Perhaps the U.S. Air Force could toss a bone or two?
=D-Volt
Tried to locate a video showing the adjustable spoiler. Best I can do right now is a generic Chaparral photo from 1966 (Germany).
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:13 pm)I think they are trying to introduce little air bubbles into the water. the bubbles then act like little bearings to break up surface tension between the hull and the water. I could be way off here?
Did the Chapparals have the adjustable skirts also. The would create a low pressure area under the car. This would help with down force to help the car go around corners faster. I think the ultimate example was the *sucker*Chapparall that had the snowmobile engine and big fan that sucked the air from under the car. I think the spoiler would also reduce drag, but I do not know by how much. Lowering the car is more effective in reducing frontal area and drag.
Back to that adjustable ride height thing again. Added complexity and weight vs. aerodynamic gain?
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:13 pm)Definitely off-topic, but I don’t want anyone to confuse Kaspersky Internet Security (which is very good) with Internet Security 2010 (which is one of the nastiest pieces of malware around). I recently spent a full week trying to get it out of my daughter’s computer, and ended up reformatting the hard drive. Yes, there are a number of programs and procedures which are supposed to be able to get rid of it, and I tried quite a few of them. This diabolical witches brew keeps digging itself deeper and deeper into Microsoft Windows every time you reboot. [SHUDDER!!!]
Yeah, Mac and Linux users, this is a good chance to gloat.
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:13 pm)The VOLT is gonna look really good in White.
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:29 pm)hi Red HHR #94 …
Yes, the fans literally sucked the car to the track.
Another way to go on the Volt/Ampera is with rubberized skin technology. In my years in the plastics industry. One technology we used to keep a sticky material moving across a surface is to rubberize the frictional surface. Not only change the surface, but also add a rotating component under the skin to, in effect, act like an esophagus.
Could see the underside of the Volt being speed assist tweaked to shape in this manner. Use of a bladder could be considered as well.
But you’re right about “light and simple”. A simple height adjust feature for the Volt/Ampera would be much appreciated.
=D-Volt
Chaparral fan effect.
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:51 pm)Hi Dave K,
If the fans were reversed the car would skate across the surface with little or no friction. Of course directional stability would be somewhat lacking. The big fan blade in the back just makes me think of a propeller. Then after that all I can think about is, if we could just add wings. I think it is some sort of problem with my gray cells.
Cheers
Feb 27th, 2010 (11:57 pm)You may be right, but, The VOLT is gonna look REALLY REALLY REALLY good in Red.
I will take that with a gray interior. All my best cars have been red with gray interior.
So does Tag have dibs on the blue one?
Cheers
+1
Feb 28th, 2010 (12:12 am)Air shocks? I think that would work on the rear axle as it is a torsion beam axle (I think) but the front being struts would have a problem with suspension geometry. Would have to add more expensive pivot points? Sure would be fun to have Nascar style “Jacking Screws”.
30 seconds with a air wrench you could have a Volt OutBack…
Feb 28th, 2010 (7:24 am)The rational for building the Ampera in America is to test the market first, before committing to building in Europe. Maybe they will use the reaction in Geneva to gauge the market, and move up the schedule. I cannot believe it will be anything but a big hit in Europe. Not only is it desirable like here, but they have high taxes on cars based on their rated economy and CO2 emissions. This is why that 176mpg figure is so important. I think these figures of 230 and 176mpg are foolish as a consumer guide, but are absolutely necessary for the tax calculation. This tax incentive, along with Europe’s higher gas prices will make the Ampera better value than ICEs. If it is cheaper, looks nice, reliable, and non-polluting, why wouldn’t everyone want one? GM should commit to building the Ampera in Europe now.
-1
Feb 28th, 2010 (10:43 pm)[...] some reason, this headline is “news.” Probably only to GM-Volt.com, who are all about the Chevy Volt (the Opel Ampera is the Volt’s European sibling). If you [...]
Mar 1st, 2010 (7:39 am)The Ampera is a very attractive car. Am I the only one who things the direct-on front photo of the white model looks like a Panda? Should be very popular in China
Mar 1st, 2010 (7:44 am)Valid points, every one, and I absolutely concur with your analysis.
Mar 1st, 2010 (9:44 am)Very nice looking car,
I wounder if I could replace the Ugly Volt front grill with the one from the Ampera, that would be nice.
or better yet sell the Ampera in the US rather then the Volt.
Mar 1st, 2010 (9:58 am)Usually I read all the posts before I post but today is an exception.
(I’m catching up on the weekend posts)
I prefer the front of the Volt and the back of the Ampera… wonder if THAT will be an option!
Mar 1st, 2010 (2:01 pm)Sorry, still reminds me of a white poodle with tear stains. Do a Google image search on
poodle tear stains
and the first pic (gwlittle.com)… well there it is. Perhaps this appeals to European tastes though.
CS mode highway mileage, now that is the conundrum of the year. I still predict it will be worse than the similar Cruze due to the additional weight and the energy conversions required, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
Mar 1st, 2010 (4:39 pm)Ah, I feel RECHARGED after the weekend. Just catching up on some posts. With all the talk about the height differences of the various “SHOW AMPERA/ VOLTS” and the actual pre-production versions rambling about North America and Europe, I thought I’d toss in a couple observations.
1) Many seemed confused re: The mix of photos available online of show versions and pre-productions versions of the Volt and Ampera. One interesting photo found on the LINK listed on the above article shows the pre-production Ampera that made the Geneva Show trip next to the show car on the same stage. Just like the show versions of Volt, you can see many of the tweaks and changes made to the latter as development from hot looking show car to real, mass-producible reality takes shape. Notice the Volt’s lower edges on the front clip are completely different from the silver and black show cars we’ve seen numerous photos of. Obviously wheel sizes and tire types differ quite a bit as well. Notice how the kick panel, lower skirt has changed on both cars. The rear clip of the Ampera has many noticeable difference as well, in shape, lower “ground effects” area and taillights.
2) Comments started on ground clearance due to the differences in the Ampera’s side skirts. Both Volt and Ampera pre-production units have different lower sides – assumably based on frontal ground clearance factors that are practical concerns vs. a show car which is engineered primarily for “wow” appeal in captivating attention to it’s sporty look.
The Ampera has body-color side skirts which have been shortened and straightened vs. the show car. The Volt’s charcoal grey side panels could be improved IMO – as on light body colors, the driver and passenger doors now seem to hang down into the grey plastic skirt with no continuity of line as on the Volt show cars. Notice the designers tied the show car side panels in with the low air dam . Engineers obviously had to raise the air dam and add a larger lower flexible lower “spoiler” to manage under car turbulence while raising height of the parts that could be damaged by curbs, speed bumps, potholes and driveways. Notice the pre-production Ampera (The one with the Volt Wheels and tire size) has no rubber spoiler below the bumper but has in it’s place an angled portion to scoop the air under the car.
Personally, I like the show car’s looks much better with both Volt and Ampera. That said, I fully understand engineering’s practical need to meet real-world requirements. We all know that those fat, low-profile tires and large wheels on the show cars don’t translate to high fuel mileage.
I like the fact we now can see what a white Volt will look like. But remember, it won’t look as good as the Ampera because of the aforementioned “hanging doors” look the Volt’s grey lower side panels create. So IMO the Volt looks best in the darker color spectrum as we’ve seen pre-production Volts in charcoal grey and black. In the darker colors you cannot see the unflowing lines created by the new plastic skirt from the side view.
I’m looking forward to other’s opinions ( as beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder ). To me, the Ampera’s nose is a bit uber-futuristic looking for my taste, but I would guess it has a slightly, slightly better coefficient of drag. My guess-because a flat-verticle rubber spoiler before entry underneath the car isn’t as efficient as a gradual-smooth angled surface. I don’t have a wind tunnel at my house though
. Has anybody noticed the two little “nibs” on the grey front lip of the production Volt? I wish a GM engineer could explain their purpose.
RECHARGE! James
Mar 2nd, 2010 (12:48 am)Ahhhh. That’s the mystery. I frequently have random bits selected, I suspect. I usually wind up editing the html directly to get what I want but sometimes I’m too lazy to bother. But, now, I can just pay attention to what I’ve selected in the first place! Thanks!
Mar 2nd, 2010 (1:39 am)The Ampera looks SOOOO much better than the Volt. I would so love to be able to buy a conversion kit of Opel parts, or have this be the GT version of the Volt.
Please release a version of the Volt like this as a performance “styling” package!!!