Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid debuts at Geneva

Opel claims that it has already received 1000 orders for the Ampera, which will go on sale across Europe by the end of this year, at a standard price of €42,900, excluding any pre-existing government tax credits for electric cars.

"Unlike a conventional electric vehicle, the Opel Ampera can be the only car you need to own," says Alain Visser, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Opel. "The Ampera delivers it all: revolutionary propulsion, progressive styling, excellent safety, high quality and user-friendly functions, all combined with superb driving dynamics."

The Ampera features four driving modes to maximise its battery-powered propulsion system. There is a'Normal' mode for mixed everyday driving, a 'Sport' mode which sharpens the throttle response for slightly spirited driving, a 'Mountain' mode that optimises the hybrid system to deal with hill climbs and descents, and a 'City' mode that makes the most of regenerative braking and running the petrol engine to keep the battery as fully charged as possible.

The Ampera is able to travel between 40 to 80km on electric power, and that range is extended to 500km once the 1.4-litre petrol engine kicks in and helps power the electric motor and feed energy to the 16kWh lithium-ion battery. Total power output is 150bhp and 370Nm of torque, while the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in 9 seconds, and top speed is registered as 161km/h.