The Opel Ampera has yet to see the market, but an electric SUV version is already in the works, according to reports. The large electric sedan is the European equivalent of the Chevrolet Volt, and now that Opel looks set to remain firmly in the hands of General Motors, the Opel Ampera is almost guaranteed production.

In that case, we could see an Ampera launch as early as 2011, with the electric SUV version turning up in 2013. The SUV may be a stand alone model or it could represent a new range with petrol and diesel models, too.

Source | Automarket

Continue reading: Opel Ampera electric SUV

GM would have been the first company to sell an electric vehicle with extended range if Fisker had not presented the Karma in Detroit this year and if BYD had not released F3DM. Anyway, Chevrolet Volt will be in the minds of many people because it was the first car with that proposition to be presented by a major carmaker. In other words, it will probably be more affordable than any of its competitors. This is why Opel also aims to have its Volt on offer in Europe. And the name of the car in the Old World will be Ampera.

As we can see in these pictures, the car’s silhouette is exactly the same one presented by Volt, shaped by wind tunnels. Its range is also the same: 60 km only with its lithium-ion batteries. That leads us to think most of the technical specs will be the same. The combustion engine that generates electricity for Volt was said to be a turbocharged Family 0 1-litre three cylinder engine, which could lead it to run up to 1,030 km on a tank of fuel, but the new engine will be a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant.

The engine that really moves Volt ahead is an electric engine that produces 150 bhp and 370 Nm. Top speed is 161 km/h. Volt is 4.40 m long, 1.80 m wide, 1.43 m tall and has a 2.69 m wheelbase, with a 301 l luggage compartment. Geneva will reveal how close these numbers are from Ampera.

Source | Opel

Opel Ampera

Continue reading: Opel gets its version of Chevrolet Volt, the Ampera

Chevrolet has released shots of its Chevrolet Volt, that show the final look of this American hybrid and its technological aspects. You may as well save the photos at this stage, as the Volt itself won’t appear on the market until the end of 2010, while the new Toyota Prius and Honda Insight have got a jump on Chevrolet.

Chevrolet is still pursuing its hybrid programs though, with an agreement with LG to produce new batteries in its Michigan facilities. It’s not a bad looking car for the hybrid segment, though I don’t really get the shot of the flowers in the boot - economic friendliness taken too far when the norm is a set of golf clubs…?

Continue reading: New images of Chevrolet Volt

In addition to the presentation of the Volt, and the on the eve of the international debut of the Cruze world car at Paris, Chevrolet has announced the engines that will be destined to equip these two models, giving us some details about what we can expect.

Factory production will take place at Flint in Michigan, a city with some General Motors history. Investment in the project will be around 370 million dollars, and will be the base for the 1.4 litre, four cylinder production of “Family Zero”.

The engine will be created in two versions, the first, an aspirated one, will have power of about 100hp and will support the Volt’s electric engine. The second however, will be a turbo compressed unit of 140hp.

Continue reading: Chevrolet announces Cruze and Volt engines

General Motors is making a move in difficult times with the Chevrolet Volt, making an exclusive preview presentation to staff, in a gesture of appreciating the sweat and hard work of personnel in making this model possible.

The company is underlining the strategic importance of this vehicle, that at times took on chimera properties. The car will revealed around 16th September, celebrating 100 years of GM, although it won’t necessarily be a fully fledged example of the series. The only restriction for staff is to leave cell phones and cameras at home.

Continue reading: Chevrolet Volt: staff to get first look

One step at a time, even a chimera like the Chevrolet Volt is moving towards production, although slowly. Bob Lutz, for his part, continues to release information on the eletric from GM.

This time it’s the price that’s been revealed. According to the Detroit boss it will about 40,000 dollars, which is around 10,000 more than previously quoted. Future (patient) customers however, can count on such an ecological vehicle being a big incentive for the state (we’re talking about 7,000 dollars of contribution).

Despite the re-positioning on the sales list, Lutz says that the Volt won’t generate profits for GM, though this isn’t curbing developments on the project. As Lutz says, by 2025, “more than 25 percent of cars will be electric or hydrogen powered”, confirming some recent Dutch research on the theme. First in, best dressed, costs notwithstanding.

Via | Autoblog.com

Continue reading: Bob Lutz: "Chevrolet Volt will cost 40.000 dollars and will lose money"

After some news on General Motors’ plans for the Paris show, the revolution is that it wants to continue with the Chevrolet Volt: a compact hybrid that will guarantee at least 60km of autonomy, with only lithium ion batteries, in addition to the classic hybrid function of petrol, diesel or ethanol depending on the target market.

The original concept car, seen in the following images, was presented at the 2007 Detroit show, and the hope is to see a modern and minimalist style, couragious but close to current taste in cars.

Continue reading: Chevrolet Volt: price below $30,000