The 2010 Opel Corsa, Flextreme GT/E electric concept, final version Opel Ampera and the new Opel Meriva all appeared at the Opel stand at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. While the Opel Ampera with its range extending technology is now ready for its 2011 roll-out, the Flextreme GT/E represents another new electric-based model for Opel. It also uses the EREV architecture with range extending principles, using an electric motor with 163 hp, 16 Kw lithium batteries and a 1.4-litre engine with 72 hp. It has a total range of 500 km and an average fuel consumption of 1.6 l/100 km, with CO2 emissions of 40 g/km.

The new Opel Meriva with its Flexdoors is also on show at Geneva, displaying a vehicle that is taking on more ‘people mover’ features on a model that while larger, is still classed as a compact MPV. Also on display is the new 2010 Opel Corsa which, with its new makeover, should only continue the success of one of Europe’s most popular cars.

Opel stand live pics Geneva

Continue reading: Live at Geneva: new Opel Meriva, Corsa, Opel Ampera and Flextreme GT/E concept

The Opel Ampera’s first image has been released, although the presentation as such is actually a trip from Rüsselsheim to Geneva, where it will likely appear at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The Opel Ampera is the European sister to General Motors’ other electric car, the Chevrolet Volt. After the initial Ampera concept was presented at last year’s Geneva show, it’s going into production as a “range extending” vehicle, and not a hybrid car.

The Ampera front has undergone some slight changes, and front indicators are now included in the boomerang-shaped headlight set-up. The rear vision mirrors also include indicators but the overall profile and side design are so similar that this version looks pratically identical. The Ampera has a Voltec platform with a 1.4-litre aspirated engine with 100 hp and range extender. The battery/fuel combination gives the Ampera a 60 km zero-emission range, and a 500 km extended range. The fuel motor acts as a generator to the batteries, which can also be recharged via a 230V socket. For more details on how it works, see the Ampera website.

Continue reading: Opel Ampera first official pic

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

The new Opel Astra will have an electric version that will debut no earlier than 2014. The Astra electric will utilise Voltec technology, the same on the Chevrolet Volt and the Opel Ampera. The technology is the key feature, as further versions of the Volt and Ampera are not planned and Voltec can easily migrate to other models.

The new five door Astra will appear at the Frankfurt show this year, while the Sports Tourer family will debut next year. The three door GTC version will also emerge in 2010, while the OPC will come out in 2011.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: Astra to go electric in 2014

Opel has presented its new Ampera model at the 2009 Geneva show, revealing a completely new model for the company. The biggest change is in Opel’s environmental outlook with the Ampera cutting CO2 emissions from 90-100 g/km of current models, to just 40.

This is not a step, but a jump into the future and hybrid models for Opel, even though the Ampera will not be available until 2011. Frank Weber from Opel, has also declared that the price has not been decided yet, but for this kind of innovation, we’re prepared to be patient.

The Ampera is an extended range electric vehicle, with combined electric and small four cylinder petrol engine: a 1.4 litre, 100 hp. The fuel motor acts as a kind of generator, or range-extender, given the car a range of about 600 km. The lithium ion batteries can be re-charged with a normal 230V socket. Have a look at the official Opel Ampera pics below.

Continue reading: Live at Geneva: Opel Ampera gallery

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