Photo: X-Tomi Design
The all-new Chevrolet Volt was perhaps the biggest mass-market debut of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. In many ways, it show how the American automaker is taking its first steps into the future of transportation.
Considering that the outgoing Volt has a European twin, the Opel Ampera, we're really not at all surprised that a new PHEV from Russelsheim was rendered in a matter of days.
Over the sharp Corvette-inspired lines of the Volt, some soft edges were added to give the Ampera a European flavor. We especially love the green color and the less ostentatious looks, not to mention the tapered headlights with inverted boomerang LEDs. But X-Tomi Design's renderings are noteworthy because he chose to show the green car in posh settings, where electric car buyers may be inclined to go.
While the Ampera has an Opel or a Vauxhall badge on the front, it's not actually a European car. Production takes place at the same factory as the Volt, Hamtramck Assembly located in Detroit.
“After the eventual run out of the current-generation Ampera, we'll introduce a successor product in the electric vehicle segment. Our next electric vehicle will be part of our massive product offensive—with 27 new vehicles in the 2014-2018 timeframe.”
That could mean the Volt will not be carried over to the European market. But we think that would be a mistake. GM invested heavily into the development of the new model and the old one won the Car of the Year title in 2012, together with the Ampera.
Editor's note: Basically, all we're saying is the 2016 Ampera may not happen, at least not based on the Volt. But the rendering looks so stunning and we think GM is in the wrong. Have your say with a quick comment.
Over the sharp Corvette-inspired lines of the Volt, some soft edges were added to give the Ampera a European flavor. We especially love the green color and the less ostentatious looks, not to mention the tapered headlights with inverted boomerang LEDs. But X-Tomi Design's renderings are noteworthy because he chose to show the green car in posh settings, where electric car buyers may be inclined to go.
While the Ampera has an Opel or a Vauxhall badge on the front, it's not actually a European car. Production takes place at the same factory as the Volt, Hamtramck Assembly located in Detroit.
Here's what we know for sure
Last year, Opel's CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann made a statement on Twitter in which he discussed the future of the electric car. Here's what he said.“After the eventual run out of the current-generation Ampera, we'll introduce a successor product in the electric vehicle segment. Our next electric vehicle will be part of our massive product offensive—with 27 new vehicles in the 2014-2018 timeframe.”
That could mean the Volt will not be carried over to the European market. But we think that would be a mistake. GM invested heavily into the development of the new model and the old one won the Car of the Year title in 2012, together with the Ampera.
Other plans
Opel has never officially discussed its other EV project. But speculation suggests this is based around a bespoke EV platform, like the i3. It would be offered with a new 200-mile-range (320 km) battery for around €30,000, probably taking a sizable chunk out of the Tesla Model S market share in Scandinavia and other markets where it's possible.Editor's note: Basically, all we're saying is the 2016 Ampera may not happen, at least not based on the Volt. But the rendering looks so stunning and we think GM is in the wrong. Have your say with a quick comment.
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