Geneva Show Will Mark World Premiere of Vauxhall Ampera Production Car

As part of its big Geneva offensive this year, Vauxhall has just announced that the first production-ready Ampera will star under the spotlight of the Swiss show next week. The car will arrive in British showrooms at the start of next year, sporting a price tag of under £30,000.

“The Vauxhall Ampera will be the first Extended-Range Electric Vehicle to hit UK roads and will give customers the unrivalled potential of emissions-free motoring combined with the real-world usability offered by its range-extender generator, allowing a total range of over 350 miles. In addition, British buyers of the four-seat, five-door E-REV will benefit from zero VED, TLF congestion charge exemption and company car tax of just five per cent,” stated the company press release.

The addition of four drive modes make Ampera one of the most diverse EV packages available. Drivers can choose between Normal (default), Sport, Mountain or Hold modes, via a ‘Drive Mode’ button on the dashboard, in order to optimize the car’s power management depending on driving and road conditions or his mood.

The production version of the Ampera uses the charge provided from a normal household outlet in order to travel up to 50 miles without emitting any gases from its exhaust. Thus, the juice from its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery is enough for the majority of average commutes, which the manufacturer says are under 40 miles.

“The Ampera is currently the only real-world solution for everyday driving. This will be the first car in Britain to successfully combine a revolutionary propulsion system, progressive styling, excellent safety and superb driving dynamics,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Managing Director.