mmarshall

Those of you who follow my posts and reviews know that, for several reasons, I'm generally not a fan of the Chevrolet Volt. I consider it over-hyped, overpriced, and a ergonomic disaster on the dash, console, and the shift-lever parking-hole. Other extended-range plug-in hybrids like the Prius Plug-in, and even some pure-electrics like the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric, and Mitsubishi i-MiEV can usually be bought for thousands less than the Volt (even independent of the tax-credits), although, in honesty, I don't think much of the i-MiEV either.

Well, for those of you who do like the Volt, especially in Europe (and, of course, I always invite other opinions....mine certainly aren't infallible), it is available in Britain under the Vauxhall Ampera nameplate (Vauxhall, of course, being GM's British subsidiary and Opel their German one). And, regardless of what I personally think of it, this is indeed a car that, even if expensive, will stretch your gas-dollar out to a point that few other vehicles short of a full-electric can match.
(But, of course, full-electric cars don't provide free energy either.....someone has to pay the added electric-bill for recharging them, and the plants themselves that generate the electricity have to have their own power-source....that's something that electric-car fans sometimes forget)

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vehicles/v...era/index.html

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The Vauxhall Ampera looks better than the Chevy Volt IMO

greg0126

iTrader: (2)

I was thinking the same thing.

pbm317

What's the point of the post? The Vauxhall debuted nearly a year ago

Blackraven

@mmarshall

An added FYI

All Volt and Ampera vehicles (regardless of what brand name it's attached with) are all made in Detroit, Michigan, USA (@ Detroit Hamstramck Assembly)

mmarshall

Not surprising that they are made in the same plant. They are virtually identical in most ways, although, of course, the right-drive models use a different dash and steering-rack.

mmarshall

A quickie CL forum-search did not show any recent threads on it....only one from years ago on the possible future production. Not everyone may be aware of the Vauxhall version in Europe. If you are aware of it, fine.

As I see it, it is also a significant vehcle in Europe because, for those who don't care for diesels, it offers very-high-MPG alternative....albeit at a not-so-attractive price.

jadu

iTrader: (42)

interesting color scheme-much more appealing than the volt imo.

mmarshall

.........and the color-contrast on the gray dash/center-console makes the confusing array of buttons on the Ampera at least slightly easier to read then on the Volt. The Volt's white center-dash, IMO, is an ergonomic disaster. Both, however, share that annoying hole that you park the shift-lever in when not in use.

mrraider

At 240 V, the charge up time should be much faster than over here.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Chevy designer "White works for Apple, so let's do it too!"

pbm317

The Dark Gray Center Console can also be had on the Volt

robloc93

As stated before, the styling is much more appealing than the Volt!.......though I can't seem to get over the Cruze underpinnings though for that much moolah.

mmarshall

Good. That helps at least a little. That gray-on-white lettering is ridiculous. It's hard to read even with 20/20 vision.

Outrage

It's probably easier to read through rose-colored glasses.