Australian Resource for Car Reviews, News, Advice
March 3, 2009 by George Skentzos
Now that the Opel Ampera has finally made its global public debut at the Geneva Motor Show, we can bring you the full high-quality image gallery.
Just a reminder, CarAdvice is currently running a poll to determine which Volt derivative you prefer – so remember to vote.
Print it: 
Opel Ampera unveiled before Geneva
While Holden has confirmed it will adapt the US Chevrolet Volt for the local market in 2012, GM has released
2009 Opel Ampera, new Euro Volt
Opel is set to reveal the Ampera Electric car at this year's Geneva Motor Show, effectively unveiling the European design
2009 Geneva Motorshow Index
2009 Geneva Motorshow Index
Bugatti Veyron 'Bleu Centenaire' 100th anniversary special
Toyota Verso at Geneva Motor Show
Dacia Duster concept at Geneva
2009 Nissan 370Z official gallery
While technical details surrounding the new Nissan 370Z may have been leaked prior to the car's official debut, images of
2009 Opel Insignia OPC spied and rendered
The performance flagship of the recently released Opel Insignia is nearing completion with an almost completely undisguised prototype captured lurking
well the choice is tough, as they are both evironmental hybrid eco cars, and i hate them both…
Yawwwwnnnnn
Will somebody wake me up when these vehicles actually become relevant and available on the market??
What makes Opel think that if (when) the do split from GM they’ll have access to this technology?? General Motors doesn’t have the best record of sharing it’s technology with jointly owned subsiduaries. Just ask Saab, Suzuki and Fiat.
Chevy volt, opel ampera, my vote’s going to holden’s OHMega………………. Hehe.
Frontman – all Saabs are built of GM derived platforms using GM engines and transmitions… really sounds like they aren’t sharing!
Richo, it took way to many years for GM to give back to Saab after the purchase in 89/90. Face it, how much R&D did GM spend on Saab with new models and engineering? How long between “all new” models was Saab left to suffer? Exactly the same with Suzuki. Holden decided that the Swift based Barina was old hat in 94 and swapped to the Corsa, yet Suzuki had to put up with the same vehicle till well into 99 and didn’t get a replacement for that till ‘05! Yep that’d be good model sharing. (BTW this has been my biggest dislike of General Motors Corporation, especially compared to the supposedly not so good Ford who turned around J/LR, Aston Martin, Mazda & Volvo)
please Holden bring this at least offer the volt with a black interior.If GM and opel split id say they would both keep rights to the voltec system as opel developed espillon adn delta and GM needs those platforms
What is it with all these Hybrid/eco cars – why are they all so bloody ugly?
If I was a GM subsidiary I’d be glad if they didn’t share this design – Yuk.
Is it that hairy armpitted women are turned on by such ugliness?
So this is based on the new astra right ? witch lets be honest, is quite a good looking thing :) (if u have seen the spy pictures) so why then dose this look so… awkward and weird? i wont say its ugly but it just needs fixing up. i just dont get why all these eco cars look so much like over cooked pasta… yes there aerodynamic but so is almost every other new car on sale today! but meh, maybe driving an unattractive car is good for the environment in some way :)
Holden AC/DC.
What will happen to Opel once GM have sold it?
The Cruze is going to replace the Astra, so for the first time in a long time we will have no Euro GM Opels here…
Cheers,
F-0
OK then, how about the:
Holden (not so) Current.
VWB still the cleverest though.
Sure it might not be a stunner but it looks better than a Prius
Yet when I first saw phoos of this car I thought it was the new Honda Accord [particularly from the front].. but then I realised that its been a while since Honda has designed or built a car that looks as cool as this..
I mean look at their current line up.. apart from the S2000 there’s not much to rave about
What is it with you lot. GM come up with something new and innovative, inspiring, fresh, technologically advanced that just doesn’t happen to look like a out of date frumpy Commodor and you immediately hate it.
Frontman what makes you think Opel if (when) they split from GM will not have access to this technology. Given the way manufacturers trade comodities (floor pans, Engines etc) I would hedge my bets and say they could always buy it from GM. Besides any splits rumoured are only a sale of 50% split, it would be in the interests of GM to sell the technology at a profit to Opel. Richos correct of course, your second comment above is absolute bollix, pure guess work on your part with no substance.
Cupid Stunt ur right on the money. It is an innovative car with new tech. ie li-ion batteries. When the blandmobile prius was released it was hailed as the saviour to our oily crisis, but just because the backwards GM releases something it is hailed as dumb and ugly. Lets actually give GM a chance they may actually learn from this and build more innovative cars if they survive till 2012.
A legal eagle mate of mine told me: even if Opel does split with GM.. GM will still hold the rights to the technology of the Ampera and the platform as they will with the Insignia. Same applies to Holden [if that sould happen]
Its just like even though you happen to create a new product for your employer; should you retire or be sacked your employer still holds the rights to that product and everything associated with it.. use, name, patents etc
Why? because its deemed that if you weren’t employed by your employer you would’nt have created the product.. not only that but you did it on your employers time and used resources that your employer owns or paid for etc.
Hope this clears up a few things for you all out there
I personally think this car looks the deal, its deffenatly best looking eco/hybrid on the market today. I would choose this over a Prius any day.
Then again, 2012 is a long way away.
I’ll agree with Airforce One on this, its by far the best eco car on offer. But I could see some fun had in the light weight Mitsu Rear Wheel Drive MiEV.
“A legal eagle mate of mine told me: even if Opel does split with GM.. GM will still hold the rights to the technology of the Ampera”
From what I read so far, its not a complete split. Its GM reducing it share of the campany from 100% to a lower level like 25%. Holding a stake in Opel rather than owning them will still allow for technology sharing but reduce their overall financial exposure as a business. I’d expect a similar deal for Holden.
I think it looks best without the body. Seriously.