Opel Ampera-e electric car to launch in Europe in 2017

Vauxhall parent Opel will launch a new electric car, dubbed Ampera-e, in Europe in 2017.

Opel Ampera-e breaks cover at Paris motor show 

The new model, which takes the form of a five-door, five-seat hatchback, is destined to be an affordable rival for the likes of the Audi A3 e-tron, BMW i3, Volkswagen e-Golf and second-generation Ford Focus Electric.

Opel says the launch of the Ampera-e is part of its ongoing model offensive which will result in the launch of 29 new vehicles between now and the end of the decade.

Opel says the new car builds “on the electrification expertise established with the original Ampera, which set the benchmark for modern electric cars in 2011. The new Ampera-e combines innovative electric mobility with state-of-the-art connectivity and exciting driving dynamics”.

Autocar understands that the new Ampera-e is closely related to the new Chevrolet Bolt underneath, meaning it’s likely to use the same 197bhp, 266lb ft electric motor and offer the same range of around 200 miles. The Bolt, which was unveiled at this year’s Detroit motor show and is also set to be sold in Europe, is claimed to reach 60mph in less than seven seconds.

The Bolt can be charged from a standard socket in nine hours - a figure likely to be replicated by the Ampera-e.

Opel has so far only confirmed that the Ampera-e will be fed by a flat battery pack mounted underneath the cabin floor. The company says the packaging of the battery allows for “a roomy interior providing comfortable seating for five passengers and trunk space comparable with that of a car in the compact class”.

Opel says the Ampera-e will come with its OnStar infotainment service and smartphone integration.

While Vauxhall hasn’t specified whether the Ampera-e will be launched in the UK, it seems highly likely that it will, given the growing appetite for electric vehicles in this country.

Announcing the Ampera-e in Germany today, GM boss Mary Barra said: “GM and Opel have always been convinced that electric cars will play a defining role in future mobility. The game-changing technology of the Ampera-e is a significant step toward realising that vision. Our new battery electric car is also another boost for Opel’s reputation for making innovative engineering widely accessible.”

Opel chief Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann said: “The new Ampera-e will open the road to electric mobility by breaking down the barriers of high price and short driving range.”