General Motors may have wanted to keep the Opel Ampera EV concept under wraps until the opening of the Geneva Motor Show in early March, but that isn't going to happen as official sketches of the electric car that were filed with the European Union trademark office have found their way into the web. To the surprise of few, the sketches reveal that the Ampera is nothing more than a rebadged Chevy Volt.
The only visible cosmetic differences between the two cars seem to concern the Ampera's restyled front and rear bumper along with the new set of alloy wheels - and that's about it.
If all goes well, the Ampera will be launched across the European continent as an Opel and Vauxhall about a year after its U.S. introduction in late 2010. The Ampera will utilize the same electric propulsion technology as the Volt which allows the car to run exclusively on lithium-ion battery power charged via a standard 230v outlet for up to 60 km (37 miles). For longer distances, the five-door hatch will drive on electricity that is generated by a small internal combustion engine.
Via: es.Autoblog.com
