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Vauxhall celebrated over a hundred
years of innovation this weekend as two of its landmark cars took part
in challenges that illustrate the company’s history as a pioneer of new
technology.
Travelling from Brighton to London on
Saturday November 6th, the Vauxhall Ampera took part in the Royal
Automobile Club’s inaugural Future Car Challenge, which brought together
60 low emission vehicles on a 60-mile journey. However, unlike other
electric vehicles, the Ampera, an extended-range electric vehicle
(E-REV), reached the finishing line in London’s Regent Street with 300
miles of its range remaining, thus completing close to the full journey
on one battery charge alone with virtually zero CO2 tailpipe
emissions.
The event was further proof of the
effectiveness of the Ampera’s unique technology which, apart from a
lithium-ion battery, includes its own onboard electric charging
infrastructure in the form of an engine generator. With its unique
technology, the Ampera was also the only E-REV car scheduled for
production to enter the run.
Acclaimed as “The Public Choice” with
an engraved Royal Automobile Club trophy, the Ampera was considered as
the icing on the cake not only by Ian Allen, Ampera Launch Manager, and
his fiancée who were celebrating their double-birthday while being
chauffeured in the car throughout the run, but also by the public who
voted for the car.
The Ampera will be on sale in early
2012.
A perfect counterpoint to the Ampera
came in the shape of one of the company’s earliest cars, the 1904
Vauxhall that resides in Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre in Luton. It
successfully completed its 55th entry into the world-famous London to
Brighton Trial the following day, making the journey in its own record
time of 5 hours. The valuable and unique Vauxhall-owned veteran
masterpiece was driven by Vauxhall Heritage Centre technicians, Andy
Boddy and Terry Forder who look after the company’s collection of over
60 veteran, vintage and classic vehicles.
“It’s been an extraordinary weekend for
Vauxhall,” said Denis Chick, Director of Communications for Vauxhall.
“On each day we’ve showcased a car that has, or will, impact on the
motor industry in a major way. We started our mission as an innovator in
1903 and 107 years later we’re still pioneers with cars like the Ampera.”
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