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Vauxhall has today opened its order
books for the revolutionary Ampera E-REV, and announced full specs and
pricing, along with details of its 23-strong dealer network and a
Vauxhall HQ-based customer liaison for every owner.
Offered in three trim levels, with the
entry model available to order from May, the first Amperas will arrive
in showrooms on May 1, 2012. Starting at £29,995 (inclusive of the
£5,000 government plug-in car grant) even the entry model Ampera comes
with a raft of standard features, such as DAB radio, 7-inch touch-screen
control monitor, cruise control and alloy wheels.
Adding a standard leather interior,
with heated front seats and front/rear parking sensors with a rear-view
camera, the Positiv model sits in the middle of the Ampera range at
£32,250 (inclusive of the £5,000 government plug-in car grant). But
topping the line-up will be the Electron, which comes as standard with a
state-of-the-art infotainment unit comprising:
- Colour touch screen
- Satellite navigation system
- Bespoke Bose Energy Efficient
Series sound system
- DVD video player
- 30GB hard-disc drive storage
- Voice-controlled navigation,
telephone and music systems
The Electron costs £33,995 (inclusive
of the £5,000 government plug-in car grant) and, like the Positiv, can
be ordered immediately.
But where all Amperas stand out from
the crowd is the level of customer service and support offered to
owners. Backed by Vauxhall’s unique Lifetime Warranty*and a 8 year
100,000 mile battery warranty, the majority of Ampera owners will have
the convenience of a specialist dealer within a one-hour drive of their
home.
Ampera dealers will be committed to a
new level of personalised care. This new Ampera customer experience
gives owners the benefit of two Ampera specialists – in both sales and
aftersales – at each Ampera retailer, providing expert advice and
attention on all aspects of the car. Ampera retailers will also offer a
free collection and delivery service for all scheduled service, warranty
and repair work.
However, the icing on the cake is a
service known as ‘MyAmpera’, which offers owners the telephone number
and email address of their own personal Ampera agent, based at
Vauxhall’s head office.
“We’re breaking completely fresh ground
with the Ampera,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing
Director. “The technology is obviously unique in a production car, but
it’s the level of personalised customer support we’re offering that will
be just as important to owners. MyAmpera reinforces this personalisation
and will help us engage with our new owners throughout their time with
the car.”
VAUXHALL AMPERA NOMINATED FOR CAR OF
THE YEAR 2012
For the fourth consecutive year a
Vauxhall has been named as a finalist in the prestigious European Car of
the Year competition. Fighting off 28 other notable introductions, the
revolutionary Vauxhall Ampera has made it onto a shortlist of just seven
cars which remain in the running to become the 2012 European Car of the
Year.
“We are delighted that the Ampera is
among the 2012 Car of the Year finalists,” says Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall
Chairman and Managing Director. “We are extremely proud of the Ampera
which truly is a revolutionary electric vehicle already having won some
25 awards throughout Europe.”
Vauxhall has won the Car of the Year
title twice in its history with the Omega in 1987 and the Insignia in
2009.
The Car of the Year jury consisting of
59 leading automotive journalists from 23 European countries selected
seven Car of the Year finalists from a field of 35 cars which all had
their sales start in 2011 based on criteria such as innovative
technology and efficiency.
The Ampera is the first electric
vehicle that can go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery
powers the 111kW/150PS electric motor. Depending on the style of driving
and road conditions, a distance of between 25 and 50 miles can be
covered in battery-operated mode, completely free of emissions. The
Ampera is always driven electrically and when the battery has reached
its minimum state of charge, the range extender automatically turns on
and powers a generator to feed the electric drive unit extending the
Ampera’s total driving range to 360 miles.
The winner of the Car of the Year award
will be announced on March 5, 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show, making it
the first official news from the show.
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