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Sketches of Opel Ampera Leaked

Europe's Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market Becomes Discordant

Europe's Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM) maintains a trademark database that helps to ensure a minimum of conflict and easy filing for claims. That same database also lets slip basic sketches of car designs before their official unveiling on a regular basis, and this time the Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid gets its unofficial debut.

The new Ampera is essentially Opel's version of the Chevrolet Volt and it is set to make its debut in production trim at next month's Geneva Motor Show. While the Volt will first hit showrooms in the U.S. late next year, the Ampera isn't expected to go on sale until sometime in 2011. These official renderings and sketches give us a preview as to what the Ampera will look like, revealing that its basic styling will remain almost the same as the Volt. Subtle differences will be unique bumper designs and alloy wheel patterns.

Powering the car will be the new 'Voltec' plug-in hybrid system that was showcased recently in the Cadillac Converj Concept at last month's Detroit Auto Show. Voltec is the latest iteration of GM's E-Flex plug-in hybrid powertrain and features both a compact internal combustion engine and an electric drive system.

For short trips of up to 40 miles, the Ampera will run only on lithium-ion battery power charged via a standard European 230-volt outlet. According to Frank Weber, the vehicle line executive for the Volt and Ampera, charge times will only take about two to three hours. This will ensure that the Ampera is well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers. For example, approximately 80% of German drivers travel less than 30 miles daily. For longer distances, the car will continue to drive on electricity that is generated by the small internal combustion engine, boosting the driving range to more than 500 miles.

A comparison of Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera can be found at Autoblog's Spanish website.

[sources: Motor Authority, Autoblog Green, Autoblog En Espaniol]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/opel_ampera_filtrado_03.jpg

To my eyes, it looks a little ugly from the side - if this sketch proves to be on the money.

As some of us have proposed, if Buick gets a similar vehicle, "Buick Electra" would be an ideal name. But I ALSO like the name "Buick Riv-E," a nod to the name "Riviera" and "E" for electric. Pronounced "riv-ee."

Awww...

It's a Volt that painted it's face as a SAD clown....

(And yes, this is accurate. Spy shots all over the web confirm it)