Vauxhall Ampera now available to order

Vauxhall has opened its order books for the revolutionary Ampera E-REV, and announced full specs and pricing – the first Amperas will arrive in showrooms on May 1st 2012.

Details of its 23-strong Ampera dealership network have also been released, but each owner will also be allocated a personal Vauxhall HQ-based customer liaison contact.

The Ampera will be offered in three trim levels – the entry model will be available from May 2012 and will be equipped with a raft of features including DAB radio, 7-inch touch-screen monitor, cruise control and alloy wheels. Including the £5,000 government plug-in car grant, this version will cost £29,995 on the road.

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).

Topping the line-up will be the Electron, which comes as standard with a state-of-the-art infotainment unit comprising a colour touch screen, satellite navigation system, bespoke Bose Energy Efficient Series sound system, DVD video player, 30GB hard-disc drive storage and 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.

All Vauxhall Ampera owners will receive a high level of customer service and support, something that Vauxhall considers to be important given the relatively new plug-in hybrid technologies being used. Backed by Vauxhall’s unique Lifetime Warranty and an 8 year 100,000 mile battery warranty, most Ampera owners will have the convenience of a specialist dealer within a one-hour drive of their home.

Ampera dealerships will be committed to a new level of personalised care in both the sales and after-sales processes. Retailers will also offer a free collection and delivery service for all scheduled service, warranty and repair work.

However, the optimum service option is called ‘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.”

The Vauxhall Ampera officially achieves 235.4 mpg on a combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 27 g/km according to the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC). The Ampera has been given three Green Car Ratings on Next Green Car, 15 if powered by renewable electricity, 33 assuming an 80:20 ration of electricity to petrol engine power and 43 if using petrol engine only.

The Ampera also features in Next Green Car’s ‘Top 10 green cars to watch in 2012‘ list, and won Next Green Car’s Gold Award in 2011. It is likely to be a popular low emission vehicle this year, for those that can afford the price premium.

Newspress