The first pre-production unit of the Opel Ampera due as 2012 modle rolled off the factory of General Motors in Warren, Michigan. We can expect more of these pre-production units to be built in the coming months.
These Opels are test vehicles which will not be sold and which you will not find at your car dealers’ showroom. The pre-production Amperas will allow the car manufacturer to make the final tweaks for the car’s software and make necessary adjustments on the controls of the Ampera. All other elements will also be checked and adjusted if necessary prior to the car going to the production pipeline.
Some of the 2012 Ampera test cars will be utilized to evaluate the safety of the vehicle. According to an Opel executive, GM is just right on schedule and will be able to meet its deadline for the Ampera hitting the assembly lines before the end of next year.
This Opel model will also be marketed as the Vauxhaul that makes use of the Voltec Platform of the Chevrolet Volt. The car will get about 150 horsepower and about 273 lb-ft of torque from the Lithium ion battery powered electric motors that is combined with a petrol engine that has 1.4L displacement. Those in Europe can expect the hybrid plug in car by the end of 2011.
