What's the news?
The Vauxhall Ampera has undergone a significant price reduction this week to, according to a spokesperson at Vauxhall, "make electric mobility more widely available".
Prices for the entry-level Positiv version have been cut by a substantial £3,500, bringing the list price, after the Government's £5,000 grant, down to £28,750. For this you get an advanced on-board computer, climate control and a reversing camera. Top-spec Electron versions have also had a £3,000 price cut, dropping on-the-road prices down to just £30,495. Standard equipment here includes a Bose sound system complete with a 30GB hard drive and satellite navigation.
Vauxhall says that the real-world range on the batteries alone is between 25- and 50 miles. Once these have discharged, a small 1.4-litre petrol engine drives an electric generator, extending range to more than 300 miles. As the wheels are always driven by the electric motors, the Ampera manages to achieve a claimed real-world fuel economy figure of 180mpg.
Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing Director at Vauxhall says, "The new price position reinforces the multi award-winning Ampera's place as the only solution to electric vehicle ownership that can be the sole family car."
Anything else?
The Ampera is currently only available at 24 specialist Vauxhall dealerships across the country, but is still covered by the company's Lifetime Warranty.
James Giddings - 13 Sep 2013