Eco Factor: Low-emission vehicle powered by a hybrid engine.
According to recent reports Vauxhall might be building a new, high-performance variant of the Ampera, the company’s innovative plug-in hybrid vehicle. The new variant sports a bigger, more powerful battery bank and a larger gas engine to recharge these batteries.
The new features could be included in the flagship model when the range launches in 2012. The regular model uses Vauxhall owner GM’s Voltec Propulsion System, which mates a 148bhp electric drive unit to a 16KWh lithium-ion battery, allowing the vehicle to travel 37mph on electricity alone, before a 1.4-litre engine revs up to charge the batteries.
The standard drivetrain provides 370Nm of torque and makes the vehicle hit 62mph in nine seconds with a top speed of 100mph. The two power sources give a range of about 310 miles.
Via: AutoExpress
