The Chevrolet Volt and Ope Ampera have been crowned European Car of the Year for 2012 during an award ceremony at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show today.
The votes of the 59 jurors from 23 European countries ranked the Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera first, from a shortlist comprising Citroen DS5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Up.
Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt won with 330 votes out of a total 1475 cast, ahead of the Volkswagen Up! with 281 votes and the Ford Focus with 256.
This is the second time when an alternative powertrain vehicle is being named European Car of the Year, after the 2011 edition was won by the all-electric Nissan Leaf.
The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964. This year is the first time the prize is presented at the Geneva Motor Show.
Both, Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are equipped with the ground-breaking Voltec propulsion system that provides instant torque of 370 Nm, enabling zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around 9 seconds.
Ampera and Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free for up to 80 kilometers, powered by a full charge of electricity stored in the 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the battery is depleted, a gasoline powered 1.4L generator kicks in to extend the car’s range to a total of over 500 kilometers. Two large screens provide essential information and help the driver use the Volt’s unique propulsion system as efficiently as possible.
Opel said today it has already received some 7,000 orders for its award-winning Ampera. This latest figure even surpasses Opel’s most optimistic expectations for this point in time. “We are extremely pleased with the continuing demand for our Ampera,” says Enno Fuchs, Opel’s e-mobility launch director. “This news shows us that our sales target of 10,000 units for 2012 is well within reach.”
