The Vauxhall Ampera has become a bit more affordable for UK consumers with the introduction of a new base model named ‘Earth’ that is available for order now at a starting price of £29,995 after the £5,000 government subsidy (Plug-in Car Grant), which is £2,255 less than the next trim level called Positiv.
What you lose with the Earth edition is the Positiv’s front and rear park assist system with a camera, the front heated seats, and leather surfaces, which have been replaced with a black cloth trim on the seats.
The Earth model keeps the rest of the standard features such as the DAB, 7-inch touch screen display, Bluetooth, cruise control and electronic air conditioning.
The Ampera, which is a sister model to the Chevrolet Volt also offered in Europe, features a 16 kWh lithium ion battery that powers a 149hp (111kW) electric motor, with a range-extender petrol engine acting as a generator. Depending on the driving style, the Ampera can cover a distance of between 25 and 50 miles in pure electric mode.
The electric propulsion system returns an instant torque of 273 lb-ft (370Nm) and enables a zero to 60mph (96km/h) acceleration in 8.7 seconds and a limited top speed of 100mph (160km/h).
