The Vauxhall Ampera: A Revolutionary Electric Car with a Petrol Engine Twist

Today, we're testing the Vauxhall Ampera, a brand new battery pad saloon that's making waves in the electric car world. Unlike most electric cars, the Ampera has an additional petrol engine, which allows it to switch seamlessly between electric and petrol power after using up its 50-mile range. And with a price tag of £39,000, it's certainly not for the faint of heart - but with a UK government grant of £5,000, that brings the cost down to a more manageable level.

As we take a look at the Ampera, we're immediately struck by its good looks. It's arguably the best-looking Vauxhall in years, and it's clear that the designers have put a lot of thought into creating a car that's both stylish and functional. But what really sets the Ampera apart is its unique blend of electric and petrol power. The idea behind this extended-range technology is to use the petrol engine as a generator, rather than driving the wheels themselves - which helps to conserve battery life.

As we take the Ampera for a spin, we're immediately impressed by its refinement and quietness. It's clear that Vauxhall has put a lot of work into creating a car that's both comfortable and enjoyable to drive, whether you're cruising around town or tackling more motorway-like routes. And with 147 horsepower on tap, there's plenty of power to get the job done - even if it's not exactly sporty.

But despite its many charms, the Ampera isn't without its flaws. One of our biggest issues is the limited range of the battery pack - which means that drivers will need to be mindful of their consumption levels in order to make the most of the car. And when the battery drops below a certain charge level, the Ampera won't allow you to drive hard - which can be frustrating for drivers who get used to the car's responsiveness.

Overall, we're seriously impressed with the Vauxhall Ampera - it's clear that Vauxhall has put a lot of work into creating a car that's both practical and environmentally friendly. And while it may not be perfect, it's certainly a step in the right direction for electric cars on the market. With its unique blend of electric and petrol power, the Ampera is definitely worth considering - even if it does come with a hefty price tag.

I've been driving this car all morning and I must say I'm seriously impressed. It's by far the most practical electric car we've ever driven. The build quality is top-notch, the interior is beautifully designed, and it feels like you're driving something from Robocop - which was the sort of future we thought would be here decades ago. But yes, it is a thirty-nine thousand pound car, but who cares? It's got that great electric motor which makes it so quiet and smooth to drive.

I've been talking about this car all morning and I can see why you're getting an 8 out of 10 from the team test score. New technology always comes in at a bit of a price - and that's the only thing stopping me giving it a perfect 10. If they were a bit cheaper, I would give it a 10 for sure! But as it is, the Vauxhall Ampera is still an incredibly impressive car, and it gets a solid 8 out of 10 from us.

We've given the Vauxhall Ampera a team test score of thirty-one and half out of forty.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: entoday the team are testing the voxel Ampera this brand new battery pad saloon is something of a revolution unlike most electric cars en para as a petrol engine as well as an electric motor so after you've used the 50 mile range the batteries it can run on petrol power instead it cost thirty-nine thousand pounds although the UK government will give you five thousand pounds off with their electric car grant right then boys this is the Vauxhall Ampera it is the 2012 European Car of the Year I like the Emperor's name and I like the way that it looks it's a good-looking lovely I think it looks great it's a really fun funky aggressive looking car actually its best-looking Vauxhall in as many years as I can imagine it's got 147 horsepower which is them it's quite it's quite it's quite good as it made in Detroit ladies and gentlemen calm down it's time to get inside they were all very impressed the build quality as well we got inside has been in room it feels it feels spacing it's got the look this is all touch this is all tie straight and love that concept II interior it feels like I'm driving something from Robocop which was the sort of future but in the 80s I'm the cop I'm the cop and the cop and the cop I love the way it sounded that robotic Wow it was lovely and then when I finished my duty its little tones and the chimes and the gongs which got got going you might see it a bit tacky but actually they're not but then you suddenly rose it is a thirty-nine thousand pound car but and of course the idea is you're not paying any money for petrol we took their own parrot out for a couple of drives the first drive was with me at the wheel oh I like this there's not a great deal of body roll I mean I'm not really funny in two corners a lot of people buy a car for refinement and quiet and it doesn't get more quiet than electric car the big thing about this car is that it's an extended-range electric vehicle so unlike a normal hybrid car when the petrol engine is used to drive the wheels this is used just a you know to drive the next winter what like a generator like Akemi all the petrol engine does in this instinct is to drive the electric motor which then pairs the wheels I need to go back to drawing school I think that looks more like a shunted Caravan I really like the way it drives I enjoy it I think it's one of the best they're just pooling around town about sport is coming it's not sporty but I think it's bit better than the Prius you could buy that car you'd be very happy whether or not you wanted to buy it as an eco statement or not then TIFF gets behind the wheel and we're supposed to go for a cut a more motorway like experience so our fear with a bit of speech when Johnny and I went out in the car it all seemed very good first little bit some chinks in the armor began to appear what God set now in it like they should fare is reduced why is it reduced my propulsion power because you've been silly and you've tried to crash it actually the problem is that when the emperor's battery drops below a certain charge it won't allow you to drive hard and while this helps conserve the remaining power it is frustrating it's not quite the perfect development that we all hoped it would be but thanks the Emperor also having a petrol engine it is by far the most practical electric car we've ever driven I'm seriously impressed with that Vauxhall but I wish it was cheaper I'm gonna give it an 8 I'm gonna give it a great 8 new technology always comes in a bit of a price and that is the only thing that is stopping me from giving the Emperor at 10 so 9.5 well done voxel if you want to go electric the emperor is certainly a step in the right direction but it's still far from perfect it gets a solid six which gives the Vox clamp era a team test score of thirty one and a half out of 40 youtoday the team are testing the voxel Ampera this brand new battery pad saloon is something of a revolution unlike most electric cars en para as a petrol engine as well as an electric motor so after you've used the 50 mile range the batteries it can run on petrol power instead it cost thirty-nine thousand pounds although the UK government will give you five thousand pounds off with their electric car grant right then boys this is the Vauxhall Ampera it is the 2012 European Car of the Year I like the Emperor's name and I like the way that it looks it's a good-looking lovely I think it looks great it's a really fun funky aggressive looking car actually its best-looking Vauxhall in as many years as I can imagine it's got 147 horsepower which is them it's quite it's quite it's quite good as it made in Detroit ladies and gentlemen calm down it's time to get inside they were all very impressed the build quality as well we got inside has been in room it feels it feels spacing it's got the look this is all touch this is all tie straight and love that concept II interior it feels like I'm driving something from Robocop which was the sort of future but in the 80s I'm the cop I'm the cop and the cop and the cop I love the way it sounded that robotic Wow it was lovely and then when I finished my duty its little tones and the chimes and the gongs which got got going you might see it a bit tacky but actually they're not but then you suddenly rose it is a thirty-nine thousand pound car but and of course the idea is you're not paying any money for petrol we took their own parrot out for a couple of drives the first drive was with me at the wheel oh I like this there's not a great deal of body roll I mean I'm not really funny in two corners a lot of people buy a car for refinement and quiet and it doesn't get more quiet than electric car the big thing about this car is that it's an extended-range electric vehicle so unlike a normal hybrid car when the petrol engine is used to drive the wheels this is used just a you know to drive the next winter what like a generator like Akemi all the petrol engine does in this instinct is to drive the electric motor which then pairs the wheels I need to go back to drawing school I think that looks more like a shunted Caravan I really like the way it drives I enjoy it I think it's one of the best they're just pooling around town about sport is coming it's not sporty but I think it's bit better than the Prius you could buy that car you'd be very happy whether or not you wanted to buy it as an eco statement or not then TIFF gets behind the wheel and we're supposed to go for a cut a more motorway like experience so our fear with a bit of speech when Johnny and I went out in the car it all seemed very good first little bit some chinks in the armor began to appear what God set now in it like they should fare is reduced why is it reduced my propulsion power because you've been silly and you've tried to crash it actually the problem is that when the emperor's battery drops below a certain charge it won't allow you to drive hard and while this helps conserve the remaining power it is frustrating it's not quite the perfect development that we all hoped it would be but thanks the Emperor also having a petrol engine it is by far the most practical electric car we've ever driven I'm seriously impressed with that Vauxhall but I wish it was cheaper I'm gonna give it an 8 I'm gonna give it a great 8 new technology always comes in a bit of a price and that is the only thing that is stopping me from giving the Emperor at 10 so 9.5 well done voxel if you want to go electric the emperor is certainly a step in the right direction but it's still far from perfect it gets a solid six which gives the Vox clamp era a team test score of thirty one and a half out of 40 youtoday the team are testing the voxel Ampera this brand new battery pad saloon is something of a revolution unlike most electric cars en para as a petrol engine as well as an electric motor so after you've used the 50 mile range the batteries it can run on petrol power instead it cost thirty-nine thousand pounds although the UK government will give you five thousand pounds off with their electric car grant right then boys this is the Vauxhall Ampera it is the 2012 European Car of the Year I like the Emperor's name and I like the way that it looks it's a good-looking lovely I think it looks great it's a really fun funky aggressive looking car actually its best-looking Vauxhall in as many years as I can imagine it's got 147 horsepower which is them it's quite it's quite it's quite good as it made in Detroit ladies and gentlemen calm down it's time to get inside they were all very impressed the build quality as well we got inside has been in room it feels it feels spacing it's got the look this is all touch this is all tie straight and love that concept II interior it feels like I'm driving something from Robocop which was the sort of future but in the 80s I'm the cop I'm the cop and the cop and the cop I love the way it sounded that robotic Wow it was lovely and then when I finished my duty its little tones and the chimes and the gongs which got got going you might see it a bit tacky but actually they're not but then you suddenly rose it is a thirty-nine thousand pound car but and of course the idea is you're not paying any money for petrol we took their own parrot out for a couple of drives the first drive was with me at the wheel oh I like this there's not a great deal of body roll I mean I'm not really funny in two corners a lot of people buy a car for refinement and quiet and it doesn't get more quiet than electric car the big thing about this car is that it's an extended-range electric vehicle so unlike a normal hybrid car when the petrol engine is used to drive the wheels this is used just a you know to drive the next winter what like a generator like Akemi all the petrol engine does in this instinct is to drive the electric motor which then pairs the wheels I need to go back to drawing school I think that looks more like a shunted Caravan I really like the way it drives I enjoy it I think it's one of the best they're just pooling around town about sport is coming it's not sporty but I think it's bit better than the Prius you could buy that car you'd be very happy whether or not you wanted to buy it as an eco statement or not then TIFF gets behind the wheel and we're supposed to go for a cut a more motorway like experience so our fear with a bit of speech when Johnny and I went out in the car it all seemed very good first little bit some chinks in the armor began to appear what God set now in it like they should fare is reduced why is it reduced my propulsion power because you've been silly and you've tried to crash it actually the problem is that when the emperor's battery drops below a certain charge it won't allow you to drive hard and while this helps conserve the remaining power it is frustrating it's not quite the perfect development that we all hoped it would be but thanks the Emperor also having a petrol engine it is by far the most practical electric car we've ever driven I'm seriously impressed with that Vauxhall but I wish it was cheaper I'm gonna give it an 8 I'm gonna give it a great 8 new technology always comes in a bit of a price and that is the only thing that is stopping me from giving the Emperor at 10 so 9.5 well done voxel if you want to go electric the emperor is certainly a step in the right direction but it's still far from perfect it gets a solid six which gives the Vox clamp era a team test score of thirty one and a half out of 40 you\n"