Vauxhall’s Ampera has collected a Green Award for the second year in a row.
Looks, speed, practicality and safety are qualities drivers have always looked for when checking out the latest new car deals, but it seems there is one more factor motorists are starting to take into account.
The automotive industry as a whole is placing a greater emphasis on the environment – and it follows that buyers are now considering the eco-friendliness of a vehicle before parting with their hard-earned cash.
Purchasers are therefore likely to be interested in the Vauxhall Ampera – not only for its aesthetic qualities and functionality, but also because it has once again been honoured for its environmentally-friendly credentials.
The car has picked up Auto Express magazine's Green Award for the second year in succession, with its latest triumph announced at the publication's New Car Awards in London.
Peter Hope, marketing director at Vauxhall, said: "We are delighted that the Ampera has retained this prestigious award.
"The Ampera is truly a pioneering vehicle not just for Vauxhall but for the automotive industry as a whole."
A plug-in petrol electric model, the Ampera boasts a real-world battery range of between 25 and 50 miles, while its 1.4-litre petrol engine can power a small range-extending generator to add an extra 300 mile-plus range on to this. But as opposed to conventional hybrid vehicles, the Ampera's wheels are driven electrically at all times.
Steve Fowler, editor in chief of Auto Express, said: "Manufacturers are working harder than ever to make their cars more eco-friendly, so it's testament to Vauxhall's brilliant Ampera that wins our Green Award for the second year on the trot."
He added that while the Ampera is by no means the only plug-in electric vehicle on the market any more, it remains head and shoulders above the competition.
One company that has certainly been impressed with the Ampera is electricity pioneer Edmundson Electricity, which recently took delivery of three models as it looked to improve the efficiency and eco-friendliness of its fleet.
Posted by Fred Mason