Opel shows off its pure-electric Chevy Bolt in drag

Opel has announced it will launch a rebadged version of the pure-electric Chevrolet Bolt and sell it in Europe in 2017.

Renamed the Ampera-e, under the skin the Opel-badged Bolt is thought to be almost identical to its American cousin.

That means when it goes on sale next year, the compact five-seat hatch will come with a drivetrain that pumps out 147kW and 360Nm.

Created by GM in the US as a purpose-designed EV powered by a GM-developed electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack with a new “nickel-rich” chemistry, the new Ampera-e will also cover 320km between charges and sprint from standstill, to 100km/h in less than seven seconds.

When it goes on sale, to help cut charging times, buyers will be offered an optional DC charging system that can provide 150km of range after a 30-minute charge.

A full recharge using the standard onboard charger and 240-volt service takes nine hours, says GM.

Announcing the news that GM would launch the Ampera-e in Europe late last night, rumours instantly spread that European sales would fund a business case for converting it into right-hand drive.

This would be crucial to enable British brand, Vauxhall, to sell the Ampera-e and take advantage of the burgeoning market for pure-electric cars in the UK.

If so, the right-hand drive Bolt could come here and give Holden its much-needed replacement for the Volt plug-in hybrid after its decision not to import the second-gen version.

Neither GM Europe’s Opel or Vauxhall brand have yet to announce whether or not the decision has been made to re-engineer the Bolt for right-hand drive.

Instead, Opel boss Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann said: “The new Ampera-e will open the road to electric mobility by breaking down the barriers of high price and short driving range.”

In the US the Chevrolet Bolt is expected to sell for around $40,000 in our money, after US government subsidies.

Asked whether the Opel Ampera-e was one of the 24 new models GM Holden has promised to offer Australians by 2020, spokesman Sean Poppitt said: "If it’s made in RHD and if a compelling business case could be built, you can be sure that Holden will take a very close look at all products available to us from the wider GM stable."