Opel Ampera elected "Car of the Year"

Opel Ampera (or Chevrolet Volt) was announced as "Car of the Year (CotY) 2012" at the Palexpo in Geneva Monday, on the eve of the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show. "The Ampera/Volt, with a petrol engine operating as a generator when needed, faces the so called 'range anxiety' of battery-driven car users with the concept of an 'Extended range EV'," said the official website of the CotY Organizing Committee. "GM has addressed the concerns on heat control of the lithium-ion battery pack with new solutions. The problem with the batteries is solved," it said. After almost half a century of publishing the result on late November, the CotY Organizing Committee has reached an agreement with the Swiss annual show to disclose the winner in Palexpo each Monday prior to the first press day. The candidates have been selected among the cars put on sale in Europe during the previous calendar year with foreseeable yearly sales of at least 5,000 units. A short list of seven finalists has been issued early January, following a simple vote by the 59 Jury members representing 23 European countries. Among the finalists are Citroen DS5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel (Vauxhall) Ampera, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen UP. The 82nd Geneva Motor Show will open to the public since March 8 and will last 10 days.