Show Us Your Motors!

Ampera was definitely ahead of it's time I think. £34k was more money than people wanted to pay, even with the cost savings which for a lot of people could be huge (depends on your commute, and ability to plug it in).

Unfortunately they cost a huge amount to produce (as the cost has to include electric motors, battery AND an ICE). Sales rates did not support this.

It's a shame as the new Volt is better than ever, but once bitten, twice shy etc.

One thing, it's technically not a hybrid. It's a range extender (more like an i3 in range extender form). The ICE generates electricity for the electric motors, which is a different set-up from a hybrid.
 
Joe T said:
e as the new Volt is better than ever, but once bitten, twice shy etc.

One thing, it's technically not a hybrid. It's a range extender (more like an i3 in range extender form). The ICE generates electricity for the electric motors, which is a different set-up from a hybrid.
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Not true, charge depletde or charge sustain it has a 3rd clutch to allow direct drive. Far more effocient so was implemented quite late in development.
 
Here's how it all works. What I find clever is it does it all so smoothly you would not notice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX5ZwzNwTc4

I tried a Mitsubishi PHEV before I bought the Ampera but was disappointed that even with a full battery it still needs the engine when you accelerate hard whereas the Ampera will go full throttle from 0 - 105mph (Limited) on motor and battery.

It's reasonably nippy too with 370NM of torque.

I have a build video of the Mini for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctwj3lgIt7A

Before anyone asks why...... It was previously a 1.3 Auto 50BHP, what I wanted was a reliable 100+ BHP and a 5 speed manual gearbox. To get that from an A series costs around £4-5K. The engine is probably best know for being fitted to Vauxhall Nova GTE's but it was also fitted for a very limited period to an Astra GLSi which is the donor car I sourced.

The donor car cost £300 but I spent £2k in total, I fully rebuilt the gearbox / engine with all new parts and had driveshafts made rather than cut and shut.
 
Can we go back a bit and discuss how awesome it is that a Golf R wagon exists - awesome sleeper car there and had no idea it launched!
 
millermilla said:
I have a build video of the Mini for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctwj3lgIt7A

Before anyone asks why...... It was previously a 1.3 Auto 50BHP, what I wanted was a reliable 100+ BHP and a 5 speed manual gearbox. To get that from an A series costs around £4-5K. The engine is probably best know for being fitted to Vauxhall Nova GTE's but it was also fitted for a very limited period to an Astra GLSi which is the donor car I sourced.

The donor car cost £300 but I spent £2k in total, I fully rebuilt the gearbox / engine with all new parts and had driveshafts made rather than cut and shut.
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[STALKER MODE]

You're in BH!! I'm also in BH! You also have/had an ERA Mini (from one of your other vids). Do you know Tony with the VW camper van(s) and the (now departed) knackered black Citroen ZX? I live next door to him. I remember seeing an ERA outside his house many moons ago and wondering what it was (Tony subsequently filled me in on what it was).

Nice job on the conversion - it looks really clean and sounds rather good (good hoon route there too):cool:

[/STALKER MODE]
 
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It's a small world, yes I know Tony very well although not spoken to him for a while, must give him a call. Amazed the Citroën died, I thought that would last forever!
 
millermilla said:
It's a small world, yes I know Tony very well although not spoken to him for a while, must give him a call. Amazed the Citroën died, I thought that would last forever!
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Ha! Cool!

Yeah, the Citroen was incredibly crusty in the end. He's replaced it though - with another ZX, this time a rather clean white estate. No idea how he managed to find it!
 
millermilla said:
Well spotted :) It's a C16SE 1.6 8v with 100bhp. Lots of fun in a mini and gives it a 5 speed gearbox and the reliability of multipoint injection. I built it a couple of years ago over winter when I got bored. It's a lot of fun to drive.
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Just watched your driving vid, it sounds well and looks a lot of fun! Fair play, that's a really well matched engine to a little car :) We used to chuck them in cheap old 1.2 Nova's back in the day, solid little motors!
 
Recently bought this, and really do enjoy it.

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Interior wasn't to my taste at first but it is unique :p

I was on the hunt for about 4-6 weeks til this one cropped up.
 
[TW]Fox;29041531 said:
The 320i and the 330i have the same engine just in different states of tune...
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I was talking about the proper 330i you pedant, not these new 2.0L turbo ****wagons.
 
[TW]Fox;29048280 said:
And massive wheels. And a bodykit. And an R badge on every panel.

So yea, quite the sleeper :D
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To be fair, Clarkey didn't even know it was an R :D

Could confuse it with an R-Line and most cars have massive wheels nowadays.

Just knocked up a rear shot. Didn't take too many as the weather was pants.

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Also proof there's absolutely no need for the quad exhausts, the centre ones are spotless.
 
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