10/01/2012 17:29
Vauxhall has taken a step closer to completing a hat-trick of European car of the year awards after the Ampera made it onto this year's shortlist.
The model is now on a list of just seven motors in the running to pick the 2012 edition of the prize after the field was cut down from 35.
Vauxhall has been bestowed the coveted honour twice before with the Omega scooping the industry prize in 1987 and the Vauxhall Insignia taking the trophy in 2009.
Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall chairman and managing director, is in confident moos, with the Ampera having already won a clutch industry honours.
He commented: "We are delighted that the Ampera is among the 2012 Car of the Year finalists.
"We are extremely proud of the Ampera which truly is a revolutionary electric vehicle already having won some 25 awards throughout Europe."
The news comes shortly after SMMT figures showed that Vauxhall's commercial department outsold all of its UK rivals in 2011.
Posted by Craig Salter