American cars rarely take center stage at European auto shows, but it has happened quite often in recent years, especially with the sixth-generation Ford Mustang and several Cadillac nameplates going global. This year's Paris Motor Show will also feature a number of American vehicles, one of which is the Chevrolet Bolt. However, don't go looking for it at the Chevy booth, as the compact electric car will sold in Europe under the Opel badge. And it will called the Ampera-e.

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Opel is already using it for the Euro-spec version of the Chevrolet Volt. But the extra "e" in the name makes quite a difference, hinting that new hatchback features an all-electric drivetrain. And, much like its American sibling, it promises to return an impressive range.

Specifically, Opel claims that the Ampera-e will be good for at least 500 km (310 miles) on a single charge. That's at least 100 km more than any other vehicle in similar segments can offer and some 200 km more than the BMW i3. However, that 500-km range might not be reached in the real world. After taking into consideration factors such as road characteristics, weather conditions, driving style, and load, Opel concluded that the Ampera-e can travel for more than 380 km (236 miles).

The impressive range also comes with strong performance figures such as a 0-to-50 km/h (31 mph) sprint of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). All these figures are courtesy of the 60-kWh battery and the 204-PS (201-horsepower) and 360-Nm (266-pound-feet) electric motor. Opel's new electric car is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2017.

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Why it matters

It was just a matter of time before the Chevrolet Bolt crossed the pond to Europe to get its Opel badge, but it happened sooner than we expected. It's been just a few weeks since Chevy released the full specs for its small EV and the Opel Ampera-e is already attending its first major auto show in Europe. But this is great news for the European EV market and especially for drivers who are looking to purchase their first electric cars. Not only does the Ampera-e come with a tremendous range; it's also equipped with the latest connectivity technology and offers plenty of room for up to five passengers. Logic dictates that other carmakers should now up the ante and create better electric cars, a process from which customers will benefit the most.