We can’t wait for the hotly-anticipated Chevrolet Volt to launch in the United States later in 2010. International markets, however, will not be as fortunate: while GM has displayed Opel and Vauxhall versions of the Volt outside the U.S. (named Ampera), The General has been rather unspecific about the launch date of the vehicle on more than one occasion.

But there’s hope at the end of the tunnel: we’ve learned that the Opel Ampera will begin pre-production later in April in preparation for its Europe launch for the 2012 model year, meaning that the Opel-branded Volt is still about one year away – at best. For those readers across the pond however, we currently have no information about the right-hand-drive Vauxhall Ampera.

This news comes to us on the heels of General Motors’ announcement that Volt pre-production has begun and that GM has partnered with Con-Edison in preparation for the launch of the much-anticipated plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. And that’s not to mention yesterday’s big reveal – the Chevy Volt MPV5.

Click past the break for a full gallery of the Opel Ampera.

2012 Opel Ampera