No big surprises here. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has already been shown in production form, but this is the first time we've seen multiple prototypes on the road at once. In this case, they were in Death Valley undergoing some hot weather testing.
Heat is a big problem with electric cars. Not how well they can take it, but how much the batteries produce on their own. Safe to say that if these Volt prototypes managed to stay cool in these conditions they should do fine just about anywhere else in the U.S. Video after the break.
venom650 says:
11:25 PM, 10/11/09
Why so ugly, it looks like a boxy prius. GM is taking a big risk with this car. I don't think it will fair well.
4g63 says:
11:54 PM, 10/11/09
about time. lets see if this car will save GM.
ag4 says:
04:02 AM, 10/12/09
With an estimated $40K price tag, this car will not save GM, but it could improve their "Green" image.
The more affordable "similar sized" Chevy Cruze has more chances of saving GM.
94_gsr_cpe says:
04:15 AM, 10/12/09
Why is everything starting to look like a honda civic....
zoomzoomn says:
04:37 AM, 10/12/09
I keep saying that "green", or even "greener" technology is fine, but to succeed you have to find a way to get it into the hands of the masses. $40K+ won't do that. That said, the Volt is a good effort that will likely fail unless there are some REALLY aggresive lease deals. As far as styling goes, it's ok and right along the new Chevy familial look. The only thing for me that stands out as odd is the huge black extensions below the greenhouse. Just plain weird all for the sake of making it look less squatty?
hondacura4 says:
05:16 AM, 10/12/09
"lets see if this car will save GM"
One potentially good vehicle cant save a car company, just ask Pontiac and/or Saturn.
I do agree that the Volt is critical to GM's green image but its price seems to be a bit outrageous especially when Toyota will have a plug-in Prius shortly which will more than likely be cheaper. Given all the hype and publicity this car has received it has no choice but to deliver in all areas. If it doesn't it will be picked apart by auto publications but to a much higher degree than normal. The quality, performance, efficiency...everything has to be perfect with this car.
tasbro says:
06:34 AM, 10/12/09
"Why is everything starting to look like a honda civic...."
Because the wind wants it that way.
zoomzoomn says:
06:57 AM, 10/12/09
A couple of interesting details on the interior pic. First, note the computer display about the guage cluster. It reads "error...tcm reconnected...>>".
That's cool stuff (whatever it means). Hopefully they will fix that, right? :) Also, I noticed that they got the steering wheel mounted controls right! The cruise is on the left and the audio on the right. It's a small nuance, but it drives me crazy. Alot of cars are the opposite. It makes more sense (and my brain looks for) the controls to be near the device they operate. Nice touch, GM.
sabastian says:
09:06 AM, 10/12/09
Production in late 2010? That feels like a really long time from now.
xprojected says:
09:27 AM, 10/12/09
"Why is everything starting to look like a honda civic...."
"Why so ugly, it looks like a boxy prius."
The aerodynamic shape improves fuel economy/power efficiency, which is sort of the whole point of this car. Also, it's the year 2009, so cars are going to start looking, you know, slightly different than they did 30-40 years ago.
rivernile says:
06:32 PM, 10/12/09
Production slated for late 2010? It seems that I have been reading that this car is about to be released any day now for the past 3-4 years. If they delay any longer, GM is going to lose big time. Mitsubishi, Nissan and company will all be releasing their versions of the electric cars soon. Come on GM, release the car already!
blaze_orange says:
07:03 PM, 10/12/09
It looks like a Civic Hybrid did the nasty with a Chevy Caprice!
Still, good to see these things coming along.
stingray454 says:
09:17 AM, 10/13/09
It's got a lot of masking and cladding on it. If you've seen the Volt in person at the car show, it's actually a very attractive vehicle. 100 times better looking than a Prius.
Most of you naysayers are very short sighted, like I'm sure most of the automotive press will be when they review this car. The $40k price tag is simply a stepping stone, and will be VERY temporary. Also remember that the government will offer huge rebates on this car to the tune of about $7k, bringing it down to $33k. GM knows $40k is too much for the general public, and is already developing the 2nd and 3rd generation of the E-Flex platform, even before the 1st gen is produced. The primary mission of the 2nd and 3rd generations is to lower the production costs to bring the price point down to economy car levels.
Don't forget the E-Flex platform is highly flexible and modular - it's a brilliant design in that it can use a variety of different generator power plants with minimal design change: gas engine, diesel, hydrogen, fuel cell, turbine, etc. It can also be used in many different vehicle platforms/chassis. The Volt is only the first of many vehicles that GM will have plug-in hybrid technology for. The Cadillac Converj concept shown last year showcases that flexibility.
Think big people. Don't be a lemming.
subafly says:
04:11 PM, 10/14/09
The shape is a compromise between aerodynamics and conventionalism.
It may be a "spy video" but GM posted 22 pics on their Volt Facebook page yesterday so...
subafly says:
04:13 PM, 10/14/09
94_gsr_cpe says:
04:15 AM, 10/12/09
Why is everything starting to look like a honda civic....
To me it looks like a Lancer.
bcphillips8 says:
04:49 PM, 10/18/09
This is supposed to cost $40,000? It looks more like $18,000. Come on GM. What are you guys thinking?
rocket_ says:
09:48 PM, 10/18/09
WHY did they CHANGE the hood to a CLAMSHELL design?
The stupid cut line on the front fender only ADDS to the fugliness and fussiness at the base of the a pillar: door frame cuts into the pillar, 'cheater panel' is a bizarre trapezoid shape ... above another bizarre, chrome-ringed trapezoid, above the circular plug-in lid.
The Volt officially now has the Stupidest Front Fender in the history of cars. So stupid. So ugly.
rocket_ says:
09:49 PM, 10/18/09
P.S. Your comment sign-in and submission process is infuriating. Please look into it. Tip: try logging in with the wrong password and count how many broken links you can find.