GM releases teaser image of production Volt

[jetsetter]

Earlier this year, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz announced that the production version of the Chevrolet Volt won't look like the popular concept by the same name, and today the automaker released the first teaser image of the new Volt design.

GM had hoped to keep the Volt's exterior true to the concept, but wind tunnel tests proved the design was anything but aerodynamic — an essential characteristic for a vehicle that focus on efficiency.

Lutz characterized the wind tunnel tests as a "cruel disappointment." He joked engineers could have probably "put it in the wind tunnel backwards" and got less wind resistance.

Nonetheless, Lutz says GM is 100 percent behind bringing the electric Volt to market in the next few years. He said GM was first "90 percent committed" to the project, but its confidence has risen to new heights.

What makes the Volt different from most hybrids is its gas motor is only used to charge the batteries — it never drives the wheels directly.

The concept promised a range of 640 miles with charged batteries and a full tank of gas. It also touted a range of 40 miles on batteries alone. Lutz said prototypes in early 2008 might be able to exceed that figure, running 45 miles on battery power. He made no mention of progress on overall range or fuel efficiency. The goal is roughly 100 mpg, GM has said.

Expected to go on sale in late 2010, the Volt could sell for as little as $30,000, according to previous reports. Rumors suggest GM plans to sell as many as 60,000 units in the first year of production.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/producti...e-concept.html

I am not surprised with the changes, Lutz said that would happen. The Volt concept was designed with a body to look good, not for good gas mileage.

[Mischief007]

I like these changes much much better.

GM Corporate grill at work....

[starfox07]

So its like a diesel locomotive? Thats a pretty cool solution IMO. I'll take one over a prius any day.

[Ilpav]

That looks really good, but a bit too much like the Acura TL. I think if it looks like that and sell for around $30k, it will be a big seller.

[crashmaxx]

Wow, they're are really starting to make me think they are serious here. At first I was sure the Volt was just smoke and mirrors to say "Hey, we're green, see this electric concept car?" while they otherwise carry on making inefficient crap.

But they really sound serious that they will bring this to market, and in the next few years. Especially if they are first to market with this, I think they will be even bigger then the Prius is with hippies, but if it is enough like the concept, maybe the rest of us will be giving it a good look too.

I've been saying for quite away that this design was the way to go, and I really think it is what we need to switch to ASAP. Later on as batteries get better, we get more power to the grid with less loss, and charge time drop, we will obviously move on to just electric cars. But for the mean time, this kind of hybrid is just the thing to do. You gain SO much efficiently by using the smallest engine possible and running it only at peak efficiency. Batteries and motors are already amazingly efficient, and gas is the most common and cheapest fuel, only makes sense to combine the two the best way possible.

Not to mention this allows for a ton more mods to cars. You could not just modify the engine for more efficiency and power, but rip it out all together and just use extra batteries if range isn't an issue. You can tweak the motors and speed controllers, or even replace them entirely to get a ton more power at the wheels. And you can add or remove batteries and use ones with more voltage or that supply more amps and go faster. And hopefully, by the time the included batteries go bad, even though you will still be shelling out a lot of money for their replacements, battery tech goes very fast and you could put in newer, far lighter and more powerful ones in their place.

[thedguy]

Lutz has said a billion times, they are pushing EXTREMELY hard to get this car out the door in 2010 (not sure as a MY2010, or just on lots in 2010).

I think this car will help to do one thing for a lot of people... PROVE that for 90%+ of (city) driving, an electric car with a short range is fine. Right now everyone freaks out "OMG only 100miles on a charge!" But when everyone realizes they only use 40-50 miles round trip, and then consider that they could plug-in and charge at work, or while at the shops, the demand for All electrics will go up.

As crashmaxx pointed out with modding of the electric motors and what not, GM could easily tweak out the electrics for more speed.

I think the best thing GM has going for this car right now is that they are not screaming about how it's a "hybrid." They are making it a point to stay distant from the ecomentalist asswipe in San Francisco who enjoys the smell of his own farts.

I wonder though, if this car does as well as GM (and I) hope it does, what will they do next?

[Shawn]

The front-end is a mix of Saab and the new Acura MDX.

[Deanodriver]

Looks alright, actually.

My method of gauging whether a hybrid/electric car is any good is if I'd buy it if it was available with a normal petrol engine.

That looks alright, and I believe that method of petrol/electric hybrid motoring is better than the traditional one.

[chaos386]

Originally Posted by thedguy

I wonder though, if this car does as well as GM (and I) hope it does, what will they do next?

*crosses fingers*

Solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof...

[NecroJoe]

Originally Posted by chaos386

*crosses fingers*

Solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof...

No kidding, right? At least make it an OPTION...heck, even if it were a $5,000 option (no reason it should cost that much, but...), I'd still save up.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by chaos386

*crosses fingers*

Solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof, solar panel in the roof...

Originally Posted by NecroJoe

No kidding, right? At least make it an OPTION...heck, even if it were a $5,000 option (no reason it should cost that much, but...), I'd still save up.

Current solar panels aren't worth bothering with, too low energy and way to high of cost. There is a new type coming out very soon that can be molded to shapes and will cost less so perhaps it can happen in a few years.

[Aston Martin]

Originally Posted by Shawn

The front-end is a mix of Saab and the new Acura MDX.

I was gonna say Saab.

[Hercules286]

Originally Posted by NecroJoe

No kidding, right? At least make it an OPTION...heck, even if it were a $5,000 option (no reason it should cost that much, but...), I'd still save up.

Umm, not to burst your bubble or anything, but a solar panel of that size wouldn be barely sufficient for aircon on a summer day. It'll only add weight and make the centre of gravity higher. :/

[chaos386]

Originally Posted by petarkb

Umm, not to burst your bubble or anything, but a solar panel of that size wouldn be barely sufficient for aircon on a summer day. It'll only add weight and make the centre of gravity higher. :/

No, but it would be able to significantly charge the battery when I have to leave my car to sit for hours in the boiling sun while I'm at class/work.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by thedguy

I wonder though, if this car does as well as GM (and I) hope it does, what will they do next?

An excellent question. I mean, this is a fresh take on "hybrids", and if it does everything GM says it can, it should be very successful. But it's only a response to the market. Will GM wait until someone one-ups them again? Or will they push to stay on top? I'm hoping for the latter, they've been much more aggressive lately.

[klutch]

God....I WANT this car to succeed, more than any other GM model in the last 50 years........And I hope they'll start playing with diesel-electric hybrids soon as well - can you imagine 150mpg?