August14
Good Morning America got a sneak peek at the production Volt plug-in hybrid earlier this month, but General Motors has now graced us with two more official teaser images, as well as some snaps from the Volt’s development.
The new images reveal that the Volt will use some very futuristic design cues, including what looks to be LEDs for some of the car’s lighting. As the early shots proved, the production Volt will look radically different from the show car.
The General hopes to have the Volt on sale in late 2010 as a 2011MY model. However, that timing may depend on how well the Lithium Ion batteries development progresses. A task given to Continental Automotive Systems and A123 Systems. It could very well be a 2012MY car by the time Volt’s start rolling down the production line.
One thing we do know for sure if that the Volt will be riding on the next gen Delta chassis. This next gen chassis is also know as GM’s “Global Compact Car Architecture.” According UAW documents, GM seems set to build the Volt at their Hamtramck plant once the G-body Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS cease production.
Price wise, GM was hoping for an MSRP of around $30,000. It now seems that number may be closer to $35,000.
Background
The Volt project is an ambitious one. The aim is to create a vehicle that can deliver the equivalent of over 100 miles per gallon, while offering a top speed of 120 mph, and a zero to sixty time of 8.5 seconds.
The so-called plug-in hybrid aims to have a charge time of 6.5 hours, and a range of 45 miles on batteries alone. For many customers, this could mean the daily commute would require no gasoline.
As with any hybrid, an onboard generator recharges the batteries when the gasoline motor is running. What makes the Volt unique is that’s the only thing the gas motor does — in other words, it never drives the wheels directly. Maximum range — with a full tank of gas and charged batteries — is an impressive 640 miles.
The biggest news on the Volt’s development thus far is that engineers have come up with an algorithm for testing the durability of the batteries that can simulate 10 years of use — 150,000 miles — in just over two years of testing. Tests using the new algorithm are now going on around the clock in Detroit and Germany.
In an interview with Leftlane, Volt director Tony Posawatz indicated that several variations of the Volt could be in store for the future. Not only is the Volt platform being engineered to accommodate a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain in the future, but interchangeable bodies remain a real possibility. Since the hydrogen layout keeps every component in the same location, it makes it possible for GM to design different body styles — such as a sedan or van — that can be placed on the platform. This versatility means your Volt could be an SUV one day and a two-door coupe the next.
Official Images
Test Mule - June 30th, 2008
Test Mule - April 16th, 2008
Official Teaser
Production Volt
Original Concept
Is the production model going to be made out of clay too? Maybe that’s why it takes so long… every time it rains they have to start over.
It’s great to see actual Volt team members shown versus having to read some garbage that Lutz spews. Thanks for the additional pictures. I would like to see more and would read more from GM Volt team members. NO LUTZ crap please. Thanks.
Ya know… I think they might actually succeed in hyping this car more than Camaro.
OmigodOmigodOmiGOD! Another headlamp picture!!! YAYYY!
Looking pretty good so far.
Maybe the production model will be built from clay just to keep the price under 50g’s.
For Godsakes, just show us the damn thing already!
I sure hope they get this right.
As simply a bystander with minimal interest in this car, it’s getting comical with the number of spy shots and teasers and all this garbage. Is the car ever going to make it to production? NOT as long as they can’t improve battery life. Don’t think for a second they’re toying with aesthetics at this point…the damn thing doesn’t work how they want it to, and they want to preemptively quiet all the cry babies whose Volt runs out of power at 50 miles on the odo.
..and I wish all you naysayers would get off GM’s back. They made a lot of crap for a long time and I sure haven’t driven one since my dad gave me his ‘79 Monza but give ‘em a break. It takes a while to turn a ship this big around and it looks like they are getting there. If they can pull this Volt off it should shut everyone up….. Either that or it will be another Fiero and then I will join back in with the chorus calling for their demise.
Mid year 2012? At a rate of even 3 Volt articles a week over 4 years that’s over 600 updates we have to look forward to before a real one hits the streets. I’m going to need a bigger scrapbook.
They have no choice but to get it right. They’re GM. The most scrutinised company in all the land. They can’t pull a Toyota and claim 45miles a charge then deliver 30. The public won’t let them get away with that. If this were my hide riding on the car, I’d be taking my sweet time making sure it doesn’t disappoint too.
CleanGTO, what crybaby will complain about the battery running out at 50 miles, when they’ve never set the goal any higher than 45?
LOL the Fiero!! Wow, that takes me back… Ah, for the days when plastic interchangeable door panels were touted as a feature.
Swap a supercharged 3800 V6 into a Fiero… now that’s mean.
My question about the Volt is this… let’s say I floorboard the car and don’t let up… will the little generator engine be able to provide enough juice to keep the wheels turning as fast as possible until it runs out of gas… or is the car going to shut down?
So far so good.
For all you naysayers, Toyota’s next Prius won’t be this advanced, and they’ll still be selling the NiMH packs as standard. Li-ION will be optional. So while the Prius won’t be able to go longer than 1/4 mile on battery alone, the Volt will be keeping most regular commuters from having to use fuel 5 days a week.
I like the car. I won’t buy one while I have the option to buy a Challenger R/T, but I think all the negative attitudes on this car will get bit in the @$$ when this car FINALLY makes production.
Electricity travels in a path of least resistance.. Except the Volt is taking the longest route possible! Chevy is hoping the catch lighting in a bottle at the rate that it’s going. I say build two versions of Volts. First, the Volt thats made like a typical hybrid (gas engine takes over after initial pull of elec. engine) instead of the other way around (elec. engine doing most of the pull, and using gas engine only to recharge the batteries). Im sure this can be achieved quickly since the technology is already out. As this is in the market, Chevy can take their sweet time developing the technology until it is perfected. Hybrid Tahoe anyone?
The problem with that approach is that the Volt was designed from the outset to not have a normal drivetrane. No transmission, no drive shafts, none of that. Chevy would be better off making a Hybrid Malibu (why don’t they?) to tide the public over.
As a GM hater, I really like it so far. I’m just wondering what the competition is up to, it just doesnt seem so smart to be releasing all the specs that other companies are just going to improve on.
Well the competition has other alternatives.. Tesla for one has a sports roadster electric vehicle.. but at about 100 grand a pop, its out of reach for someone like me and you.. In any case, other manufacturers also have hydrogen powered cars which produces water as its by-product. At the end of the day, its the availability of fuel/charging stations that will be available to the public that will determine who comes out on top. And the availability of “hybrid stations” are a factor of the public embracing the technology, which is tied into how affordable that car will be. A combo of govn’t tax credits, no dealer markups, and reduced cost for mass productions is what I’m waiting for. Grab some snickers cuz it might take a while.
RaineMan,
They DO MAKE A MALIBU HYBRID.
Really inline6? That’s cool… I haven’t seen anything on it.
RaineMan,
http://www.chevrolet.com/2008malibu/
Scroll down, and after LS, LT, and LTZ, you’ll see the Hybrid option. It’s limited availability, but they do make it.
I think they just need to STFU already about the Volt until it gets closer to time for release. All this will do is build expectations on a car that will likely not be able to keep up with demand due to limited production for the first few years. This much hype and any disappointments will be magnified.
GM is still 2 full years from selling this car to the public. If you hype it now, it will already be old news when you actually need to sell it.
This is a great step in the right direction for GM, but I hope that when they release this vehicle it is not just limited to Southern Califorina on a lease. This car can be very prosperous for the GM brand and can win back lost customers that have moved over to the foriegn reign. I am one who have crossed to the fields of Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, because they are more focused on giving great vehicles with better MPGs than the domestics. The Volt would defiantly win me over.
I don’t know. People are still making a huge deal about the production Camaro photos, and that’s been drug out just as long. GM can’t make this a series hybrid. That would be suicide, after telling the world it is so much more than just another series hybrid. Seriously, they have to build exactly what they said they would or die trying, (literally).
I got on the Volt waiting list. Not sure why. I would NOT buy a first time try at a car like this, especially from GM.
Looks good so far. The only thing I would lose is the fake honeycomb detailing on the grille vents in the front. Otherwise, it looks like a promising departure from some of the competitors’ egg shaped dedicated hybrids.
Fack aff GM. Wake me when these pigs build it
That front end is looking good.
With Volt, GM is going to out-hype Camaro, going where no marketer has gone before. Having said that, this will be the car that saves GM’s sorry hide.
Well, HowsMyDriving, if you look very closely, you’ll be able to see the Camaro story hidden within the text of this story. I’m sure you’ll be able to spot it.
well some 34,000 people have signed an unoffical waiting list
OldRaven…point taken! That’s just what frightens me about the whole hybrid “movement”…it’s not moving!
Dear Chevy,
Please don’t crush the EV’s this time.
I hope its not GM hyping these story about the Volt or Camaro or Any of its vehicles as much as I think its LLN and other blog sites that hear something and of course write about it. Wait GM released this photos.
I do like the promising designs coming from GM lately.
The won’t show the thing because the keep f@@king it up just like they are doing with the Camero!!!