While in town for the Detroit Auto Show, Leftlane was given an exclusive opportunity to tour the Chevrolet Volt design studio just outside of the Motor City in Warren, Michigan. While we were unable to snap any photos, we were brought up-to-date on the Volt’s progress by Bob Boniface — Director of General Motors Advanced Design Studio and the man responsible for the Volt’s design.
Because the Chevrolet Volt is so important to General Motors — one of the Volt’s posted mission statements is to “radically shift GM’s public perception” — it was given its own design studio back in June. GM transformed a seldom used auditorium in its Advanced Design Studio into the hub for Volt design. On the stage that once played host to musical acts and U.S. presidents, several designers now work diligently on finishing the Volt’s design. In all, 45 designers, sculptors and engineers are working exclusively on the Volt’s design.
The main floor of the studio is where the Volt comes to life. GM has installed a machine to carve the Volt out of clay and one finished version stands on the floor covered by a sheet. In the back corner of the studio, designer work on the Volt’s interior. The surrounding walls are covered in different Volt designs and inspiring images — such as Apple computers and blue skies.
One of the first things Mr. Boniface showed us was actually the front end of a pre-production Volt. Compared to the show car, the current design of the Volt is much more rounded and fluid. The concept’s rough edges have been rounded out and the car’s headlights look similar to the ones found on the Saab Turbo X, although a bit more stylized. Futuristic fog lights flank a wide lower grille, and the car has very few air inlets considering its electric powertrain. The upper grille is signature Chevrolet, featuring the brand’s center bar and bow tie symbol.
Leftlane was also given a sneak peak at the rear of the Volt. Unlike the front, the Volt’s rear was actually kept fairly similar to the concept car. Its edges are sharper than the ones found on the front of the car — for aerodynamic reasons — and the show car’s clear section between the taillights will make it to the production model.
According to Boniface, the Volt’s exterior is in its final stages. “General Motors hasn’t officially announced the Volt as a production vehicle, but if they did tomorrow, we’d be ready to go,” he said.
The interior, however, is lagging slightly behind the exterior. The overall dash design is nearly finished, but the gauge cluster and center stack are still being revised. The dash follows the same twin-cockpit design theme that can be found in the new Malibu and will likely feature a two-tone option. The center stack’s design is still fluid, but look for the production model to have a high-mounted gear shifter with a computer-like power button.
One of the aforementioned Volt designs adorning the walls revealed one of the Volt’s yet-to-be disclosed design cues. A clear roof will make it to production and will have a shade-changing function. The driver will be able to choose opacity settings from clear to completely dark.
The Volt’s dropped belt line will also see production, although probably not as a clear section. The Volt is tentatively schedule for ten colors, including the concept’s Volt green.
As long as the battery development keeps on track, Boniface says the Volt should make its sales target of November of 2010 with a price “south of $30,000.” Stay tuned.
01/16, 9:40 PM
posted by:
F451
Damnit…where are the photographs? Cool that you got to take the tour!
01/16, 10:07 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
OK, are all the naysayers convinced that maybe- just maybe- it might be the real deal?
01/16, 10:10 PM
posted by:
stick2clutch
Sounds like GM means business… It’s like a side of GM we haven’t seen for a long time until recently.
01/16, 10:24 PM
posted by:
V-series
“The interior, however, is lagging slightly behind the interior.” …. What?
01/16, 10:33 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
it better work like hell. No breaking down after 5,000 miles. Im worrying about how, like laptops’ batteries run down every year with full charge that last 2 and half hours when brand new, to just 25 mins after three years. It sucks.
^ V-series, thats ok, i dont even get that sentence part. Just like the rest of GM cars/trucks!! ha
01/16, 10:34 PM
posted by:
joshprentice
It’s kinda nice to see GM take a real dedicated step twords what could really change the look of the company. I can’t wait to see what they’ve done.
01/16, 11:13 PM
posted by:
GIUGIK1
Then concept was nice. The “more fluid ” follow-up was nice. If it has a nice interior, and I do mean NICE INTERIOR , then all of my family and close relatives will be getting a new car. All 7 of us.
01/17, 12:06 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
“As long as the battery development keeps on track”…..modern day weasel clause. Its all about the batteries, not the wind tunnel.
01/17, 1:05 AM
posted by:
F451
Even if GM doesn’t make the battery technology deadlines at least they will have been studying other components, and designs needed. When the battery technology arrives, they GM will be ready (or should be ready).
01/17, 1:42 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
No car company yet has been able guarentee a traction battery for the 10 years that would be required. This is the deal killer I believe for all of them. The batteries will have to be leased to make the plug in hybrid or full battery electric saleable and profitable. I doubt that GM will be the first to get it done…but lots of positive PR in the meantime.
01/17, 2:54 AM
posted by:
Rover3500
I dont see the point of the drop down into the door unless its clear..if they make it black plastic the that will be ugly as sin.
01/17, 9:57 AM
posted by:
gizmo2
Forget the design for now. If the powertrain does what GM says that the good news. Series Hybrid has always been the best way to go but all the manufacturers played it down because they didn’t want to get rid of their big blocks. Go GM bring the Volt, then I will buy an hybrid
01/17, 10:28 AM
posted by:
autonut
Murphy (the one who wrote Murphy law) advises to believe nothing what you hear(in the case of LLN read) and only half of what you see. I will have more confidence in the Volt when CEO Rick Wagoner will state that it is production specimen, not when CEO states that production date is fluid. Regardless how vehicle is shaped, which will please some and not the others, I did not read about batteries, production volume or capacity to manufacture batteries or even test on those batteries, which I believe is the key to the whole thing. The last sentence states: “As long as the battery development keeps on track”. Batteries should be well developed and to meet production goal in 2010 the supplier or the production facility of GM should be confirmed and set to go.
According to Fidel Castro Cuba is the pinnacle of civilization. Yes, he reiterated it few days ago to President of Brazil ! And BTW there are a few million schmacks in Cuba who believe as well as in US and Brazil.
01/17, 11:27 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
If the batteries are not ready they will just sell it any ways, but with a longer cord.
01/17, 11:33 AM
posted by:
corvette
i cant wait for the Volt to hit production its going to complete GM’s turnaround.
01/17, 12:04 PM
posted by:
mazdaman
It will be interesting to see the resulting production version after it has been thoroughly tweaked. As long as they keep the character of the concept and don’t dilute it with a lot of cheap, cost cutting solutions, then it should still be another successful product for GM. Some of the comments in the article have me a little worried, but I’m going to hold on to my faith that GM can still pull this one off. Their track record had been excellent lately.
01/17, 2:17 PM
posted by:
Brendino
Does their experience with the EV1 help them as they develop the Volt?
01/17, 4:20 PM
posted by:
autonut
1. EV1 was dead almost 10 years ago. Volt is brand new technology (especially batteries which are not yet developed).
2. EV1 was killed because it was complete failure. I don’t think failures moves technology forward (failures are acceptable result in science, not in engineering).
01/17, 9:46 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Engineering is a science
01/17, 10:26 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
EV-1 got 100+ miles on a charge with lead acid batteries. With the NiMH Panasonic EV batteries it got 150 miles per charge….that was 1997! Its 10 years later and they are trying to get 40 miles out of the new advanced battery pack not yet tested enough. GM won’t be the first but it does know how to do it. They really don’t want to go there just yet. Electric drive cars don’t break, and don’t give people the most common reason why they need a new car…mechanical failure. The batteries are the only weak link, and if they get to a lease/trade in basis for the battery pack, they will succeed.