That’s right - a color-naming contest.
What’s even more surprising was the fact that over 13,000 people submitted their ‘entries’ for the contest, which, as we’ve said, has been narrowed down to three colors. These three colors are “EV-ergreen", which was submitted by Devin McQuarrie of San Jose, CA, “Viridian Joule”, which was submitted by Dave Thomas of Sanford, FL, and “environMINT”, which was submitted by Matthew Valbuena of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
Voters can now cast their votes over at the Chevy Volt->ke2721 website with only one vote per IP address will be counted over the next two weeks. The contest will conclude on December 1 in Los Angeles where a winner will be officially announced. The three finalists will also be brought to LA for the official announcement and as a prize; the winner will get to take the Volt in its winning color out for a test drive, becoming the first outsider to be given the opportunity.
It’s not much for a prize, to be honest. We were kind of expecting Chevy to give the winner a Volt model of his own. After all, he was the one who thought of the color of the car.
PRESS RELEASE:
Every Vote Counts: Finalists in Chevrolet Volt Color Contest Compete to be First to Test-Drive a Volt
Nearly 13,000 consumers submitted entries
Every state represented with at least one name entry
Consumers vote Nov. 16 through Dec. 1 to decide the winner
Winning name will be announced Dec. 1 in Los Angeles
DETROIT – "Chargetruse," "Recharge Silver," and "Voltaic Platinum" are among the nearly 13,000 entries consumers submitted in Chevrolet Volt's paint color name contest. Chevrolet has named three finalists whom will compete for a chance to be the first consumer to test-drive a pre-production Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle.
Chevrolet selected "EV-ergreen" offered by Devin McQuarrie, 30, of San Jose, CA; "Viridian Joule" submitted by Dave Thomas, 40, of Sanford, FL; and "environMINT" entered by Matthew Valbuena, 30, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Chevrolet chose the three finalists based equally on originality, creativity and the ability to capture the innovation and spirit of the Volt.
Consumers now determine the winner by voting for the favorite name of the three at "http://www.chevroletvoltage.com" through 8 a.m. ET on Dec. 1. The finalists and a guest each will travel to Los Angeles where the winner will be announced by Chevrolet on Dec. 1. Votes are limited to one per person, per internet protocol address during the voting period.
About 27,000 people – or half of all visitors to "http://www.chevroletvoltage.com" during the entry period Oct. 22 through Nov. 4 – submitted a color name.
The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended-range capability. It can drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to more than 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.
Production for the Volt is expected to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.