Someone let the cat out of the bag, or more appropriately, let the Volt out of the garage. Spy shots of an uncovered production version of Chevy’s Volt were caught during filming for the upcoming Transformers sequel. These shots should clear up any speculation on how much General Motors needed to change the concept car to gain better aerodynamics. This is also the first time the car has been seen in painted in something other than silver, which may hint at some cool colors that will be offered when the car arrives in 2010.
There is also some really cool video (starts with all the Transformers, but then just the Volt.)
Mazda may just be pulling a trick on General Motors. While GM gets the spotlight and the pressure associated with its new Volt, Mazda may be working on a sneak attack. What makes the Volt unique is that it’s a purely electric car. Whenever the gas engine is needed, it is only used to generate power for the electric motor. Autocar is now reporting that Mazda is working on a similar type of car, using a rotary engine to charge the electric motor. Furthermore, Mazda seems to already be utilizing the technology in a test car that looks like a Mazda 5.
No word yet on what kind of batteries are being used or what kind of body Mazda will use for the new system. This may be where GM has the advantage. Much of the project resources of the Volt are being used to develop long range and lightweight lithium-ion batteries for the car. Also a lot of attention is being used to develop an original body for the car, so that it will have the least amount of wind resistance possible.
General Motors is looking to be bringing the Volt to Europe by late 2011. This is earlier than initially reported. GM needs to spread out as much of the high-cost of development and production of the gas/electric hybrid as possible, so multiple outlets are being considered. Opel is working on its own plug-in hybrid vehicles, and the Volt is expected to join that lineup. But once Opel has a strong electric presence, it is rumored that the Volt will be changed to be sold as a Chevrolet.
Chevrolet is not a name necessarily associated with quality in Europe. Most of the Chevy products there are just know for their inexpensive price because offerings are just re-badged Daewoos. The Corvette is sold over there, but not as a Chevy. Instead the sports car is presented as its own brand sold out of Cadillac dealerships. So if the Volt eventually switches to the Chevrolet name, it may give the company a much-needed image boost.
General Motors is lifting its skirt higher to show off a little more Volt. The latest pictures released today show off a tiny bit more of the gas-electric hybrid than what we saw in the Good Morning America interview earlier this week. This is a good move on GM’s part to keep all the blogs buzzing about the car. After all, this is the Volt’s second entry this week, and all we see is a little more of the body.
The Volt undoubtedly is the make or break car for General Motors. If it is successful with the new sedan, the Volt can put them at the forefront of technology. But if the car fails to live up to the promise of 40 miles on an overnight (around six hours) battery charge, then it may feel a large backlash from the media that has been following the car.
Good Morning America gets a closer look at the new Chevrolet Volt, including a preview of the production car’s looks and the interior design. A lot of rumors have been going around about the Volt and its ambitious timetable, and this report shows that GM’s own people are really feeling the crunch.
GM will have its 100th anniversary celebration in September. To mark the occasion the company will show a employees a near-production version of the Chevrolet Volt. But don’t get to excited they are the only one to see it, and the company will not allow them to use any cameras because of concerns about the competition.
The production model will be different than the concept version that was first unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2007; the original wasn’t aerodynamic enough, according to GM.
The 1.4-liter turbo engine that will power the Volt will be built at a new 530,000-square-foot plant in Flint. GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel confirmed the paperwork to build the plant had been filed. The new facility will be built near Flint Engine South and Flint Truck. The Flint City Council will meet on Aug. 25 to consider granting tax incentives for the plant.
The rest of us will have the chance to see a near-production version of the Volt in November at the Los Angeles International Auto Show or the Detroit auto show in January 2009.
The European version of the Chevrolet Volt will be built in USA under the Opel and Vauxhall logos and will go on sale in 2012.
The Opel electric vehicle essentially will be the Volt with different styling, says a source familiar with GM’s plans. The electric Volt will be built at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. It has a target date of late 2010 to launch the gasoline-electric vehicle in North America.
"The first generation of E-Flex models is based on GM’s compact class," Forster said. Yet these cars won’t be especially affordable, he said: "Customers will have to adjust to a substantial surcharge."
The price could be "up to 10,000 euros more than a comparable model with a conventional powertrain." That’s about $15,738 at current exchange rates.
GM already announced that the production version of the Volt electric car will be revealed in 2010. Until then, a showroom-ready model of the heavily touted electric car in will be presented in September.
But if you want to see the Volt in action you will have the chance in the the action movie "Transformers 2," scheduled for release next summer. Volt will be the second Chevrolet model to be featured in the movie.
GM is designing the Volt to run for 40 miles on a lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged at a standard electric outlet. The Volt will also capture energy from braking, like a traditional hybrid, and feature an on-board engine that will be used to send power to the battery on longer trips.
Even if the Chevrolet Volt is supposed to have a price of $40.000, GM hopes to sell around 70,000 units in its first two years of life: 10,000 plug-in electric Chevrolet Volts in 2011, the vehicle’s first full year of production, and 60,000 the following year.
Chairman Bob Lutz told the Free Press this is the goals "notional targets" and said the ramp-up may be a bit slower, with production volume expected to increase over the course of the first year to ensure that all vehicles built are safe and high quality.
While 70,000 in the first two years of production is the goal, he said, "the actual number is highly dependent on electrical component supplier capability and battery experience."
Lutz also confirmed that GM is still aiming to have the range-extended electric vehicle ready for sale by November 2010.
GM seems to be at big risk regarding the reveal of the Chevy
Volt. But representatives of the company are very confident and declare that the new model will work on time and as promised in terms of high quality and technology. Beyond this great confidence though there are big problems with getting the Volt technology up-to-speed within its timeframes.
Another serious difficulty is with the lithium-ion battery pack.
There are two companies fighting to win the contract and it seems that LG is in advantage as they have the 3rd-gen ready to go. And the list of problems doesn’t stop here as they still have hurdle with the car’s internal combustion range extender and with the delay in rolling out the lithium-ion batteries. After all of this, if the Volt doesn’t show up on time and as promised, GM will need to retool one of its plants to make humble pies.
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