📰 Auto News 2011 Chevy Volt revealed

[Mook]

Though its first official public debut isn't scheduled until early next week, the 2011 Chevy Volt has been introduced to the internet early courtesy of the The Car Connection, which published these apparently official pictures of the revolutionary series hybrid today. In the past few weeks we've seen official teasers shots of the car mixed with spy video taken on the set of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, all of which have only served to increase excitement ahead of the car's official debut next week. These pics give up the goods like no others, however, and show various GM execs and engineers directly responsible for its development posing alongside like proud papas. The list includes, in order, Tony Posawatz, Bob Lutz, Bob Boniface, Frank Weber, and Andrew Farah.

What we see is a vehicle about the size of the current Chevy Cobalt or next-gen Cruze with a very aerodynamic front end and high rear decklid. There are some futuristic design elements too, including the LED fog lights, black expanse beneath the windows and Volt badging attached to the sideview mirrors. Perhaps the most poignant pic of all is Lutz himself doing a double-handed lean on the production Volt, as GM's product czar has been the most visible figure during the car's very public development.

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[Bob Kazamakis]

sooooo its a car for corporate stiffs?

 

[Mr Baytchos]

what happened to the concept

 

[Mook]

sooooo its a car for corporate stiffs?

read

 

[Bru]

The Lutzinator himself:

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

not bad

 

[Yaj Yak]

i dont know much, maybe someone can fill me in, is it a hybrid, or completely electric?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

read

momma never taught me hows...i only came in for the pictures

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

i dont know much, maybe someone can fill me in, is it a hybrid, or completely electric?

i think full electric that u can plug into your home

 

[Bru]

i dont know much, maybe someone can fill me in, is it a hybrid, or completely electric?

It's an electric car with a small gasoline engine that solely charges the battery. The engine is not connected to the drive wheels. Estimates say It can go up to 40 miles on electric charge only. But when that charge dwindles, the gas engine fires up to charge the battery.

Edit: it's also a plug-in.

 

[Mook]

momma never taught me hows...i only came in for the pictures

momma said there my magic shooes

 

[Yaj Yak]

It's an electric car with a small gasoline engine that solely charges the battery. The engine is not connected to the drive wheels. Estimates say It can go up to 40 miles on electric charge only. But when that charge dwindles, the gas engine fires up to charge the battery.

Edit: it's also a plug-in.

Thank you sir.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

do we have a price range set for it yet? in for highly priced cobalt!

 

[Bru]

I've heard estimates of around $40,000

 

[Mook]

same here

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

holy shit.

 

[Bru]

40 miles is a long-ass distance on electric only. The plug-in Prius will likely only go 10-13 miles on a charge.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

ya but we all know 40 miles is really not that far nowadays

 

[Spicy McHaggiz]

anyone else think Honda Civic when they saw it?

 

[Bru]

ya but we all know 40 miles is really not that far nowadays

I disagree. My commute is 5 miles one way to the train station. There are thousands of people who do that same commute everyday in my area. If all I did was go to the train station and back, that's theoretically one work week I wouldn't have to use gas.

 

[Mr Baytchos]

anyone else think Honda Civic when they saw it?

I see a prius with a chevy grill

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

http://www.zapofoakforest.com/ seems like a better deal if all you care about is commuting

if i only had a 5 mile commute i would ride my bike

 

[Bru]

The Volt is large enough to be usable as a daily car, and is not a skateboard with an electric motor like the Zap cars.

This is without a doubt a large breakthrough in the automotive realm, but I do think Chevrolet has a marketing hurdle to overcome with selling a Cobalt or Cruse sized car for $40,000.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

i think the idea is cool but the end product leaves something to be desired. if i had a shorter commute (0-15 miles) i would ride my bicycle to work. if i had a longer commute i would stick with what i got. i think $40K isnt a good deal for a around town car. i think if it had a longer capacity then it could be viable; say 200+ miles. sure its a stretch but i only see hollywood buying these to replace their prius; not the average person.

 

[Bru]

The technology has to start somewhere, and like all new technology it will start priced high and gradually come down. People wouldn't have a problem spending $40,000 if it were an Acura electric car that did the same thing, but being a Chevy I would agree that it's probably not going to be embraced by average America shopping for a Malibu or Camry.