Chevrolet has released additional images of the well-traveled Chevrolet Volt show car. 
Considered a near-production prototype of the vehicle that GM hopes to have on sale for the 2011 model year, these latest photos reveal more sides of the Volt, including what’s underneath its aerodynamic sedan body. Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and CEO, didn’t release many details about the Volt at the event. The Volt was driven onto the stage by GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who was joined by GM’s President and COO, Fritz Henderson. Look beyond the GM executives in the PR photos, which we brought you last week ahead of the Volt’s launch, including Lutz, Frank Weber, Vehicle Line Executive for the Volt and Bob Boniface, Volt Design Director, and you’ll see the production-ready Volt.
The General hopes to have the Volt, which is based on GM’s Delta/Global Compact Car Architecture platform, 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. Pending government incentives, GM will build the Volt at the Hamtramck, Michigan, plant that currently builds the G-body Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. Price wise, GM was hoping for an MSRP of around $30,000. It now seems that number may be closer to $35,000, though we don’t expect to hear official numbers for quite some time. 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 has a charge time of three hours, and a range of 40 miles on batteries alone. For many customers, this means that 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. From what we’ve gathered, GM intends to launch an entire line of Volt-badged vehicles offering varying forms and varying batteries to allow for a wide range of list prices. Volt will measure 177 inches long, making it a little shorter than the current Cobalt. The electric drive unit (utilizing a 220-cell, 16 kWh lithium ion battery) will put out 150 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque and will top out at 100 miles per hour. Chevy says the Volt is especially quiet to drive thanks to both the electric motor and extensive sound insulation. GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile driven under electric power, well under the 12 cents per mile when using a gasoline engine. Volt will plug into either a standard 120V household outlet or a 240V outlet. It takes about eight hours to charge the Volt on a 120V outlet and three on a 240V. GM estimates that charging will cost about 80 cents based on current energy costs, less than a household refrigerator or freezer. GM says that the interior will also be a strong point for the Volt. A driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display, seven inch touch-screen vehicle information monitor and optional navigation system will all highlight GM’s technologies. Bluetooth for cell phones and USB/Bluetooth for music will be standard. Below last week’s PR images, you’ll find Leftlane’s exclusive coverage of the Volt reveal at GM’s Centennial celebration, as well as official images of both the interior and exterior of the 2010 Volt.
Considered a near-production prototype of the vehicle that GM hopes to have on sale for the 2011 model year, these latest photos reveal more sides of the Volt, including what’s underneath its aerodynamic sedan body. Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and CEO, didn’t release many details about the Volt at the event. The Volt was driven onto the stage by GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who was joined by GM’s President and COO, Fritz Henderson. Look beyond the GM executives in the PR photos, which we brought you last week ahead of the Volt’s launch, including Lutz, Frank Weber, Vehicle Line Executive for the Volt and Bob Boniface, Volt Design Director, and you’ll see the production-ready Volt.The General hopes to have the Volt, which is based on GM’s Delta/Global Compact Car Architecture platform, 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. Pending government incentives, GM will build the Volt at the Hamtramck, Michigan, plant that currently builds the G-body Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. Price wise, GM was hoping for an MSRP of around $30,000. It now seems that number may be closer to $35,000, though we don’t expect to hear official numbers for quite some time. 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 has a charge time of three hours, and a range of 40 miles on batteries alone. For many customers, this means that 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. From what we’ve gathered, GM intends to launch an entire line of Volt-badged vehicles offering varying forms and varying batteries to allow for a wide range of list prices. Volt will measure 177 inches long, making it a little shorter than the current Cobalt. The electric drive unit (utilizing a 220-cell, 16 kWh lithium ion battery) will put out 150 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque and will top out at 100 miles per hour. Chevy says the Volt is especially quiet to drive thanks to both the electric motor and extensive sound insulation. GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile driven under electric power, well under the 12 cents per mile when using a gasoline engine. Volt will plug into either a standard 120V household outlet or a 240V outlet. It takes about eight hours to charge the Volt on a 120V outlet and three on a 240V. GM estimates that charging will cost about 80 cents based on current energy costs, less than a household refrigerator or freezer. GM says that the interior will also be a strong point for the Volt. A driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display, seven inch touch-screen vehicle information monitor and optional navigation system will all highlight GM’s technologies. Bluetooth for cell phones and USB/Bluetooth for music will be standard. Below last week’s PR images, you’ll find Leftlane’s exclusive coverage of the Volt reveal at GM’s Centennial celebration, as well as official images of both the interior and exterior of the 2010 Volt.
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