SLOW CHEVROLET VOLT

GoodCarBadCar is on the record - if not already, then now - as saying that the Volt should succeed; will hopefully succeed; and freakin' better succeed, if GM is going to survive past 2020.

However, could there be a worse promo video, ever? I recognize that the Volt is a fragile concept car (most are), and that there is more to this video than simply blowing the doors off of the neighbour's Camaro. But, I can see the flecks of dust on a rotating spoke. C'mon. This is sad. I hope the Volt doesn't end up being portrayed as a Granny car. It looks so good, it has such potential. Spin it like they did the Bugatti Veyron prototype. That was awesome.

CHEVROLET VOLT, ORLANDO, AND CRUZE MAKE APPEARANCES UNDER EIFFEL TOWER

Completed almost 110 years ago, Gustave Eiffel's radio broadcasting and observation tower, one of the world's most famous free-standing structures, now sits over a new engineering marvel. Ironically, French automaker Citroen made use of the Eiffel Tower with 250,000 lights spelling out the company name in 1925. 

Now a foreign manufacturer has pictures on the internet of the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Orlando in a not-so-subtle way of showing their rightfulness in the world market. Few European elements are as un-American as the Eiffel Tower. Even with a replica in Las Vegas, this Paris landmark forms a barrier that speaks volumes about the differences between the United States and, really, the rest of the world.

Dominant in so many things, America's automotive capabilities have not measured up in Europe. General Motors wants that to change with the Cruze and Orlando. The Volt, meanwhile, should stand as a symbol of GM's ability to find solutions with R&D and, to be frank, determination. 

GM would like to be seen for what it once was, the largest home of automotive innovation and engineering. If BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and niche manufacturers continue to be the focus of regard, how can General Motors conquer markets where once it was competitive?

As pictures of the GM's desired future then, the Volt and Cruze and Orlando sit in a place where 200,000,000 people have toured, the world's most visited paid monument. 

THE DID-NOT-DRIVES FROM MILFORD

Two vehicles not seen on course at my recent trip to General Motors' Milford Proving Grounds were upcoming Chevrolet vehicles. You'll see the next-gen Malibu before long in your neighbour's driveway (or perhaps your own), the Volt is still a long way off. We can only hope that it'll retain bold styling and become a production reality while GM/Chevrolet is still riding a Volt-size wave of hype.

Whether or not Chevrolet's Malibu is a roaring sales success; we can't know for sure. Here's The Good Car guy's expert analysis: Chevrolet will sell plenty of Malibu's in the next year or two, but unless people feel as though the Malibu is a worthy alternative to Accord & Camry, its sales success will be tempered by high incentives and low resale values. If the Malibu is perceived as an even better vehicle than the Accord and Camry, not only will it sell, but it'll sell at its MSRP. Apart from that, year's two or three thru the end of its life cycle will see a good effort put to waste, aided only by the high-value quotient it will provide.

The Volt is a plug-in hybrid. GM would prefer you to title it more accurately, and so we should, as an electric car with a range extender. That extender is an internal combustion engine which can power-up the battery pack when needed. The Volt may be well be future of automotive technology. The Volt and Malibu are both pictured here inside our lunch room. Odd though the Volt may be, it can't be powered by chicken caesar salad, though the photo may indicate that to be the case.

TopSpeed.com has extensive Volt info here.

Chevrolet's HHR (designed by PT Cruiser stylist Bryan Nesbitt) was shown alongside the proving ground's 'Black Lake' in SS form. Should be a pretty quick people-mover. And, another vehicle we weren't asked to drive is the Chevrolet Express you see in the background. Such disappointment. We were, however, driven in Express/Savana's extensively, to and from the Inn at St. John's as well as at MPG. Pick-up was provided at the airport in a Chevrolet Tahoe (plastered in E85 Ethanol decals) and I was delivered back to the airport Wednesday morning in a similarly liveried Avalanche.

RICK WAGONER SAYS VOLT TECHNOLOGY IS THE SOLUTION FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS

Don't be fooled by your own reverse psychology. The reason the press pays so much attention to Paris Hilton or Spears' return to the MTV Awards is counter-intuitive. Media attention poured out on the Chevrolet Volt makes complete sense.

No other major automobile manufacturer is as ready to mass-produce plug-in hybrids (or electric vehicles with range extenders as General Motors likes to say) as the Detroit conglomerate known as The General. Badges as a Chevrolet and likely to be priced above every car in its range except the Corvette, the Volt is powered by electricity, and gas if need be. Under electric power, there'll be 150 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. There's not much wonder then that GM's boss, Rick Wagoner, speaks with such strong hyperbole. The question is, are Wagoner's statements in this YouTube clip really all that hyperbolicious? Have a listen.

NEW VIDEO OF GM DISPLAYING THE 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT

Chevrolet has a history of moving..... the..... Volt..... very..... slooooooowlyyyyy. Just watch this video of the concept for proof.

Nevertheless, it's exciting to see the production Chevrolet Volt in motion on YouTube. Click here for all Volt-related posts from GoodCarBadCar.net and make sure you don't fall asleep in your office chair watching..... the Volt.... drive.... doooownnn..... the.... rooooaad.

THE 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT - OFFICIALLY REVEALED

"The Chevrolet Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Chevrolet Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Chevrolet Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Chevrolet Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery."

Those are the words of General Motors. With a technological marvel, it only makes sense that the manufacturer let the words flow. So below you can read more of GM's important Volt-related stuff. There's also a full photo gallery of the new Volt. With this link, you can find previous Volt-related posts from GoodCarBadCar.net. To read The Good Car Guy's need-to-know, click here.

"Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Chevrolet Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Chevrolet Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag."

"The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Chevrolet Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Chevrolet Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Chevrolet Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units."



"The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Chevrolet Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Chevrolet Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive."

"GM estimates that the Chevrolet Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevrolet Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper."

THE GOOD CAR GUY'S NEED-TO-KNOW FOR THE CHEVROLET VOLT

First, five points The Good Car Guy believes to be necessary knowledge for all those interested in the Chevrolet Volt. This post will take you to the photo gallery and plenty of General Motors talk.

1- Powered by its electric-drive unit, the Volt makes 150 horsepower. That's half the power of the base 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, a vehicle that should hit dealers before the full-of-enviro-cred Volt.

2- Its an attention grabber, but the production Volt is nowhere near as eye-catching as the original concept, a vehicle that wasn't completely researched and developed before it was fully designed.

3- In a way, the Chevrolet Volt's fuel mileage is still unknown. There will be a fight (even Toyota wants a say) in the way its efficiency is measured. Sometimes the Volt will use plenty of gasoline (plenty being relative) while plenty of drives under 40 miles in length will consume none. How does one measure that? 100mpg, or 46mpg?

4- News that charging the Volt once a day will consume less electricity than the typical fridge and freezer is superb stuff to which GM should be drawing tons of attention. Put it in real life terms.

5- This is new tech. Don't expect the Chevrolet Volt to play in the price bracket belonging to the newly introduced Honda Insight, although you can expect huge government incentives after registering your new Volt.

PRODUCTION CHEVROLET VOLT PICTURES.... SORT OF

Call these what you may: General Motors executives trying out for America's Next Top Model or pictures of the production Chevrolet Volt.

Indeed, if... umm.. excuse me do you mind well can you kinda.... STEP ASIDE, please. The Volt is back there somewhere, looking not-too-much-at-all like the concept Volt. Do recall, Chevrolet introduced the Volt touting its technology; not its design. But we still want to know what it looks like. These pics are popping up around the web and we selected the most telling photos and cropped out as much of the models as possible. 

The Volt, says General Motors, is an electric car with a range extender. It has formed many posts here and elsewhere. Some useful links are below.

The Volt's Early Numbers 

Volt Production Timeline

Concept Volt in Slo-mo

Did-not-Drives from Milford

Volt EPA Controversy from AutoBlog

The new Honda Insight

Chevrolet's Electric page

CHEVROLET VOLT - Early Numbers

Although unable to testify to the impact the Chevrolet Volt is having on behalf of General Motors outside of North America, it is garnering plenty of attention on this continent. In fact, so called 'green' cars haven't generated hype like this since the first hybrids, Honda's Insight and the first-generation Toyota Prius. Arguably, those cars - being Japanese and not domestic alternatives - couldn't engender such lofty expectations and excitement. Here are the Numbers relative to this hotly anticipated plug-in hybrid. Oh, and follow this link to read previous GCBC Volt-related posts.

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2000 - year in which General Motors pulled the plug on the GM EV1 electric car program

2010 - year in which we expect to see production Chevrolet Volts driven by real people on real roads

78 - percent of American car owners who drive their vehicles less than 40 miles per day, the approximate distance the Volt should be able to operate exclusively electric

6 - total hours needed to charge Chevy's Volt by way of a normal outlet

28 - percentage of greenhouse gases generated by transportation in the USA

17 - estimated percentage increase in electric-power consumption were the whole U.S. vehicle fleet to convert to electric operation; while gasoline consumption would fall about 70%

40,000 - price, in USD, according to GM's Vice Chairman Bob Lutz when the Volt hits dealers

0 - dollars earned by General Motors, according to Mr. Lutz, for each Chevrolet Volt that the corporation manages to sell

VOLT PRODUCTION TIMELINE

Chevrolet's hybrid plug-in, or as they call it; an electric vehicle with range extender, debuted in Detroit about 14 months ago. Last April, GoodCarBadCar declared the Volt to be the fourth-best recent small car concept. The Good Car Guy was impressed by the exterior design of the Volt when seen in sitting near a new Malibu back in September at the Milford Proving Grounds. 

In October of 2007, General Motors somehow allowed a leak of future product plans that included the Volt. Before the end of the month, a dorky video was released with a Volt in... no, wait; it wasn't slow motion. Had us fooled, eh? Come November and we all learned of the Volt's horrible aerodynamics. 

This is April, and the chief engineer behind the Volt is quoted by Edmunds.com as saying that the Volt is, "the No. 1 priority project we have at GM." What causes the development of this particular Chevrolet so difficult? "The challenge is predicting 10 years of battery life with just two years of testing time."  

The following challenge will be finding a price point at which General Motors can lose as little money as possible to produce the Volt without creating an overpriced vehicle we'll all remember as GM's biggest mistake of the next decade. Introducing the car with a low enough price to fill the roads with Volts may enhance the need for Suburban/Tahoe/Silverado sales to cover the losses, but it'll also begin to drastically alter the public image of Chevrolet and its parent company.