2011 Chevrolet Volt Named Motortrend Car of the Year

[DGthe3]

Not surprised at all, the Volt deserves it. I can't really think of anything else that would have been a close contender.

[DarthNacho08]

[bigearl]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Not surprised at all, the Volt deserves it. I can't really think of anything else that would have been a close contender.

Agreed, "has the potential to be a gamechanger".

[a_Username]

GM undeniably deserved this.

[stratosphere]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Not surprised at all, the Volt deserves it. I can't really think of anything else that would have been a close contender.

given the $44k price tag of the Volt, i would say the Cruze might have been a better choice...

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by stratosphere

given the $44k price tag of the Volt, i would say the Cruze might have been a better choice...

Cruze doesn't have the capability to eliminate gas from most commutes.

The point of the award isn't about how much a car costs (the GT-R won in 2009). It's about innovation and technological advances. The Cruze, while certainly best in class, doesn't come anywhere close to how technologically advanced the Volt is.

[truth411]

I hope GM is smart and Market the Hell out of this car, kinda like how Ford Markets its Ecoboost though Gm had that tech before ford did.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by stratosphere

given the $44k price tag of the Volt, i would say the Cruze might have been a better choice...

Here is how MT picks their car of the year:

Originally Posted by Motor Trend

ADVANCEMENT IN DESIGN
Quality execution of exterior and interior styling; innovation in vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
Integrity of total vehicle concept and execution, clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; use of cost-effective technologies that benefit the consumer.

EFFICIENCY
Low energy consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set.

SAFETY
Primary safety -- the vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash -- as well as secondary safety measures that protect its occupants from harm during a crash.

VALUE
Price and equipment levels measured against those of vehicles in the same market segment.

INTENDED FUNCTION
How well the vehicle does the job its designers and product planners intended.



Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/...#ixzz15UpfTbkD

Based on those categories I'd say that the Volt would edge out the Cruze for Design, dominate it (and every other car in contention) in engineering excellence and efficiency, be essentially equal for safety, score a bit lower in value, and beat it in intended function. In 3 areas, the Volt has a huge advantage over the Cruze, and the other 3 are fairly close. Advantage: Volt.

[JoeP@TeamBeckyD]

Wanted to share these photos...

Look.... what's in my garage...

This is the future....
and the future is...

WOW!

Unbelievable to Drive!!!!!

[FenwickHockey65]

Becky, the amount of jealousy going through my head right now is indescribable. :(

[JoeP@TeamBeckyD]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Becky, the amount of jealousy going through my head right now is indescribable. :(

c'mon over.....

I have space for GM people.....(LIKE YOU!):


It is .....very.....


AND IS ....ABSOLUTELY.....
UNBELIEVABLE!! ....

[motorhead]

I have to sort of laugh a little at this thread because the same folks that run down Mags like motortrend for being full of fail when tests don't go how they think they should are now praising them now that they picked a GM car for car of the year. Sorry but just a funny observation. Are they good sources or not?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by motorhead

I have to sort of laugh a little at this thread because the same folks that run down Mags like motortrend for being full of fail when tests don't go how they think they should are now praising them now that they picked a GM car for car of the year. Sorry but just a funny observation. Are they good sources or not?

Umm ... just about everyone in the automotive industry agrees that the Volt is absolutely kick-ass, from journalists to competitors they all agree that the fact GM even pulled it off in ~3 years is amazing. That they did it so well is unbelievable. People from Nissan has even come out and said that while the Leaf was hard, its nothing compared to the Volt. That sort of thing doesn't happen very often.

This isn't some comparison where you can nit-pick on tiny details like which model or options were chosen for the test. They evaluate the car and don't make many direct comparions between the nominees, which is evident in their criteria like "Performance of Intended Function" instead of basing off of more conventional metrics.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Umm ... just about everyone in the automotive industry agrees that the Volt is absolutely kick-ass, from journalists to competitors they all agree that the fact GM even pulled it off in ~3 years is amazing. That they did it so well is unbelievable. People from Nissan has even come out and said that while the Leaf was hard, its nothing compared to the Volt. That sort of thing doesn't happen very often.

I think you missed my point. I too agree that the volt is a great car. My observation had more to do with people on here running down Mags like motortrend when they have articles that they don't agree with only to turn around and give them a pat on the back when they write something that goes their way.