Chevrolet Volt

[Jak]

If they keep the Volt with the concepts looks, I wouldn't mind one. Though I gotta wonder how it would hold up under changing weather conditions, like winters with temps below zero, ect.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Jak

If they keep the Volt with the concepts looks, I wouldn't mind one. Though I gotta wonder how it would hold up under changing weather conditions, like winters with temps below zero, ect.

Its being restyled. Apperently the aerodynamics "worked better when we put the thing in backwards" or words to that effect. But it should still look more like its concept and less than a prius or ev1, well at least I'm hoping it does

[Jak]

Ahhh, might not look to bad then, have to wait an see what the final version looks like.

[theholycow]

http://www.greencar.com/features/che...-aerodynamics/

Don’t expect the 2010 Chevy Volt to look exactly like the concept car. GM officials assure us that it will be recognizable as the Volt, but aerodynamic considerations are taking priority over the original concept’s bold styling statement.

Realistically speaking, though, if you want to see many on the road they're going to have to either look good or beat the Prius in functionality. More will sell with lower electric-only range and pretty styling than with longer electric-only range and boring/ugly styling.

[TAG UR IT]

The Volt, once released, is going to kick the Prius's ass in sooooo many ways.

[AirGoya]

As far as looks go, i think thats another place where the Prius will be wayyy behind. These are about all the sneak peaks we have. The first pic is one of a small model shaped like the volt doing aero testing.
The headlight looks cool and modern.

[DGthe3]

I found this article on autoblog, then read the whole thing (its 5 pages)
History of Volt/Future of GM

Its a really good read, and I really wish I was on that engineering team!

[boxmonkeyracing]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Or maybe people didn't want to compromise when they bought a car? The EV-1 was a break through for electric cars but it was still far behind regular vehicles in terms of practicality. There was very little public demand for electric cars then. If it wasn't for California it probably wouldn't have been built. The people didn't want that car. Sure some did, but most would rather have a regular car and so thats what people bought. There weren't people going to saturn dealerships accross the country demanding to get one, a few yes but not very many. I believe that GM destroyed the EV-1s because of long term issues with them though I'm not 100% sure on that.

Its funny you should mention the H2. They built it because people wanted a smaller, less expensive, and more fuel efficient hummer. Its better on the environment than the H1

The EV1 was a test program and they were leased from GM. at the end of the lease GM collected the cars took the data from them and destroyed the cars. A lot of the Tech that was learned in that program is in use today in current hybrids and battery tech. why do people always insist they killed it? it was a test program. . . oh well.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by boxmonkeyracing

why do people always insist they killed it? it was a test program. . . oh well.

Most people think that because of a lovely documentary...one that I would wish to burn all copies of.

But others (as I'm sure DGthe3 did) just meant 'killed' as in ended.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Most people think that because of a lovely documentary...one that I would wish to burn all copies of.

But others (as I'm sure DGthe3 did) just meant 'killed' as in ended.

Thanks for the show of support, but uh, umm, I never said that GM killed the EV1. In fact, I generally blame California. And I also consider the Volt to be the 'EV2'

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Thanks for the show of support, but uh, umm, I never said that GM killed the EV1. In fact, I generally blame California. And I also consider the Volt to be the 'EV2'

...okay. So I didn't read your post, just monkeyboxracing's. You wanna make something of it?
j.k.




Sorry!!

[AFSNightrod]

I remember seeing a couple of EV-1s(at least I think they were those) at New England dragway back in like 1999. All I know was that their E.T.s were pathetic. I know I'm being harsh, but 22 seconds? They couldn't get out of their own way! It was a nice break from the noise though. They were basically silent going down the track. Ok back on topic... I really am looking forward to the Volt. With fuel prices going the way they are going we need more cars like this to come out to slow demand for fuel, which in turn will hopefully keep a few cents per gallon in my pocket when I'm filling up my Camaro. I just can't wait until this technology is more mainstream. 30K to save some extra money is still a bit of a status symbol, as the people who would benefit most(don't get me wrong we all benefit greatly, but I'm talking about college students with part-time jobs and blue-collar workers who have long commutes) from the technology don't make enough money to afford a 30K car.

[Chevyrocker]

yes, but technology has advanced considerably...

[AFSNightrod]

Yes it definitely has, and obviously the focus of these cars isn't on performance as well. I just believe that consumers should get performance at least close to, if not equal to most cars on the road today for all the money they are shelling out.