Chevy Volt's first pre-production model now on the road, in testing
By Ross Miller 
posted Jun 26th 2009 12:38AM
posted Jun 26th 2009 12:38AM
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Neat.
Yeah it wasn't even cool enough to get a line in Transformer: RotF
Yet another ugly electric car with a fat, mountainous ass.
The Volt is essentially a PR manuever: It exists, and thus takes heat off GM, but is ugly enough to reduce demand and allow GM to go on doing business as usual.
If GM was really serious about selling this electric car they would have hired someone who was not 10 years old to design the facia and what not of this car.
Hey, if I blow a good $50K on a new type of car I want it to look like something batman or Captain Elektro would drive, not another losermobile.
America shold be ashamed of their products. Darn busted up Honda civic with a broken motor still goes for more than an american car. The only thing America made good was BIG BLOCK 4 Barrel PONTIACS.
Everyone says $40K, can anyone point to a document that mentions the price.
Why buy this if the Honda Insight is under $20K? I doubt it's worth the extra +$20K.
Insight is not a plug-in afaik.
It looks better than any Prius ever has. I just wish they would have left some more definitive lines in it.
It looks exactly like a Prius. The only difference is that it's shorter and has a longer nose.
My first thought was "looks like a crappy chevy-made body kit strapped on a Prius."
GM has always been really good at making concepts look neat, and making production versions really crappy and boring.
Double neat.
Sweet.
Wow.. its, kinda ugly...
How is this ugly?
It may not be as sexy as the concept, but it's still quite a bit better than Chevy's other models.
It looks like as Prius and a Ford Focus had a illegitimate love child.
I still fail to see how that could be considered ugly. Generic, yes. Ugly, no.
gonna have to go with ugly as well, either that or black is really unflattering. the silver spoiler? really.
the proportion from the front end to the back just look really weird
gonna have to go with ugly as well, either that or black is really unflattering. the silver spoiler? really.
the proportion from the front end to the back just look really weird
It's definitely better looking than the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.
What part of preproduction didn't you get? The color and the spoiler could and will easily change before it ships in mass. *shrugs* Who cares. Its an American made car. Won't touch it with a 10 meter cattle prod. I've been burned too many times over the year. I just went with Toyota a couple years ago and its like a rock....so to speak. If I can't trust tried and true engineering in a traditional car how the heck am I to trust something as new as the Volt? Maybe after 5 years on the market and not seeing a spike in failed transmissions, gas pumps (Which I think is still in this type of car.), etc maybe.
Cobalt with a spoiler?
not be as sexy as the concept? Thats an understatement thats like comparing an ipod to an original xbox. its about as sexy as a garbage can this thing is fugly no imagination at all. I thought the concept was a work of art this is just garbage. Why did it change so much?! its like they went from 100 to 0 in artistic design in less then a second. Who was in charge of this project homer simpson? how could they go from such a sexy car to this?
Its looks like crap. They took a great concept and normalized the design into a Malibu. Company should have been bankrupt years ago.
A Chevy Monza!
10 per week isn't full-production. Autoblog is doing fine.
Oooh! PoPo!
Double ugly.
Ha yeah Tesla FTW
Double sweet.
Double Chevy Monza
I really hope this car succeeds. Not just because I want to see GM get back on their feet, but for full-on electric cars to become more mainstream. I can't wait to test drive one myself.
thats exactly what I want, I want electric to be mainstream and a stunt like this just might make other manufacturers jump into electric production.
Volt still isn't full-on electric, but it's a big step and more practical than most vehicles of the type. It's electric for the first 40 or so miles then it relies on the conventional engine.
@sitruc
Well... That's technically true. But the gas engine is supposed to be just a backup in case you go over 40 miles. It's more of a convenience thing in my mind. I still view the car as an electric car.
Fair enough. I just wanted to point out the important distinction and part of why the Volt is more practical at this point.
//Before somebody misinterprets that, I'm not saying the segment is for everybody and/or affordable.
The gas engine just runs a generator that powers the electric motor after the battery is down to a certain percent of charge (I forget the exact number). What I don't understand is why it can't throw some charge back into the battery, say while idling at a light, until there's enough juice in it to run electric-only.
No matter what, you're still running electrically regardless if the generator is running or not. It is actually less efficient to try and charge up the battery using the generator rather than just sustaining the 30% state-of-charge, because once you get home, you can just plug it in and pay about a dollar to charge it up overall.
it looks so sweet in black
Looks like it just got t-boned.
Sweet? It looks like a normal car. Like every mudain car on the streets since the beginning of time.
As for GM, or any mega company. Seriously, wtf? I really don't believe a company should be so huge, that if they go bankrupt, they devastate a nation.
wow, it actually doesn't look bad!
http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadtests/hatchbacks/9924943/112_0808_02z+2008_COBB_tuning_subaru_wrx_sti+side.jpg
Anyone see the similarity?
Check out the headlights - pulled straight from a 2004-2008 Acura TL. Coming GM, it's no surprise and I don't mind if a failing company copies a bit to get a car to look good. And the Volt does look damn good.
Not really...
On one hand, I see Subaru's typically quirky yet compelling design, and on the other, I see GM's typical bland and uninteresting design cues. That both cars are 4-door hatchbacks is really the only similarity.
Just to add:
I will give GM credit for taking a step in the right direction, but they have many, many steps to go before most of their cars are worth buying.
Nope. The Subaru looks much more appealing to me.
I must admit it does look better than the Prius.
It damn should look better considering that it will cost almost $20k more than a Prius. GM really messed this one up though. This does NOT look like a $40k car. Not to mentiont that the new Prius design looks better than this.
The Prius defined the segment, has a plug-in version that will be out before the Volt and is backed by a company that did not blackmail billions of tax payers dollars in order to stay afloat for another year or two. This is GM's Hail Mary to make it look as though the car faker is clued in. It's taken too long, will cost too much (especially compared with the new Honda hybrid) and will still lose GM money on every sale. GM did have a viable electric car in the EV-1 a decade ago but the tards at GM HQ couldn't see beyond their bonuses that this was a glimpse of the future. Instead they continued to suck on the teat of big profits from SUVs and trucks in ignorance of the impending oil spikes and stuffed billions into lobbying against pollution and efficiency legislation. Then, with the noose tightening, they announce a Volt concept that looks cool but the production model looks so plain that only it's mother would love it.
Do I sound bitter? Maybe because I foolishly owned 2 crappy GMs (a Saturn and a Pontiac) before realising the folly and now I get to be a forced shareholder. Never another GM in my family, even this this dolt won't bolt for a Volt.
If you're referring to the Obama administration's actions with GM as blackmail, then you're a bit off the mark. It's more like "meddling in private industry with someone else's money," if there's one word for that...
Man, I can't wait until the 2nd generation of the Volt's powertrain. It needs about 30-40% more battery capacity and 30% more torque, and then shove it in a brand new Cadillac CTS and I'm all over it!
I think I remember rumors of Volt being introduced into the Cadillac line at an auto show last year. It is still a couple years away. There was also the Cadillac Provoq(?) or some other type of concept.
Petite!
It's amazing what can be achieved when every tax-payer in the US foots the bill :)
(if I have my facts right ... I welcome corrections)
Well, Volt development started far before any bailout cash. But it's still a Government Motors product at any rate.
I don't think it'll save GM by any means, but hopefully it'll at least push the development of electric cars, and hopefully, super capacitors as well as nuclear power and enhanced power grids to support the whole thing.
Not sure though, since it seems that at this point people would rather buy a Ford than any GM product simply because Ford has a better public image because they didn't accept any bailout money.
Ford was forced to get their act together a few years ago. Now they are releasing more quality cars and they have a very positive public image because they are releasing good vehicles and have good stuff lined up. Some consumers assume that is because they didn't need bailout money the past couple of years. GM's timing sucks. They have had plenty of good vehicles planned and coming for the next couple of years, but of course they were hit hard by the crash. The Volt didn't happen overnight or since they received bailout money. It was years of work. Several other GM vehicles are sitting on lots and under-appreciated because of the bad rep GM has right now. They have some good vehicles for every segment.
Happy happy joy joy! I am really happy for the engineers and others on this project! They must be proud to finally be allowed to work on this stuff and not be stifled by management. Go GM, if you can get back on your feet with this after everything, you deserve to stand! Don't confuse the brains that are innovating in this category with stupid boards and CEOs!
Those "stupid" boards and managers would have been the ones to push the idea forward and to approve it.
USA! USA! USA!
Every time I see an updated picture of this thing it's gotten more boring and uglier. This thing is starting to look like a Chevette. :(
NO WAY! I live litterally right down the street from GM head quarters (like 15 miles north, and on the same street)...I go to the NAIAS every year. This is not the same car i saw 3 years ago. What did they do? if that really stickers for $40k, im sorry tax payers you have a bum deal...GM messed up. Please, MR Obama, sells us back our company, and let us make a competitive product.
Are you kidding me? $40K for a mid size Chevy sedan and this is off the backs of American taxpayers. Obama's Government Motors will be in the tank in less than 10 years because the people now in charge are clueless. You could buy 2 Honda Civics or Insights for the price of one crappy Chevy Volt. I work in the car industry, trust me, it's government and the corrupt, greedy labor unions getting in the way of American manufacturing being able to innovate and being able to compete competitively. That is why Honda, Acura, Toyota, etc who are non unions did not get bailout money i.e. money stolen from you and I.
Oh, I'm sure Obama would sell it back in a New York second if there were anyone around there that had the money or the desire or the balls. But there isn't. It was bought/bailed out because of incompetent management, greedy shareholders and second-rate products. And, whether you agree with me or not ... it still couldn't run with the big dogs. It had to be be bailed out by the american taxpayer.
I would rather have a GM EV1 with current battery technology...
thank california for successfully bargaining to eliminate the ev-1. technology truly 10 years ahead of its time. the liberal gov, there basically canned the operation here in michigan that lead to that engineering marvel. a car 100% electric powered that required ultra low maintenance, and the federal government hated it. because it didnt meet "non-existent" regulations. how do you classify a car that doenst exist?
That is all they had to do. And they should have marketed a 'cheap' version with a electric only powertrain. It could have been made by Saturn within a year. It might have temperature limits and other 'issues', but if it is marketed as a safe, but experimental vehicle, people would still buy it.
That and an old S10 style electric pickup truck. I wouldn't have to convert my own then. Even though I am using better parts (stainless steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, LED lights), GM would have done a more professional job.
I will look into this car seriously, it impressed me at the NYC Car Show
The only problem is the cost. No matter what they make, it needed to be at a consumer friendly price for people to considered buying one in this crappy economy but that will less likely to be the case with "American Hybrid" car.
Great, another car where the owners will feel superior to all others.
As you are doing right now?
Some of us actually just want to drive a high-tech electric car...
Wow it's ugly...I don't know how foreign competition understands design but American automakers just don't get it...and interiors are usually worse!
I'm hoping this is a winner somehow but those looks for that price....I dunno. I hope a lot of people with the cash for it in these times can see past the appearance.
@Tagbert
How am I conveying that I am superior to others? Now excuse me while I fill my tank and pollute the earth.
Hoping they rethink the style. Maybe something more unique.
Wow! That's pretty UGLY for a 1987 model year GM car...oh that's a 2010??? crap they're screwed.
Wow, that might have been funny if everyone else on the internet was 11 years old.
does anyone else feel like this is really similar to the new civic? like as if civic + focus = this. the front looks oddly similar to the new acuras... the shape of the grill, the feel and all... cept they added all these tarded shez on there that makes it look like a hobo-esque car.
Whats with all the atheistic comments? The volt is about the tech..
Because people also buy a car that looks good to them.
Ok - not those people who drive the element or aztecs but nearly everyone else.
The element is not ugly. It is far less ugly than the d**n Scion xB. and its utilitarian.
I kinda like the Volt...except I think the black Is unflattering, or the light reflecting is catching some bad angles. Want to see a 360 of it
I've heard that the reason it's taking so long is because of the cup holders.
The current thought is that drinking an Amp in a Volt might meet with some resistance.
Nice car but looks like a copy of the new Honda Civic
I think it looks like the European version of the most recent Honda Civic, to be honest.
Need interior shots.
They are saying the Volt is in Transformers 2, but I don't see it.
Looks like one of those Honda hybrids from the land of the rising sun.
It looks a lot like the 2008 UK-model Honda Civic from the side, which I think is a very good looking car, and is extremely popular over here in the UK
I think as long as it's priced well (unlike the prius), it'll do well. The only problem is it's still competing with the Japanese (The horrible Toyota Prius, and actually very good Honda Insight), so that'll limit it's success.
it looks almost exactly like a honda civic, just a bit longer
Wow, some more Deeetroit junk. Looking forward to GM's eventual liquidation...right after the union slobs stealing all of our tax dollar. Thanks Obama!
Looks like Obama and the tree huggers signed off on this design. Prior concepts were borderline hot. I'm not buying this.
Good deal GM. Can't wait to see the final model.
$40K = FAIL.
I'm kind of shocked that most of the comments here are only saying how ugly they think this car is. Go find some good pictures that show the inside and more of the outside than just a spy shot from the street. Is it as sexy as the concept? No, but that concept was no where near aerodynamic. This is. The concept was not a car that could be reasonably marketed to the masses, this one is. Go ahead and knock it as a malibu ripoff, but the malibu sells and is a great car for a family. Families would not buy the concept, it looked to much like a sports car.
Does anyone care that this car does something that no other car does? I drive about 30 miles round trip each day to work. With this car I wouldn't use a drop of gas. No other car can say that. All the fanboys still crying about the EV-1, get over it. That car was too expensive to produce, and was a piece of junk. It looked horrible and got 100 miles maybe on a charge. The Volt gets 40 miles just on battery, and then has a gas engine for when I have to drive farther or on the weekend when I'm going out of town.
For a site that is about the technology, I'm amazed that so many people are ignoring the really cool stuff under the hood.
40k isn't reasonable for most people, no matter how cool the inner workings are. As some other posters have already commented, they will need to really drop this price to sell any of these cars. Others are coming from overseas already- better looking, better performing and cheaper. Who wants to spend that much money on a car that looks like a KIA from the late 90s when other options exist that are just as good technology?
40k This thing looks like a Saturn Ion from 1995. 40K. I wouldn’t pay 40K for a nice Volkswagen, im certainly not going to buy a 40 thousand dollar first run car from a company that most likely wont even exist long enough to replace a single battery once they start failing miserably. Also 40 miles, i might as well just drive a prius, cause im going to be using gas ALL DAY.
In fact I do live near Warren. But I haven't seen one yet.
I see that for some simpletons, conspiracy theories die really hard. If the Volt is just window-dressing, why do they have a Caddy and Buick and Opel version int he wings, ready to go within 12 months of the Volt launch? No answer, huh? And why did GM build a battery testing lab? Is that so they can begin testing invisible batteries? Despite the millions of article, unbeleivably, there are still some who
don't understand the architecture. The VOLT is an ALL ELECTRIC CAR, which means that it only uses electricty to operate. The range extender motor is there to PROVIDE ELECTRICTY AND ONLY ELECTRICTY. And no one would use the gas motor to recharge the batteries - that doesn't make any economic sense - the cost per kilowatthour would be many times what you would pay at home (unless you live in California, which absoletely rapes its citizens). So the Volt only allows you to recharge the
battery from a plug.
So it’s a regular car with 40 "free" miles per day. ITS FOURTY THOUSAND EFFING DOLLARS. Also Opel will either be sold to someone or cease to exist.
How are they going to run that fancy battery testing lab when there is nobody buying these cars? Why would i buy this with the bonus 40MPH a day, for FOURTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. When i could just get straight 50+ out of a 25k prius or 58MPG out of a 20k Jetta TDI.
None of your points are valid. This is going to be a POS, and i can almost 100% guarantee there is going to be some serious issues once you get this into the hands of anyone stupid enough to buy it.
Amen to that.
This was reply to kermit beauhrt
@Tsing Tao
Did you pull $40K out of your ass? There is no concrete price, just speculation.
So STFU