Comments on: GM Has Given the Volt Team a Blank Check http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:01:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Paul B. http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37595 Paul B. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:10:08 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37595 All this talk about price to production... I find it funny how soon we forget (or just weren't aware) that the price to production on the then brand new Ford Taurus was $1 Billion. With a "B". And that was back in 1986 dollars. I'm sure one of you out there can convert that into today's money... Hey GM!!! WAY TO GO! You just may finally have a vehicle to take me away from my current brand that I've been with for the past 30 years. I'm even willing to learn a new cockpit. Switch and wiper lever locations etc. As long as the battery pack can survive the heat out here near Death Valley,... sign me up... One last thought.... The smaller fuel tank is a great idea... Since most of my driving will be on batts, the fuel in a large tank would probably go bad before I had a chance to use it. A smaller tank means I don't have to drive to Reno just to replenish with new fuel. Then again, I could always add STABIL or something. What about a diesel option for the genset? Sincerely, Paul B. All this talk about price to production…
I find it funny how soon we forget (or just weren’t aware) that the price to production on the then brand new Ford Taurus was
$1 Billion.
With a “B”.
And that was back in 1986 dollars.
I’m sure one of you out there can convert that into today’s money…

Hey GM!!!
WAY TO GO!
You just may finally have a vehicle to take me away from my current brand that I’ve been with for the past 30 years.
I’m even willing to learn a new cockpit.
Switch and wiper lever locations etc.

As long as the battery pack can survive the heat out here near Death Valley,… sign me up…

One last thought….
The smaller fuel tank is a great idea…
Since most of my driving will be on batts, the fuel in a large tank would probably go bad before I had a chance to use it.
A smaller tank means I don’t have to drive to Reno just to replenish with new fuel. Then again, I could always add STABIL or something.
What about a diesel option for the genset?

Sincerely,
Paul B.

]]> By: DrChaos http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37483 DrChaos Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:13:28 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37483 GM probably has a secondary motivation. They want to be seen as "moving ahead" and thereby eventually justifying a government take over of their large pension & health care costs. Even if the first version is a flop, they will get credit for trying hard and making a clear break from past US automaker practices. "Who Killed the Electric Car" probably hurt them more than they let on. Oh regarding coefficient of drag. It is not widely understood but the total drag on a vehicle equals the coefficient drag multiplied by the frontal cross sectional area. So real drag should be in "meters (or feet) squared". I've never seen any auto magazine report the total drag numbers, which is of course what matters. I bet the total drag on an efficient vehicle will be lower than a Corolla. GM probably has a secondary motivation. They want to be seen as “moving ahead” and thereby eventually justifying a government take over of their large pension & health care costs.

Even if the first version is a flop, they will get credit for trying hard and making a clear break from past US automaker practices.

“Who Killed the Electric Car” probably hurt them more than they let on.

Oh regarding coefficient of drag. It is not widely understood but the total drag on a vehicle equals the coefficient drag multiplied by the frontal cross sectional area. So real drag should be in “meters (or feet) squared”.

I’ve never seen any auto magazine report the total drag numbers, which is of course what matters.

I bet the total drag on an efficient vehicle will be lower than a Corolla.

]]> By: Tor http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37104 Tor Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:57:14 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-37104 I am really sad that "The production version will not look like the concept car. It has morphed into a fairly conventional-looking four-door sedan with a sloping roof and a high rear-end treatment that has a built-in spoiler." I really liked the look of the concept car. The new revised look is okay, but does not invoke the same emotion that the original concept had which made me take notice. I am really sad that

“The production version will not look like the concept car. It has morphed into a fairly conventional-looking four-door sedan with a sloping roof and a high rear-end treatment that has a built-in spoiler.”

I really liked the look of the concept car. The new revised look is okay, but does not invoke the same emotion that the original concept had which made me take notice.

]]> By: noel park http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-36962 noel park Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:22:21 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-36962 #62 StevePA: Well I seriously doubt that anything with a Cd of 0.20, or even 0.25, is going to look like a standard issue white bread sedan. That said, I agree with you on both counts. Although......I think that someone said here the other day that a 2008 Corolla has a Cd of 0.29! If so, Toyota has done some sort of magic I don't understand. BTW, I agree completely with your comment on the range thread above. My experience is exactly the same as yours. #62 StevePA:

Well I seriously doubt that anything with a Cd of 0.20, or even 0.25, is going to look like a standard issue white bread sedan. That said, I agree with you on both counts. Although……I think that someone said here the other day that a 2008 Corolla has a Cd of 0.29! If so, Toyota has done some sort of magic I don’t understand.

BTW, I agree completely with your comment on the range thread above. My experience is exactly the same as yours.

]]> By: StevePA http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-36961 StevePA Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:11:13 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/2008/04/13/gm-has-given-the-volt-team-a-blank-check/#comment-36961 Agree the wind tunnel numbers need to be decent, and the roofline can't have tall guys craning their neck. But I sincerely hope this thing doesn't wind up looking like your standard issue white bread sedan... Agree the wind tunnel numbers need to be decent, and the roofline can’t have tall guys craning their neck. But I sincerely hope this thing doesn’t wind up looking like your standard issue white bread sedan…

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