I got to spend a little time chatting with CNN auto reporter Peter Valdes-Dapena, as he was researching a new piece he’s written on the production Volt’s design. You will find a couple of quotes from me sprinkled in.
To read more about my interview with Volt chief designer Bob Boniface go here .
The CNN article explains that the production Volt could potentially appear “tamer” than the concept we are used to seeing. The concept is so aggressive appearing, GM insiders apparently used to call it the electric Camaro. Of course, since Bob also did design the new Camaro, this should not be surprising.
We know the production Volt’s wheels will be smaller, and are apparently pulled back, making the front end longer.
The drive shift lever I have seen in the studio, is apparently mechanically -driven to help conserve electricity.
Again reiterated is the fact that the car is a 4 seater. Perhaps this deserves a little expansion.
For those that are wondering, here is the reason why; the battery pack. The T-shaped pack sits along the center line of the car with the bar of the “T” just behind the rear seats. You can’t sit in the middle in the back because the pack is there. To make 3 seats in the back, everything would have had to sit up higher and the roof would be raised. The design team wanted to keep the low slung roof of the as much as possible, so there went the third seat.
I was quoted in the article as basically saying that in the grand scheme of things, the technology of the car and what it represents is more important than it’s appearance. Also I said, and believe, that despite differences from the concept, it will be pretty cool looking anyway. I haven’t seen the whole thing yet but the gleam in Bob Boniface’s eyes when he speaks about the car is unmistakable.
Some of Peter’s interview with Bob is in the video below. Bob talks about keeping costs down, changes needed for the production car and mentions the plug port.
Source (CNN ).
[flash http://www.youtube.com/v/WwAALvi9Xwk]
This entry was posted on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 7:42 am and is filed under Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Apr 19th, 2008 (8:34 am)Interesting. So the plug might have moved as well. glad they are focused on keeping costs down as well.
Apr 19th, 2008 (8:51 am)I sincerely hope it’s nothing like a camaro. My biggest concern about the success or failure of the Volt is that GM will botch the style and shape.
If you take a look at who buys the Prius, it’s not 20-something men projecting their masculinity… it’s mostly 30-40-50′s of both genders who want a comfortable, performant vehicle with good visibility and ergonomics.
If the volt is some low-slung car with pretentions that sacrifices comfort and usability for some style statement – we’ll all drive something else.
Apr 19th, 2008 (8:59 am)@ 0.53 in the video, I see fold-flat rear seats. YES!
I hate trying to load a lard object (chair, box, cooler etc.) in the trunk by folding the seats and trying to push if forward only to be obstructed by poorly designed seats that don’t fold flat. Then having to squeeze into a side door and reach back to pick up the front of the object to pull it forward… OUCH, my poor back! I hope there is a center section between the seats that folds forward to protect the armrest and an easily removable hard cover over the rear space to make a “trunk” to hide my stuff from thieves like my 82 Honda accord hatch back. It was wonderful!
Also, I hope the Volt does not end up looking like one of those “triplets”. I’m looking at that big fat round nose… Yuck!
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:03 am)“To make 3 seats in the back, everything would have had to sit up higher and the roof would be raised. ”
To bad they didn’t raise the roof for the rear seat. Tried sitting in a cobalt last night. My head was positioned inside the sunroof cavity. I was staring right into the retracted sun visor. The visibility was totally unsafe. Will try to find a cobalt with electric seats to see if that helps. Tall people, I fear the worst. I’m 6’4″ which isn’t unusual. Rode in my cousins Toyota Avalon sitting in the back seat and was shocked at the headroom. I had full clearance, comfortable seating. Interesting thinking from GM, let’s cut out a segment of the population (and their check books) just for style. Is the car for the man or man for the car?sigh..
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:04 am)I don’t think it is as much about projecting masculinity. I think it needs to be fun to drive and have an emotional design. When you see a Camaro, Corvette, CTS, Malibu….they ALL evoke a certain emotion in you. Whatever it may be. A Ferrari wouldn’t be a Ferrari without such sexy styling.
So does the Volt need to be a sports car? NO!
Does the Volt need to be fun to drive and evoke emotion from its driver (Even while parked)? H**L YES!
Quite frankly, the Volt needs to be everything the Prius will never be!
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:08 am)By the way, why put a center “shifter” in an automatic electric car? Is somebody trying to compensate? A unneeded center shifter interferes with the interior flow and I’d rather have another stuff holder with a little door. All you need is 3 buttons or a rocker switch on the dash: forward, park and reverse.
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:37 am)In response to #2 JH. I really like the look of the concept. I am 25, I currently drive a V8 Firebird Formula and the Volt will be my next car. I am very technology driven and currently I work about 5 min from work. I go to the gas station once a month and I love it. I never realized how much of a hassle it is going to the gas station regularly and I love the thought of actually being able to fuel up at home. I hope the design doesn’t change too much from the concept.
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:50 am)Interestingly, I had a lengthy 3-way discussion with Tony Posawatz, (the Chevy Volt/Eflex Line Director) and Tim Creig (the Volt Interior Designer) at Volt Nation last month that led me to feel differently. I proposed to Tony & Tim that the Volt’s design, inside & out, should have a lot of pizazz ….much like that of a Z-28 Camaro. They smiled broadly and seemed to heartily agree!
We went on to agree that, like the sport coupe Z-28, the Volt would also have a snazzy/sexy front cockpit with bucket seats. But UNLIKE the Z-28 (and nearly any other car in existence) the Volt would ALSO have a snazzy/sexy REAR cockpit with a console and bucket seats!
….in other words, the Volt will be one of the world’s first & only 4-DOOR SPORT SEDANS! ….one that WON’T sacrifice either comfort or utility! I think the CNN writer somehow misunderstood Bob Boniface & anyone else at GM he interviewed for that article.
BTW, both Tony & Tim had a gleam in their eyes like the one you described in Bob Boniface’s eyes, Lyle! And like you said, “it will be pretty cool looking”! ….I think we’re all gonna LOVE this car!!!!!
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:11 am)As long as you can fit a baby car seat in the middle, there won’t be too much of a problem (how many people need 5 seats on a consistent basis for commuting etc).
Eventually GM will have PHEV minivans etc.
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:25 am)I would buy a rolling EV brick at this point $3.59 gallon (over $4 this summer). But I really believe that GM is going to knock the Volt out of the park. Gas could easily be over $5 gallon by 2010 , If the Volt roll’s off the line at $5.00 gallon I would wager that less that 1% of the people on this site would be able to get their hands on this car for the first three years. On the upside GM stock should fall below $15 share over the next year and if you believe that this car is a game changer the up side is hugh. Have a great day!!
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:34 am)Looks to me like it will be more of a cross-over vehicle.
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:56 am)[i]I would buy a rolling EV brick at this point $3.59 gallon (over $4 this summer).[i/]
The Fisker Karma is available at $80g, right now!
http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/
Apr 19th, 2008 (11:05 am)NZDavid #! I also, was glad to here that they are striving to keep the costs down. As Bob Boniface said, it is a Chevy which is GM’s high volume brand. Well, at $35,000, or higher, you won’t sell many tens of thousands of cars.
I also like the fact that it will look unique, make a technology statement, and also you won’t have to learn to drive. I still worry when I hand my Prius over to a parking attendant, or car wash, if they know how to put it in gear. I do like that the shift is innovative, but there is a downside.
I do hope there is a “freewheel” capability between accelerate and decelerate on the “gas” pedal and confirmation on an energy screen, which is how many of us Prius owners get higher mileage! Not to be confused with regenerative coasting, also a great idea.
Apr 19th, 2008 (11:26 am)Did anyone notice the AP article posted on Yahoo this AM, announcing the hybrid Buick Lacross to be introduced in China this July? The article went on to say the GM would be introducing an all electric car in China “as early as 2010″.
Apr 19th, 2008 (12:04 pm)#9 BBM has a great idea that I haven’t heard anyone mention. I hope someone at GM sees this!!! Though it will be a 4 seater placing LATCH hooks in the middle of the back seat would make the car much more practical for families. Of course it would only really work for infant seats I’m guessing but still something worth exploring.
Great idea!!
Apr 19th, 2008 (12:35 pm)#4 LyleL
I seem to recall reading that Bob Lutz (6’2″, I believe)said he sits comfortably in the rear seat.
Apr 19th, 2008 (12:37 pm)It looks pretty much just like an ’08 Malibu, except a little worse. They should have stuck with the “electric Camaro” theme, but I understand that the wind tunnel is brutal on design. Why stay with an electric pony car look? Because it hooks people into buying an expensive car that the country needs and GM needs that wouldn’t normally buy a “green car”. As it looks now, the Volt will really be more about Prius conquest sales. Sales to people that are already conserving fuel and lowering CO2 emissions.
I really care about how a car looks, and the original design’s aggressive look is what got me hooked on the Volt in combination with a sensible future drive train. Now I’ve been on here a long time, went to Volt Nation and check in everyday for news. I have an investment it seems in this car so I’m still waiting to see the finished product, but the $40k for a little jelly bean car is getting to be a tougher and tougher sell.
Apr 19th, 2008 (12:56 pm)#17 DaV8or:
Once again, Mr. Boniface is quoted in Autoweek this week as saying that, while they have had to go back to the drawing board (wind tunnel?) on the details to get the Cd under control, enough of the original Volt styling cues remain that you will instantly recognize it as a Volt when it goes down the road. We can only hope so.
The EV1 had a Cd of something like 0.19, and I thought that it was a very striking looking car. Unconventional maybe, but you wouldn’t mistake it for an Echo! Obviously, the 4 door configuration demands some compromises, but GM can clearly do it if they put their minds to it. I totally believe that a very low Cd car can still be stunningly attractive. I agree with you that the Vilt had better be, especially if they want to command a premium price for it.
Apr 19th, 2008 (1:03 pm)#17 DaV8or:
BTW, I quoted Mr. Boniface at some length from that article at #12 on the “Volt Mule Spy Photo Clarification: the Real Deal” thread below, if you want to see his exact words. We live in hopes.
Apr 19th, 2008 (1:07 pm)I am not so sure the drag coefficient is raised all that much by the back end. I note that the hybrid Camry has a much lower cd (.27) than the average sedan (.32). I think they achieved the improvement by streamlining the undercarriage. In any event, I will trade whatever the cd penalty is for adequate rear seat headroom (38″), and an adequate truck, unlike the Camry Hybrid.
Apr 19th, 2008 (1:13 pm)17 DaV8or,
Amen brother, your experience pretty much mirrors mine and I completely disagree with JH in #2. I will say this, even though the tip of the front end in the picture looks similar to the Malibu sedan, I have faith the design will be more muscular. I read that Bob Lutz wanted it to look like the Malibu over his dead body, so I am confident we won’t be completely disappointed with the final design when unveiled.
Also watch out for the final price to be under 40K, I think there has been some talk about it going up and up from the 30K that it started at to prepare the battlefield with releasing it at something like 37K and people will be pleasantly shocked. They keep stressing this is for the larger demographic, over 40K is more Cadillac then Chevrolette.
Apr 19th, 2008 (2:49 pm)Boniface mentions at the very end of the interview that he’s not going to give the location of the charge port. This tells me that there is only going to be one and that it may not be where it was on the concept car.
Earlier discussions on this board and statements from GM seemed to infer that there would be two and they’d be on both sides of where they are on the concept. I’d always felt that one on the side and another on the front would be optimal. I wonder where they’ve moved it now?
Apr 19th, 2008 (3:33 pm)The portion of the exposed front end of the clay model reminds me of the business end of a .45 caliber bullet. Wonder what the cd is of a .45 caliber bullet? I think the Volt will be distinctive.
Apr 19th, 2008 (3:34 pm)Look for the charge port to be on the front, right under the Chevy Logo. I have no sources, no confirmation, just a guess that the ego is maybe getting to them on this car as evidenced by all the attention it’s getting. If there is only going to be one charging port, it may as well be in a symmetrical spot.
Apr 19th, 2008 (3:59 pm)I agree with Marcus. If they are to do only on port, and this seems reasonable, it should be in the center of either the front or rear of the car. Given that most people seem to like to nose their car into a parking spot, the front end seems most logical so that public parking areas can be built to provide power.
Apr 19th, 2008 (4:05 pm)Noel #18
“I totally believe that a very low Cd car can still be stunningly attractive. I agree with you that the Vilt had better be, especially if they want to command a premium price for it.”
I have yet to see that happen, but anything is possible I suppose. I think that for those of us that are old school car guys, we’ll have to wait until EV drive systems become so good and powerful that we can afford to “waste” some free HP on good looks.
Apr 19th, 2008 (4:50 pm)#21 2Snowboard
Accordding to the FAQs of this site, the Volt started at under $30k.
Apr 19th, 2008 (5:18 pm)AT 1:32 Bonniface says “It IS a Chevrolet…” in a tone that makes one wonder if he is feeling that Chevrolets are so low level that bargain basement styling is quite sufficient. I guess that has been the GM rationale in recent years as to why mediocre styling on Chevrolets is OK, which has led them to the sad state the Chevy brand now is in. I hope I am just misunderstanding the comment, and that Bonniface’s tone is not as condescending as I heard it, and that the Volt really is going to be more than just a $10 Volt decal on a Cobalt or Mailbu. The Volt may be GM’s last chance for cars, as one certainly sees lots of trucks but very few cars of any kind at Chevrolet dealers around here, or on the road, locally.
Apr 19th, 2008 (5:22 pm)The front end looks like the Saturn Flextreme…
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/14/saturn.flextreme/index.html
Why would GM be engineering parallel devolopment and manufacturing efforts at Chevy and Saturn. Both seem to be developing similar vehicles. ? Competing with each other ?
Apr 19th, 2008 (5:25 pm)Take a look at these photos of the Saturn Flexreme at the Detroit Auto Show… looks strangely like the Chevy Volt … there are 16 photos..
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/saturn-flextreme
Apr 19th, 2008 (5:26 pm)I must have missed it earlier… I didn’t realize the Volt was only designed as a 4 seater (2 front, 2 rear)… kind of a bummer.
LyleL… I know what you mean… I’m only 6′, and in ’99 when I bought my current car, I spent 9 months looking… in the showrooms the 1st thing I did was to jump in the back seat to check the head room, and the knee room. Didn’t test drive a single car that wasn’t comfortable in the back seat.
Regarding the Toyota Avalon… plenty of room, nice power… biggest problem, at least with the ’99 or ’00 model year, is that the rear seats didn’t fold down! I also don’t think they offered it with a manual transmission?
Speaking of transmissions… just requiring automatics to have at least 5 forward gear ratios I think I’ve read would lots of gasoline. It’s probabably why a 5 or 6 speed manual is rated higher mpg than it’s 3 speed automatic equiv.
Apr 19th, 2008 (6:18 pm)As a follow-up to my comment above: I see that some folks are looking for a car that they would compare with a corvette or ferrari, or other “sleek” designs. Clearly, I think that would be a disaster from a marketing perspective.
I wonder if Lyle can get some comment from GM folks on who they see as the target market, and what style, ride, and functional features they see as being important.
My view is that the Volt will be competing primarily against the Prius (which will sell > 200,000 units this year in the US). And Prius buyers are definitely not folks who want to sit with their ankles at about the same height as their backside, or have to crane their neck upwards to see out the driver-side window.
Apr 19th, 2008 (6:20 pm)DaV8or #25
I agree. I don’t know why they were bent on having a charge port on both sides of the car, w/o one on the front. Right now that might not be a big deal, but down the road with charging stations at public places it could be a big deal.
Rocky #29
Are you talking about the contours or the entire thing? I think the front end looks more like a cross between the Cobalt and new Malibu–and in the best sense of both.
Apr 19th, 2008 (8:06 pm)Rocy #29 Thanks for the interesting link to the Saturn Flextreme. I saw that it too was a concept, but it was fun to look at it. I assume that GM in its normal fashion is developing one car to sell at a range of its brands and dealers, varying in styling but not in propulsion systems. Maybe Saturn is going to get the pretty car (smile).
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:31 pm)I’ll bet the charging port ends up on the front of the car just behind the Chevy “bowtie”.
Flip up the “bowtie” and plug in your Chevy!
Apr 19th, 2008 (9:40 pm)Four seats because they wanted to keep the roof line low?
GM definitely see the volt as a niche product.
Everytime I see those Malibu mules I think they would be fine, just electrify them.
While we tell ourselves we want sports saloons or mini camaros, GM has found the new Malibu is now a very popular automobile, only 37 days stocks .
I assume they are a five seater with adequate headroom, they must be electrifryable because that is what the mules are.
When will GM wake up and realise the five seat saloon is the still the most acceptable people mover?
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:13 pm)I think we might need to give engineers on the design team at least a little credit- the low slung roof is one of the best ways to reduce overall aerodynamic drag which, it seems, is as important as minimizing weight in getting to 40+ miles of all EV range. When we say that the mules are electrified, I’m thinking of back seats and or trunks with battery packs dropped in (why bother to design for passenger comfort in a test vehicle with one passenger?).
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:31 pm)Actually the mules will have the battery packs fitted into the bottom of the car, like the Volt’s design calls for. I imagine this is important for studying handling dynamics and any number of other things.
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:41 pm)Nasaman picked up on Wagoner being in Shanghai for the introduction of a hybrid Buick. It is compared to a Prius but the article goes on to say Prius sales are dropping in China, they dont want them. I must get my marketing text book out and see how that works. To top it off the are going to introduce a Cadillac Escalade.
My head hurts! My guess is what the chinese really want is a Tato or an all electric malibu, sensible people.
For those that believe low slung equals aerodynamic may I draw your attention to the Mercedes design based on the box fish, and it is a good looking vehicle.
inmho
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:46 pm)bruce G #35
Hang in there, things might change for gen 2. They may even have 2 models by then, but for now, 2010 is approaching and the wheel can’t keep being reinvented if this thing is to make the deadline.
Eric E #34
I hope it’s on the front, it just makes so much sense.
Apr 19th, 2008 (10:48 pm)Marcus R #24
A port in the front would expose it to more corrosion. If it’s down to one, I would guess it’s on the driver’s side somewhere, since you always have to go there to open/ close the door. Actually, I like it where it is now.
Apr 19th, 2008 (11:00 pm)He did say that the port would have a “water tight seal” so I’m not sure corrosion will be an issue.
Apr 19th, 2008 (11:55 pm)I wish they’d start with the Prius body, eliminate the slight concavity between the hood and windshield surfaces, and put the E-Flex platform in it. I want my car to be an aerodynamic blob, completely convex and flush with continuous first and second derivatives over the entire body.
If I wanted my car’s styling to evoke an emotion, it would be “I’m so proud that my car looks as efficiency as it is”. I believe that people buy the Prius not only because it gets better gas mileage, but because it looks the part of a “green” car. It seems like the Volt is an attempt to design an efficient car that looks every bit as wasteful as an American muscle car.
I’m not sure that GM has it’s marketing strategy in order. But on the other hand, the media portrays American culture in a way that I believe is inaccurate and demeaning, and yet we seem to eat that stuff up. The Governator drives around in a Hydrogen Hummer. We don’t seem to have much of a problem synthesizing contradictory ideas, or so says the PR industry that assigns our demographic identities and without which we’d all be flinging feces at each other…
Other load-reduction ideas: Headrest-mounted speaker pairs for each seat to minimize amplifier loads. Radiant (fin-tube) heating and cooling in each seat (with individual controls and occupancy sensors) to maximize HVAC system efficiency. Reflective coated glass to reduce solar heat gain and look cool. LED lamps (head and tail), but I think this is already planned.
Apr 20th, 2008 (1:42 am)I don’t understand all the grief about the lack of a middle rear seat or rear headroom… This is a small car, built on the Cobalt platform. Have you looked at a small car recently? The rear middle seat is too small for an adult anyway, and rear read room is never all that great.
For you guys 6′ 4″ and above, I feel for you, but most of the world is not that tall. You tall people have most of the advantages in the world…but sitting in the rear seat of a small car is not one of them.
If you are expecting the room of a midsized car you are going to be disappointed. Until battery technology improves a generation and they electrify a Malibu, this is going to be as good as it gets. Which is good enough for me. Personally I wouldn’t mind if it was a mid-engined two seater.
Apr 20th, 2008 (5:15 am)Nice video Lyle, thanks. We will get what has already been decided. The first Prius wasn’t destinctive but gen 2 was. If you don’t like the looks eflex will be in alot of cars soon I bet. Even Jeep will be eflex (not their designation). Soon all of us will have our electric cars. GO GM you only have a short time to be first. I want the first one in Florida. GM WHERE IS MY MULE? 239 410-8826
Apr 20th, 2008 (6:36 am)I don’t care where the charge port is as long as it will plug into a standard 110v duplex outlet. The EV1 ‘induction paddle’ was a disaster. I would like to see a retractable cord, but I doubt they will do that. I understand I may have to make or buy an adapter to plug it into a 220V outlet since there are so many different styles.
Apr 20th, 2008 (7:16 am)If you think back to when this car was introduced, they were showing graphics of average daily commute distances. That is what this car is being designed for. Tomorrow, when you are driving to work, look around, and see how many cars have more than one or two people in them. If it is more than 10%, then you live in a very different area than I do. So four seats is fine for this vehicle. Larger versions will come later.
And IMHO, the very WORST thing that GM could do is to just copy the Prius design. It HAS to be different. It HAS to be bold!
GO GM!
Apr 20th, 2008 (9:12 am)Can anyone explain why it matters so much where the charging port is?
10′ extension cords aren’t that expensive…
Apr 20th, 2008 (9:44 am)A small car does not need to short-sheet rear passengers. The Nissan Versa rear seat head room is over 38″, but its cd is only .31. And if its undercarriage was streamlined like the Camry, I expect it would be in the .27 range. So the idea that we must make a choice between low cd, and adequate rear seat headroom is bogus. I think the reason car manufactures provide inadequate rear seat head room is to drive folks into larger, more profitable cars. But the effect is to drive us into foreign cars, at least in my case, where I rejected the Buick sedan with inadequate head room, my head rubbed the headliner, for an Avalon.
Apr 20th, 2008 (9:49 am)Reviewing this thread, I note that several people are disappointed in the fact the Volt will have 4 seats (not 5) and a low roof line they think could make the rear too snug for tall adults. This doesn’t bother me in the least —in fact, I LOVE the Volt’s interior layout because it provides FOUR bucket seats & TWO consoles, unlike any other car I know of today ….truly a styling tour de force!!!
However, for those who need a car with 5 seats & LOTS of interior space, with materials, fit & finish comparable to a Mercedes, that handles like a sports car (and, like the Volt, is a plug-in that gets phenomenal mileage & generates almost no air pollution), the Plug-in Saturn VUE is also on the way for 2010. This car, a compact SUV designed by GM in Germany, is essentially a clone of BMW’s X5 SUV in terms of size, shape, styling and handling. And I have good reason to believe Saturn will offer a version of the Plug-in Vue that has about a 35-mile EV only range*, but also has the power (with its V-6) to tow a boat or horse trailer & haul around tons of other stuff. In Europe the ICE-powered version is badged as an Opel Antara…..
http://www.uberauto.com/news/opel/opel_antara_-_elegant_4wd_crossover_2006080242.html
*The Plug-in Vue has ample under-floor space for a 16KWh battery like the Volt’s
Apr 20th, 2008 (10:17 am)See this,may be one of the latest exhibit of Volt by Chevrolet at Auto China 2008 auto show in Beijing Saturday, April 19, 2008. which shows slight body changes from the earlier shows
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/msid-2965453.cms
Apr 20th, 2008 (10:26 am)I don’t know if that is really it, but if it is, I like it!!!!!!
Why on earth would they show it in China first?????
And I agree with nasaman. If you need bigger space or room for more, they will be here soon!
Apr 20th, 2008 (10:58 am)I don’t think that’s it because the front wheels are too far forward. If you look at the 1/3 scale taped up vehicle, there is a good amount of body overhang between the front of the wheel well and the tip of the vehicle.
IIRC that slightly different Volt has been seen before, and is a concept because there aren’t any door handles.
Apr 20th, 2008 (11:08 am)>> And I have good reason to believe Saturn will offer a version of the
>> Plug-in Vue that has about a 35-mile EV only range
30 MPH max electric would keep it in an entirely different category than the other plug-ins.
Do you have information stating Two-Mode can deliver faster? If so, how much? HSD has an upper-limit of 100 km/h (62.4 MPH) and GM has yet to mention competing with that.
Apr 20th, 2008 (11:31 am)Four seats are fine, I like the idea of putting the battery down the middle. And we do not know what the rear seat head room will be. It does not need to be about 35″ like the Cobalt, it could be 38″ like the Versa. And another design feature would be a remote start of the air conditioner, so that it would lower the inside temperature to 78 degrees, or if cold, raise it to 62 degrees. And finally, how about at least a 13 cu foot trunk!
Apr 20th, 2008 (12:04 pm)GM’s CEO, Rick Wagoner, discusses the Volt at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show:
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN2037784720080420
Apr 20th, 2008 (2:55 pm)#50 Vinayababu
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…I wish that model would get out of the way!
Apr 20th, 2008 (6:37 pm)4. LyleL – I’m 6’3” and own a Cobalt, I have no such seating problems. You have a lever on the side of the seat to lower it; my head is far from touching the roof trust me.
Apr 21st, 2008 (12:07 pm)#26 DaV8or:
Well the prides of our fleet are a 1955 and a 1958 Corvette, and we are in the process of restoring a 1917 Chevrolet, so we are pretty old school.
As to every day street driving, however, I believe that we are going to have to change to 21st century technologies or die. The old cars will continue to be great reminders of history, and art pieces, IMHO, but, if we don’t get our Cds and weights down, the UAE is going to own all of us pretty quick.
Did you happen to hear the report on NPR this morning about the floating resort islands being built off of Dubahi? In the shape of the Arabic letters of a poem written by the Sheik, so that they can be ready from airplanes? Wait for it!
Apr 21st, 2008 (12:39 pm)If you looked at the Saturn Flextreme’s pictures you could see the charging port embedded below the passenger side windshield. Looks like an ok place to bypass the problems you would encounter with a port in the grill area. Better place would be on the driver’s side below the windshield. Keeps driver from having to walk around to the passenger’s side. But who knows…
Apr 21st, 2008 (3:50 pm)That is picture 10 of 16 that shows the charging port. Sorry, should have mentioned that before…
Apr 26th, 2008 (2:31 pm)(W/M age 51, married with one child, age 16)) I am on the Volt waiting list. I have posted several favorable remarks on a gaming forum which I frequent. Hearing the price of the Volt would move up from $30,000 to $35,000 was not good news to me. We’ll see if the car is worth this when it appears in showrooms.
My wishes for the Volt: 1>Not a ground dragger. Please give us 7″ of ground clearance. This should be very easy to engineer considering the electric drive system. Ever notice how many Toyota Prius nose guards are crushed in from intersection and parking ramps? I am not buying a Prius for this reason. Do not want to have to baby the bumps.2>Come up with an innovative cabin (or individual seat) heating system. This doesn’t need to be a 4 vent blaster, just something that can provide quick heat. 3>Don’t sweat the 5th seat. Four buckets are just fine. Buyers are looking for light and inexpensive transport, not a bulky hauler vehicle. 3>Make sure the government is on board with long lasting rebates for helping with the World Green project. I think the first 4 years of the cars life should be tax credited. Thank you GM and Chevy. Let’s get this done.
Apr 28th, 2008 (10:20 pm)(W/M age 31 married 3 kids) the 5 seater would be great – I’m 6’2 and dont care if the rear seat fits me but with 3 kids the 4 seater would be a deal breaker. In our family either car ends up a transport system between school, sports and other activities. That said I think the design is great so far and assume that the 5 seater will come, even if on a smal scale at first. My kids are young and i’ll gladly trade up to a midsized car when they grow and the tech improves. I love my Chevy and am glad to see Chevy sticking this project out.
On another note – When I can get a Volt the money I save at the pump will more than cover my payments -