Full-Scale Fiberglass Production Chevy Volt Model Has Been Completed
We have been discussing the concept car, design changes coming to the production version, and the developmental prototpye schedule.
Some issues might need clarification, especially for people new to the site.
First, the concept car we are use to seeing is just a fiberglass shell. The production design will look somewhat different and thus far we’ve only seen the front end corner view. The rest is yet to be revealed.
This first running lithium ion prototype has the main rough internal Volt components but is housed in a 2005 Malibu shell.
The next phase of running mules coming later this year will have some cars that look like the production car.
According to Bob Boniface, GM has just recently completed the fiberglass production car model that looks exactly like the final car. This is likely what we will be shown on that momentous day when GM decides to unveil the car.
Here’s what Bob Boniface told me:
“We’ve already built a fiberglass research property thats got a transparent upper, you can see through it. This property looks like a real car. It has functioning lights, you can see through it to the seats. We just finished it.”
“We will send it to clinic and get public feedback. We always clinic every property, its called ‘theme confirmation’. We have to assemble the data early enough from these confirmation clinics in order to respond to it.”
“We send out mailers to certain demographics. They’ll send out 800 mailers and maybe get back 15 people. People show up to a secure site and they see the car and answer questions for feedback. This is nothing new for this car, we do that with every car. It hasn’t happened yet, but thats what this model is for.”
“We showed it to Rick Wagoner and he though it was pretty cool. Its the same color as the show car.”
[The picture above is NOT of the model, it is a camouflageed 1/3 scale model GM showed reporters being testing the in the tech center wind tunnel back in April.]
Popularity: 8%
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May 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
Lyle, I hope you are invited to one of those secure sites.
If we can tag along, I will gladly leave my camera at home, if necessary, and sign a non-disclosure document. I would just really like to see that car.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
I’ll bet if they sent the mailers to the people on the wait list they would get alot of feed-back…Send me a mailer, better yet send me a Volt Mule……PLEASE…!!!!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 am
Lyle:
Again thanks for the update.
If GM is smart they will make sure you receive one of those mailers !!!!
YOU need to be one of those “15. ”
Have a great holiday weekend, please rember our vets that have given life and limb so we may enjoy this freedom we enjoy.
God Bless America.
Tom
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 am
This is fantastic news. A 15 person return on 800 is terrible return percentage. Not a good turn-out.
They could get a really good turn out if they sent the 400 to the general public and then another 400 to people on the Volt list. This group can be critical and objective at the same time. GM should put more trust in this group to help them rather than hurt their efforts. We all are rooting for their success and we won’t lie to them on this. I’m up for driving to Detroit to evaluate their design.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
If it were me, I’d pass, because if I saw it and all, I’d probably burst from having to keep the info secret until the unveiling
But here’s something related from the Detroit News this morning. I guess the race is on!
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/AUTO01/805230414/1148
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 am
GM is pushing all threads hard, so that this vehicle’s schedule keep shrinking, not expanding.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Pardon me for daydreaming for a second. I’m not quite fully awake yet.
Boy I hope the production version of the Volt looks a lot like the concept model. I just looked through the gallery again and the Volt is one hot looking car. I’ve owned four Firebirds, and the Volt is every bit a hot. Looks like a cross between the F-bodies (Firebird, Camaro) and a Crossfire.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Benson, #7, GM has stated that the production model will unmistakably be the Volt. It will look different than the concept, but we don’t know how different yet. I agree with you. The concept is beautiful. Even when seeing it in person.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 am
benson #5
This sure is different as to what Toyota has been saying. They have said that the technolgy for Lithium - ion batteries is not there and that the VOLT is a bad idea.
These next few years are really going to be interesting.
We as consumers will have some choices and hopefully they will be good ones ?
Tom
Tom
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 am
#7 benson… I’m with you here. I have a ‘96 firebird and my previous car was ‘90 firebird. I think the Volt looks hot and I can’t wait to replace my firebird with it.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 am
This will be my first NEW car since my 1981 Pontiac. It will also be my first sporty car. This is the first car that I really loved the design.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
I, too, volunteer to review the “research property.” I’m even local (Ann Arbor). But seriously, Lyle, is there any way to let GM know that Voltheads in the Detroit area are rabid to help assess the design concept?!?!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Lyle:
I agree with Rashiid #1 above.
I don’t care what is going on at work, if GM would consider having me come to Detroit to take a look at the production version and give comments, I am there! This is too important to leave to 15 people that just have nothing else to do that day…………….
Non-disclosure agreements and no cameras, no problem.
I have a feeling that GM could get a few thousand people from this site, with no effort at all.
Lyle has my e-mail address. If you need my physical address, just ask.
(I know it is a shameless attempt, but I had to do it!)
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
GM wants to market the Volt to a broader market. Using respondents from the “wait list” would give feedback from enthusiasts that may not accurately represent their true potential market.
GM is doing everything right on this program. Too bad Lutz will retire after the Volt successfully launches.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
“…GM has just recently completed the fiberglass production car model that looks exactly like the final car.”
“We will send it to clinic and get public feedback. …We have to assemble the data early enough from these confirmation clinics in order to respond to it.”
The fiberglass production model will be close to the final production car, but the feedback could change its appearance.
#5 benson
Thanks for that link. Me thinks that Li-ion batteries means the Toyota plug-in is coming. The article said Toyota will rev up hybrid sales to 1 million a year sometime after 2010. Volt production/sales will be a lot less in 2011. The Toyota/GM competition is intense. At that level of competition, with all that is at stake, I can’t imagine the stress that must accompany an executive’s job.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
Lyle;
Thank you for for providing this website. It has given us the opportunity to see the development process of a new vehicle (an exceptionally unique new vehicle) launch on a step by step basis.
Very, very cool!!!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
Hi, my name is Statik, and I feel the need to enter every thread with depressing news:
GM filed a 8-K with the SEC today. Saying that because of AA it expects to take a one-time earnings hit before tax impact of $1.8 billion.
http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=64497523979779
How many times can you have a ‘one-time’ item before ‘one-time’ items are called expected operating expenses?
If you doing home math, this puts GM ‘cash pile’ under 20 billion since the last quarterly report. (They have 20 billion, but are ‘worth’ 10 billion…thats not good).
Good news! It’s a bright sunny day in Toronto and I’m going to take my son out for a walk and buy ice creams. (Although I’ll probably explain to him how ice cream in the long term with clog his arteries and probably give him a heart attack).
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
Gah, the spelling! I wish we could edit our posts on the main page threads…at least for the first few minutes after we post it.
Spelling -1
with = will
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 am
Spellchecker just enabled into comments field!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 am
Statik;
I’ve been in the telecom industry for 35 years and to those familiar with the industry, the biggest joke going is AT&T’s “One Time” write down of $xxxxBillion that seems to happen EVERY YEAR for some reason or another. I have every confidence that GM will roll right on and the VOLT will begin a dramatic shift in the way we drive in the coming decades.
Have faith! I see this as a beginning of the big shift from producing millions of ICE’s and transmissions to millions of AC motors and battery packs. On to the future!!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 am
We really need a place where we can see all the milestone completed (with dates) and the next one we know of (with dates if we know them).
Anyhow, thanks for the updates… I bow down to you Lyle for keeping the daily updates strong
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
I think the fiberglass “property” will look like the Honda FCX with a chevy grille. Time will tell.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 am
Lot of discussions concerning battery „reliability“ and „availability“. Probably some one close to GM could answer, why the IEC module is so powerful? Why we need 51 kW? On average care consumes 8 kWh per 40 miles or 12,5kWh or per hour (average speed 60 mph) or the average care power load 12,5 kW. In case faster drive the load can be up to 16 kWh. Therefore logically we need IEC capacity not more than 20 kW. At most nominal capacity 30 kW. In case 51 kW IEC capacity it is expected IEC to generate torque to be able operate without battery at all?
If not why not to use IEC in most efficient way and have even 100 mpg in cruising mode and save on engine size????
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 am
Keep it up GM… We need the Volt ASAP !!.. The price of gas in Central Alberta, Canada just went up by 5 cents a liter . Now it sits at $1.28 /Liter (that’s $5.16 per US gal.) I agree with the above comments that the Mailers should be set up on this site for the memebers here can submit their comments… I am sure that the loyal followers here would give a more difinitive imput that just a ramdom sample..
GO GM GO….. Black with all the options…. $ ?… don’t care .. just get me one…. ASAP !!
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
For a long time Toyota was downplaying the Volt’s technology. As it turns out all along, Toyota is going hog wild with this technology. I guess they were lying, hoping to catch it’s competitor’s sleeping. Toyota is a company I really don’t trust.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
It seems really foolish to just pick 15 people for feedback. That’s such a tiny sample that you’re not really going to get an accurate view of the car buying market. Because you’re only going to allow 15, there’s going to be a lot of self selecting of those people. This means that you’re almost prearranging the out come.
In addition, those 15 people are going to realize that they are a very select group making comments on a very special vehicle. This is likely make them feel honored and privileged making them feel warm and fuzzy towards GM. Not likely that they’ll give much critical feed back. They are far more likely to emphasize the positive and gloss over the negative. Sort of an Emperor’s new clothes thing. It’s probably how the Pontiac Aztek made it out of clinic. Still, if they want to send me an invite…
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Statik #18
Try typing your post into Microsoft Word or some other work processor before posting it. Then just copy and paste from that file to the post area. You will be surprised at the typos that you will find and fix before posting. It won’t eliminate all the problems but many.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
#19 Lyle
You the man!
Now thts sirvice my friend! I shal nvr make anther spelling errer agian!
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
f you use the browser by Mozzilla (firefox)
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/?utm_id=Q108&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CKPCgMzwvJMCFQ0Bswodel_ICg
and then download the plugin English dictionary….
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:3
Anytime you’re on a blog site or anywhere you type into a browser it will underline any misspelled word in red. Right click and the correct version(s) will appear and you can replace it. Very, very cool.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I’ve got to agree with #14 Gifford. It would be a mistake to bias the clinic outcomes by inviting waiting list signees.
While those of us on that list may not exactly be what you would term “fanboys” (or girls ;-)) of the Volt, we’re certainly all “enthusiasts” or at least “interested parties.” This car has to appeal, and SELL, to a much broader demographic. And it must do so in numbers far, far greater than a headcount of people who are actually capable of paying attention!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
I sure as hell hope they didn’t push the front wheels back from the nose of the car.
I can’t stand how large the front overhang is on most American cars. They drag all over every bump in the road. That’s part of the reason my last car was Japanese, and my wife still drags the nose every time she pulls into a driveway.
They had it right on the concept. Look to the Mini, that’s how to do it. All 4 wheels pushed to the 4 corners of the car. That way it optimizes wheelbase and interior space. Duh!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I dont want to complain but looking at this model doesnt really look like the concept to me…
No worries though, I’m still on board and cant wait for the hype to start ramping up about this!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
GM: Put Lyle on the list for the “Theme Confirmation”…just that simple. Seems to me you are validating the design with various demographics to see if what you have done will fly or flop. What better candidate to bounce the design off of then the originator of GM-Volt.com? This is a no-brainer folks! Git-R done!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
I don’t know if this is old news on the site, but the house has passed HR 6049 (look at the middle of page 4) http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/bill.pdf
Within that bill there is a provision for plug in hybrids to get a $3000 tax credit plus $200 more if the battery has a cabacity over 5KWhr and then $200 more for every KW hr over 5KW hr up to 15KW hr.
To me this looks like a $5200 government subsidy for the Chevy Volt. In one week we may have just went from Under $30K for a new volt to Under $25K after tax incentives.
I’m now addicted to this site and can’t wait to trade in the Wife’s Prius for an American EREV
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
I’m not worried about it. If they get the Cd down to 0.25 or less, it wil automatically look OK to me. Just get it done!
Sorry to reveal my ignorance, but which one of the icons above is the spell check? If it works, I have to second the motion of Statik at #28. It can never fix all of MY typos, but every little bit helps. Well done!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
One point on demographics. The people on this site would not be a good judge on the body style because:
1) We’ve been tainted too much by the concept car
2) We probably don’t represent the average car buyer
Remember that GM wants broad market appeal for the Volt. For example, how many women post comments on this site? I for one would welcome broader demograhics here.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Noel:
Use the icon above that has the Check mark with “ABC” above for Spell Check. It will not correct grammatical errors, just spelling. Good Luck!
Schmeltz
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Seems to me that the biggest long-term value of the Volt will be in allowing GM to sell lots of high-profit margin (i.e., physically big) vehicles again–mostly through application of the same energy system, but also through CAFE benefits.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Murray @32
I agree. Actually, considering the effort GM is putting into this car, the importance and the secrecy of the final design, I have a feeling that model in the wind tunnel is not the true final design. Maybe some iteration on the theme. Time will tell, but I think GM is playing all the right cards REAL close to the vest. We are seeing a lot, but if you stand back and think, we actually know very little.
And I think thats a good thing at this point. GM needs to trump the competition. Showing all the cards 2+ years in advance just doesn’t seem the best way to do that.
I bet the car is available at the end of 2009, too. One more trick up their sleeves.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
I’d love to look at the model also. I’m local in the Detroit area.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am
I bet Lyles survey we did a few weeks back was a feeler for GM also in this area. GM wants to know who posts here too, and maybe if we would have been a good cross section for the clinic mailers.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
Criteria for theme confirmation: (make a guess)
never owned, once owned, now own a GM?
target income range?
target education level?
marital/parental status?
transportation buyer, car buyer, or car enthusiast?
age-sex-ethnicity cohort (Boomer, X, Y)?
techie-first adopter?
eco-buyer?
ought to be interesting
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
$42, Eco. My guess: target income range, marital/parental status (4 or less people in family), techie-first adopter, eco-buyer.
Education level is not as important as income level.
Doesn’t matter if they never owned (or maybe it does if GM wants to impress).
Age is an interesting one. Maybe for people older than 25. (This age assumes: After college, making good money) I don’t think too old applies, but too young might.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
#36 Dave G:
Broad market appeal is great, but I hope they don’t let them screw up the Cd.
#37 Schmeltz:
Thanks. Every little bit helps. Sometimes I can screw up the spelling so bad that the spell check can’t even give me a hint! As to the grammar, that’s WAAYYY too much to hope for.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
#14 Gifford said “GM wants to market the Volt to a broader market. Using respondents from the “wait list” would give feedback from enthusiasts that may not accurately represent their true potential market.”
Well, I agree and disagree. Certainly the wait list does not reflect the general public. I disagree that the wait list should not sampled. Names from the wait list will reflect the interests and viewpoints of the group on the wait list (more than 20K now). They and their friends are likely to talk a lot to others, and word of mouth remains the most powerful form of advertising, whether positive or negative. They also write a lot of public comments, e.g. here. By doing that they influence the decisions of many other people, notably including those inside GM itself. I’m sure GM very much wants the Volt to be a success with the wait-list group.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Noel, I use Firefox and I have no trouble at all with spelling.
If you need help getting it installed, just say so, and I will ask Lyle to email you my email address. Then I will be more than happy to explain how to do it.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Noel;
dotn woryr abtou yruo spellgni too muhc. Stduise swoh taht oru barins proecss infromatoni moer on hte wohel wrod rahtre tahn teh inidvdual letetrs
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I hope they consider adding more hatchback-similar dimensions to the body if it doesn’t impact the Cd too much. This would increase the utility of the car a lot.
I have a Prius and the hatchback enables me to use that car for much more than if it had sedan-like storage room. It lets us fit a stroller, groceries, and trip or grocery bags for frequent tasks.
I’m worried that the Flextreme will not become a reality with Saturn. If so, we’ll have to choose between a conventional hybrid with decent utility/mpg or an EREV with extremely high/”infinite” mpg but stuck with low to moderate utility.
Does anyone know if there is light at the end of the tunnel for this use case?
Also, GM card points don’t work with Saturn, so there goes any savings built up!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
RB #45:
Agreed! The average Joe or Jane would just say to make it look like a Camry…………
GM needs to know that there is a large group of buyers that would still like this car to have some real style!!!
:)
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
dodahman: I sure as hell hope they didn’t push the front wheels back from the nose of the car.
From what I’ve read, I think this is likely to happen. From what I’ve read, pushing the wheels to the front requires the front to be square, and that was one of the reason the concept has such terrible aerodynamics.
Personally, I also like the wheels forward look, but I’d prefer a low CD more. Also, I’ve never noticed American vehicles being much different in that respect. Curious what you’re comparing.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
How about a gyroscopic motor like the Germans used in WWII to transport personell. It runs my watch all day…… Or Generate hydrogen from water by simply adding 12v electricity to bubble the hydrogen off of the negative charge?
Why not save the planet and show that GM is not OPEC’s Bitch?
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
#48 Eric W
You said “Also, GM card points don’t work with Saturn, so there goes any savings built up!”
Check with Saturn again; they have just made a change about GM card points.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#23 Darius - you need 53 kW to climb long highway grades in the western US with air conditioning on. If Volt was parallel instead of serial you could get by with about 45 kW.
There’s not a big efficiency hit, engines are usually most efficient around half power and Atkinson cycle’s stay near peak efficiency all the way down to 15-20% max power. Smaller engines actually have lower peak efficiency than large ones.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Are (many of) you blind? Take a really good long look at the 1/3 scale model. Look at the overall shape. It’s MUCH taller and dumpier than the concept. Look at the front overhang. Look at how tall the front fender is over the front wheel. All of you who were seduced by the prototype better get ready for a wake-up call. This model above is an accurate scaled-down version for critical wind tunnel testing. It may not show all the surface detail, but it clearly shows how different the overall shape is from the concept.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
pauln @54
I am not convinced the model is, in fact, an “accurate scaled down version”. (NOT that you can accurately decipher the camoflage, anyway). I know GM implied it was, but……
Call it a “hunch”.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Joe #51,
<blockquote>Or Generate hydrogen from water by simply adding 12v electricity to bubble the hydrogen off of the negative charge?</blockquote>
Great idea, but when you’re done running down the battery by bubbling off the Brown’s Gas (h2+O2), the energy you could possibly get from combining it back into H2O will be less than the energy required to charge the battery. So why not just use the battery directly?
Both of your suggestions (making hydrogen from a battery) and storing energy in a flywheel/spring (whatever a “gyroscopic motor” is) raises the question: where do you get the energy to charge the battery or wind the spring? If you can come up with a new/cheap/feasible answer to that question, then there are a *LOT* of people who’d like to hear the answer.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
The long and short of it, regardless of whether you like the looks or the concept or the battery power, the electric car is here to stay this time around. The number one priority for most folks is to get to work and back for a reasonable cost without sacrificing their total way of life for gas guzzlers. It’s time to move the philosophical discussion along and talk about the next generation of ev’s. There will be more powerful batteries in the future and niftier model designs, etc. I liken the Chevy Volt to the Ford Model A.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Ed M :
I would bet, though, that GM does not liken the Volt to the Model A. For GM, the Volt is quite possibly “live or die”. They can not afford this design to be less than attractive. Ford’s model A had the mission of providing the ” any man” with a car. It could afford to be stripped down and homely. It was first.
The Volt can not. It must compete with many other attactive car designs plus our expectations from the concept. They have set the bar high for this car, and have actually kept it there, for the most part.
I would bet the production car will be a real nice looking car, mainly because it has to be. It can not be an electric cobalt (which they emphatically stated as well). The camouflaged model at the top of the page at first glance is cobalt-like. It is really well done camouflage. It is real hard to see the true lines. But they are there.
My biggest concern is with the wheel size. I have read they will be 17″. I was hoping for 18-19″.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Lyle,
Thanks for another good piece of information. The spell check being enabled will be very useful. Although I will lose the “chuckles” I get from seeing everyones (mine include) gaffs as we type our comments in an effort to get them posted. We all should benefit from the spell checker. But I was enjoying the comments ever without it.
GM, be sure to give us adequate rear leg room. That is one thing I really admire about the Prius. It has plenty of leg room for a 6′2″ fella like me. I am looking forward to buying a Chevy Volt just as soon as it is available in Central Mississippi.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Lyle,
It seems with the spell check on, line spacing changed. When I try to leave one blank line after the salutation, as above, something causes extra lines to be placed in between. Is that because you activated the spell checker or something else?
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
#46 Rashiid Amul:
Many thanks for your kind offer. I think that George B. probably has it right at #47. I keep telling people that it is the blogosphere, don’t sweat the typos too much. Maybe it’s just a form of cover because I am embarrassed about my own. Anyway, do I take my own excellent advice? Noooooooooo.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
BTW, thanks Lyle for the spell checker. Very helpful.
Also, while I think of it, all you mad bloggers have a great weekend. Gas just hit $4 for regular in LA. Too bad we don’t have our Volts. If we did we might be able to afford to go somewhere this weekend!
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
As a veteran, I would like to wish all a happy and safe weekend. Please enjoy Memorial Day, but remember those that gave (and are still giving) their lives so we can live in this great and wonderful country of ours. God bless our veterans and those still serving.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Regular in Sacramento is $4.15 but less in central and southern cal. Enjoy $4.00 while it is here, soon we will wish for $4.00 as the price soars up and away.
Go GM go, late 2009 is a good target date for release. The sooner the better for middle and lower income, the hurt is on but only starting. Travel this summer, while it is affordable. Remember the vets.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Yes, N. Riley, the Volt is will be a great memorial for all who had put themselves in harm’s way to protect America’s independence. As I look out across the white crosses that dot Point Loma, I can almost hear them say, “Build em for me.”
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Van @65
?????
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Dave G #36 - “how many women post comments on this site? I for one would welcome broader demograhics here”
I read this site almost daily, but rarely comment. I recently purchased a Saturn Aura since my lease was expiring well before the Volt is due. What I hope GM will offer in the Volt is lots of upgrades - leather interior, power & lumbar support in both front seats, 6 speed automatic transmission, etc. Unfortunately, the Aura was not offered with these amenities in the 4-cylinder at the time I ordered mine. So, here’s my message to GM - just because buyers want good gas mileage does not mean they don’t want the availability of nice features.
While I love my Aura (Ocean Mist with chrome wheel covers-gets lots of compliments) & it gets great mileage with surprisingly good performance for a 4 cylinder (feels like a 6), I would have liked more options. From what I understand, that is now being offered on the Malibu, too late for me, but a good move by GM. Keep it in mind for the Volt please.
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm
So can i pull the electric motor and put on a smaller drive gear and turn it into a screamer? Probably have to run cheater slicks for traction, and put in some traction bars. Oh crap, front wheel drive I can’t do those mods. How do you do it on front wheel drive?
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
travel is no longer affordable. Stay home, stay local for the next couple years and save money for a volt purchase. You don’t have to give any extra money to the oil robber barons. Kind of sad that this is how our nation works. Never proactive, just reactive. We were warned 30 years ago and ignored it.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
GM, How about using Lyle’s e-mail list? We would all love to give you some feedback. I think the response would be much more than 15 people.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Van@65
I understand perfectly.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
#54 pauln: Your comment about many of us being blind got me thinking. I took off my glasses and looked at the model again and the camouflaging disappeared! I can see the actual car. Amazing!
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
#72 akojim:
Well don’t keep us in suspense! What did you see? ‘Cause I confess that I can’t make heads or tails out of it.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
George K loves these updates:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121154711519317227.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
General Motors Corp. shares hit their lowest level in 26 years today.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Akojim #72
It’s one thing to have the kind of talent to see the car, but I’d be satisfied just to be able to look at the taped job w/o getting migraine.
Joy #67
I too hope GM delivers on options, but the Volt will not have a transmission, because it doesn’t need one like an ICE vehicle does.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I think the reason GM did not use the concept body was that its crisp lines resembled more the Cadillac line then the Chevy curvy line. Do they expect me to believe it was because of the COD? Come on look at the shape of the HHR and tell me the COD police didn’t take a vacation.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Nelson #76
The HHR is an ICE vehicle, *big* difference here. The rework of the design was all about CD while trying to keep it as close as possible to the concept.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
#67 Joy
Glad to hear your comments. I, too, would like to see lots of options, like lots of air bags, esp. knee protection! I also like a futuristic looking console, with good feedback on energy use, energy left, etc. Maybe even solar panels as a great toy.
If #34 Gsned57 is right about that $3000+ tax credit, more people will have money for more upgrades.
Also, as some have said above, there is a concern about the amount of storage space in the back. Not a deal stopper for the enthusiasts on this forum, however.
You won’t have to worry about an upgraded 6 speed tranny, as the Volt has one very efficient direct gear.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
#74 Statik
You’re giving me static, man! I can’t believe you’re holding me to that “buy” recommendation I made at 22.
Ok. Here’s another recommendation. Make a paper buy on Tue. and I’ll tell you when to sell.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I sure hope there is more than one model of the Volt. l really need the hatch back for room to haul my stuff around. Also I hope they put production into high gear and make them available long before November 2010. I have lost over 8000 dollars in stock in the last two years. If the Volt doesn’t help GM recover I think I’m screwed along with the whole company.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:08 am
In New Zealand petrol just went over $2 a litre. Thats $8 a gallon. (sigh) Bring on the volt ASAP. Please…
May 24th, 2008 at 6:29 am
From Lyle’s intro…..
“Bob Boniface told me: ‘We’ve already built a fiberglass research property that’s got a transparent upper, you can see through it. This property looks like a real car. It has functioning lights, you can see through it to the seats. We just finished it.’”
I know, I know, EVERY model has a “transparent upper” so the interior can be easily shown off. However, I’m still hopeful an added-cost option for a Volt with a “transparent upper” will be offered, based partly on today’s news that polycarbonates that are scratch-resistant and thermal/(IR)-rejecting as well as cost competitive are now available & are being used for car tops!
PS: This was posted yesterday afternoon & has apparently been held up (”in moderation”) because I included the link to the source. So instead, google “just-auto.com & “Polycarbonate auto glazing offers designers new vision“
May 24th, 2008 at 6:31 am
#79 George K
Hehe. I just like messing with you. (Actually, it was at $24 on April 30th, 2008 at 10:40 pm).
I only remember because we had our conversation right at the zenith of it’s rebound…who could know the impact at the time of the AA strike.
They big blow is finally having to fess up on the ’real selling numbers.’ (well Ford did, and the market sees the trend finally).
The fact automakers are allowed to show ’shipped to dealer’ cars as ’sold’ cars is dispicable…it borders on Enron type accounting, and has shielded the market from getting the full impact of the crisis. It’s legal and they have been doing it forever…but it’s wrong, and the day of reckoning has come…and alot of people are getting burned this month (and will continue to).
Now with widespread production cuts and dealer blowback, the pain really starts. We are going to see some real ‘doozies’ of reports in the future.
Think about the impact of just the Oshawa/Flint/Pontiac truck plant cutting back truck production by “80,000 full-size pickups and 50,000 full-size SUVs starting July” 130K of their highest margin vehicles…130K x $35,000 = $4.5 billion!
That money is lost RIGHT now…but by making the slowdowns in ‘July’ it doesn’t start affecting their books until late September…and pollutes them for a whole year afterwards.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Geez & Crackers! Even without the link I’m still seeing “Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
COULD ANYONE CONFIRM WHETHER POST #83 (LAST LINE: “Polycarbonate auto glazing offers designers new vision” ) IS ACTUALLY POSTED –OR NOT? …..Thanks!
May 24th, 2008 at 7:01 am
sorry, not posted nasaman
May 24th, 2008 at 7:10 am
#80 charley497,
Yes, a hatchback or small station wagon version of the Volt would be great. Like you, I also need more room in the back to haul stuff around, and for our big dog. GM floated the idea of doing a Saturn version of the Opel Flextreme a while back. I hope they follow through on that. It would have to be a gas engine though. I wouldn’t buy a diesel.
#67 Joy,
I think you’re right. I’m no expert, but I seem to remember Prius sales taking off right around the time they started offering more luxury options.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Thanks, koz! ……OK, here’s my 3RD TRY to post this:
Quoting from Lyle’s introduction at the top…..
“Bob Boniface told me: ‘We’ve already built a fiberglass research property that’s got a transparent upper, you can see through it. This property looks like a real car. It has functioning lights, you can see through it to the seats. We just finished it.’”
Yes I know, all models have to have a “transparent upper” so the interior can be easily seen. However, I’m still hopeful GM will offer a Volt with a “transparent upper”! That’s based partly on yesterday’s news that polycarbonates that are now highly scratch-resistant and thermal/(IR)-rejecting as well as cost competitive …..are now available & are being used for car tops!
(Sorry, even a reference to the authoritative source “bans” this)
May 24th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I get ’the delay’ all the time myself Nasaman…it will show up, just takes awhile (perhaps Lyle’s morning coffee..or his 15 min break from brain surgery). I’ve never had a post not show up.
Although looking for the sentence, “Polycarbonate auto glazing offers designers new vision,” is getting me REALLY excited to see it. I hope there is pics in the link too!
/I kidd…I enjoy all your posts. They are very well thought out, I can tell you put some time into them.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Crap! I’m not spelling badly now, but now I can’t form simple sentences.
(perhaps Lyle’s morning coffee..or his 15 min break from brain surgery)
=
(perhaps after Lyle’s morning coffee..or when he gets his 15 min break from brain surgery).
/humoUr explained….tres drole
May 24th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Marketing Tip for GM:
Don’t overdue the GREEN angle inside the GM marketing message because everyone else is currently trying to define themselves as green. Green is no longer a product/service differentiator. Yes the VOLT is green but that should be a secondary GM marketing point that will be declared and praised by 3rd party green advocacy venues if GM remains hyper aggressive in the development of the VOLT and the GM EV platform. No need to spend marketing bandwidth where someone else will be doing that for you. Primary marketing message should be that GM is the global leader in electric car technology and that the VOLT is a very cool high performance high quality electric car that is defining the electric car revolution.
Electronics Engineering Tip for GM:
Keep the electronic instrumentation relevant and simple. Don’t try to develop the “be all” set of GUI wiz-bangs. Instead allow for some type of electronic interface that will allow the geeks of the world to (open source) do that for you; there are way more of them than you that would be happy to do that. Provide a site (i.e. gm-volt.com) where one can download versions of GM-VOLT GUI. As an illustration, do what is being done w/ Word Press & Face Book. Provide the subsystem w/ a minimal GUI and allow others to develop elaborate versions of the extended GUI.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Note Canadian U in humor in above post…means I don’t get a first run Volt…which means I might not get one at all.
Snap! My morning negativity post is out of the way already! Now to Tim Horton’s for my morning fix.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I know, all models have to have a “transparent upper” so the interior can be easily seen. However, I’m still hopeful GM will offer a Volt with a “transparent upper”! That’s based partly on yesterday’s news that polycarbonates that are now highly scratch-resistant and thermal/(IR)-rejecting as well as cost competitive …..are now available & are being used for car tops!
May 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am
From a highly authoritative UK article “Polycarbonate auto glazing offers designers new vision” that gm-volt.com won’t allow me to post the link for (just-auto.com)
May 24th, 2008 at 9:19 am
#83 Statik I appreciate you continuing informative even when negative comments. They make a good balance to our irrational exuberance
.
In #83 you said “The fact automakers are allowed to show ’shipped to dealer’ cars as ’sold’ cars is dispicable…it borders on Enron type accounting, and has shielded the market from getting the full impact of the crisis. ”
Well, yes as to the delay between GM’s report and what’s happening with customers. Still, as George May (the father of accounting in the USA) is said to have said “The way accounting is done is indefensible, except that it is indispensable.”
Your criticism of the way that cars are marked as “sold” by GM (and all other car makers) at the time of shipment to dealers has to be counterbalanced by the fact that GM actually does sell the cars to dealers at that time, and the dealers really and truly do owe that money to GM from that time forward.
The dealers then resell them to us, and, they hope, recoup their cost and more. That’s why they are so eager to move the cars sitting on their lots.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am
#94 RB
I agree with your statement. That is totally how it works. I understand they are ’sold’ in a very real and legal sense.
The fact GM is holding ‘the paper’ at ridiculous rates and that they still have to rebate ’sold cars’ that are dogs to get the dealer to buy more is so ludicrous. The system actually encourages cannibalism of themselves.