Nowadays, it just doesn’t matter to me HOW LOW gasoline gets.
It seems to me that the volatile price of crude has burned us all for the last time as regards our tolerance for it. I don’t care if it were nearly free, I refuse to change my mind regarding getting a Volt.
Even if a Plug-in SUV only got 25 miles on electric due to a higher wind-resistance profile (i drive 50 to 60 miles a day), I would get it in a heartbeat.
Dan Petit. Austin, TX.

GM Volt … convertible

Jim Hall, principal of 2953 Analytics, an automotive consulting firm in Birmingham, Michigan

Or maybe a couple of experts–they might have some info and thinking that this Volt site would highly value. Thanks!

And not necessarily just for the younger crowd either: I’m anything but younger, and given that the Volt is at least two years away (and longer for me as a practical matter since I’ll wait a couple of years post-introduction for GM to get the Volt’s price down and the inevitable bugs out), I’ll need something more fuel efficient in the interim. I’m single and live in an urban environment so a reasonably priced vehicle like the Beat (even with an ICE) would serve me well. You can like or hate GM, but you have to admit that they’ve getting base hits with vehicle styling lately if nothing else. I think this will be an important factor in the coming, inivitable compact, fuel efficient vehicle wars between manufacturers.

Though I would prefer a four-door compact, I like the Beat’s styling enought that I could live with it as a two-door. But lo-and-behold, take a look at the last image in Autoblog gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-auto-show-2007-chevy-beat-concept/

I could live happily with any of those vehicles. Canehdian makes a good point though: For maximum effect GM would really need to have the Beat ready at the time of the Transformer 2 movie realease (tentatively next summer). Let’s imagine a viable environment next summer: Release of what will likely be a blockbuster movie showcasing the Beat, a younger driving crowd out of school, even higher gas prices, hip styling (yes-this matters to that younger crowd), and a fuel efficient vehicle priced for that younger crowd (not to mention the masses at large).

I think GM would have a major hit on its hands; especially if they could release two and four-door versions of the Beat (double major hit if they could offer BEV variants-but I wouldn’t expect that within a year-Indeed, I’ll be impressed if GM can even bring ICE versions to market in a year).

Those like myself who follow this forum on a regular basis know that the Volt is a top priority for GM. I think they to make the Beat another, even more immediate priority.