AND 
Video: Pre-Production Chevy Volts Hit the Road!
GM has just released a video of and blog post by Andrew Farah, the Volts chief engineer. Andrew demonstrates one of the new pre-production genuine Chevy Volts that has rolled of the assembly line. He reports he drove the first one on Tuesday, Integration Vehicle #1, more than a week ahead of schedule, and drove it again today.
He writes:
I adjusted the seat and mirrors, pressed the POWER button, moved the shifter to D, and then took it on a few laps around our Technical Center campus in Warren, Mich. This was the moment I’d been looking forward to and it was exhilarating. And when I was done, I pulled it into the garage and charged it with the production intent equipment.
As Andrew says, the preproduction properties “are the Volt” He notes this new era is not the end but the beginning of what he calls “the most important part of the process.”
Farah says the fundamental issues of the car are under control, but at this point his team needs to go into the refining the vehicle and make it something people “want to drive.”
Its the little things he says like “the ways the blinker sounds, the way the door sounds, and the way the steering responds.”
People, he says rightly, expect all of that to be flawless and finish developing. You can see the new location of the charging port door.
What makes it wonderful is that they are a few weeks ahead of schedule. And so the next major phase of the Volt coming into begin has occurred, 2 years 5 months, and 8 days after this site began as little more than a hope and a dream.
Source (FastLane)
GALLERY:
June 24th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
This is all pretty breathtaking for me. Just getting into a new Malibu at Henna Chevrolet here in Austin has me ready to buy a Volt.
The Volt (Malibu body), is just the right size for me (6-2) , and, it is very comfortable too.
Go over to your Chevy store and sit in a Malibu, and, you can very easily imagine yourself in a Volt.
You’ll get that breathtaking feeling too.
Dan
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
It looks pretty nice actually! The design could have been a little better than this but it looks alright.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
What a great day! we are seeing the future happen!
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Bring on a small pickup with this type of drivetrain and HURRY!
Dreams into reality- how electrifying!.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
The car looks great (but)…..
1) Does anyone know if the silver spoiler on the rear is standard or optional?
2) Ditto the projector headlights with blacked-out surrounds?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I tried to buy a car last weekend. I could not find the car that met my various needs/wants (although the Jetta TDI Sportwagen came close). The Volt looks like something I want; performance, fuel efficiency, comfort, quiet…If priced right, the Volt is the car for me.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Ditto the fake grill?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Congrats to the Volt Team for bringing the car out ahead of schedule in some very difficult times. They should be very pleased with their performance!
Also congrats to Lyle for creating this site, which has done a lot to keep the enthusiasm for the Volt rolling. It was a kick to have Lyle mention how the first Volt wold roll out of the door in his still photo in the morning and then have this video showing the Volt rolling out of the exact door in the afternoon.
This is quite exciting. I’m more or less a “pretty is as pretty does” kinda guy — so looks aren’t that big of a deal for me — but this is a nice looking car. More like an Insight than a Prius, it looks better than those vehicles and is definitely distinctive, which is important. While some may be disappointed that it doesn’t look like a Fisker Karma, this car will have plenty of exceptional things going for it under the hood. Also, it could be my imagination but it seems to have pretty snappy handling in the video.
NPNS!
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Test…
So why were all my posts getting deleted?!?!?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Is $40,000.00 the right price?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
What a day for Farah (i.e, a Farah-day)!
He gets to be first.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Hey, the next time you guysand Gals do a reply, Read the red text that pops up. It say’s “new comment is submiting, please wait a comment…”
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I put a picture of the Volt and the Insight next to each other and it looks like the Volt is shorter (bumper to bumper). Their silhouette lokks the same though….
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
this is pretty legit but a few things that i noticed. at least to me, how the steering feels is not a “small part” it is very important to me. I hate dull steering as it is very boring. another thing; there was no Chevy badge on the front and that silver spoiler on the back just looked weird. also, the headlights looked much worse than when the car was unveiled back in, i believe it was September.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
My first reaction is that $40k is too much. But, I’ll wait to see what actually happens, price-wise. Maybe incentives and fuel prices will make a Volt pencil out.
I forget, what kind of maintence does a Volt need? Regular oil changes at 3k miles?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
In reviewing the technology behind the grille, it looks like that there is in the very front of the chassis, the battery cooling system heat exchanger, then, you get cooled with the air conditioning condenser (for the A/C refrigerant to be cooled), then, the engine coolant gets cooled with a radiator.
So, it looks like the grille is likely and certainly a highly functional open one for the Volt.
Dan
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I gave myself a -1 for that
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I think the spoiler in th back is a decoy/camouflage to some small extent.
Just IMHO.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
WOOHOO!
Great job guys – bang out as many as you can and start polishing every minute aspect with the time you have left.
I can just see all the documentaries that will be made about this development effort. Fr. Staudemeier of the University of Detroit could write a piece, being an historian of tech development and its impact on society.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Lucky SOB. When can I get mine!
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Back on November 3rd, 2008, Lyle posted
http://gm-volt.com/2008/11/03/volt-lead-designer-on-the-production-volt-front-grille/
That post says,
“There has been some public debate about the appearance of the production Chevy Volt’s front grille. It is unique in that it isn’t a series of bars across an opening, but rather a closed but very firm and strong panel with openings around the sides. The panel has etchings that simulate a true grille.”
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Which will be easier to get: a Chevy Volt in Nov 2009 or a liver transplant?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
OK, in #16, is there a viral BOT that automatically goes out and post stuff like that on site “Content”?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Ahead of schedule…and under budget? If so, lower the selling price.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Lyle – do you know / can you establish whether or not there is any anti-tamper feature for the re-charge connector?
From these shots it appears that when the flap is open it then stays that way during recharging. Hence anyone can come along, unplug you and/or rip off that open flap.
Citroen got it right on their Berlingo EV which has a ’sub-flap’ on the main flap. This means that after you plug in you can RE close the flap, leaving just the handle portion of the connector (and cable) protruding from the sub-flap. The flap can only be released by a pull handle on the interior, rendering the whole arrangement tamper proof .
This also provides an extra barrier to water ingress in the event of torrential downpours.Simple, practical and much more TIDY.
GM engineers please take note – it isn’t too late to put this right. PLEASE do so or you WILL deter potential cusomers – myself included.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
ThombDdbomb
Don’t do it. Don’t get a VW. Unfortunately, I can’t list here the reasons why you ought not get one.
Go over to the Chevy store and sit in a Malibu. You’ll see right away how luxurious and how far more solid it is, and, then, I’d bet you’ll be happy to wait for a Volt.
Dan.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
doesn’t it look great driving around on the road??
its very distinctive and eye-catching. from the front, i dont know why, but it kind of looks like a CTS.
i think i like the charge port better too. it doesn’t really matter, i don’t guess though.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
That depends on your Jobs.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
@ThombDbhomb 19
“Ahead of schedule…and under budget? If so, lower the selling price.”
Yeah right. I/We wish.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Black, Statik is going to like it. So when do we see a Victory Red one? Anyway we still can not see the head lights and tail lights. We are talking LED’s her are we not? Yes what is up with the white spoiler?
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
@Red HHR 23
“We are talking LED’s her are we not?”
Someone correct me here but those are standard Halogen type headlamps right? I think LED sets were considered “cost prohibitive”.
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June 24th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
If it is still every 3K miles and you rarely use the ICE, you’ll have to change oil maybe 1 – 2 times a year.
Nice, huh?
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Nothing but good news here. It is nice to finally get to see a actual operational Volt. The glass is definitely half full for me on this one. (first time for everything I guess)
Congrats to the Volt team on realizing the finished product (more or less) and good luck on bringing it home on time.
I give them use of Tagamet’s song for the rest of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_v468ptuXw
———-
Also, a big gratz to Lyle on sticking with it/us for ‘2 years 5 months, and 8 days’. I’m sure when you started out you had all the energy and enthusiam in the world (and probably still do on most days), but I’m also sure there have been a lot of days/weeks that were just a grind, and you really wanted a break. Cheers.
+1 to Lyle
+1 to Andrew Farah and the team
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I gave you a bump. Very punny.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
The Chevy Volt can just as easily be called the American Independence day car. This is the beginning of independence from terrorist funding by Americans who buy middle-east oil everyday. A great day for America – November 2010 and from that day forever onward I pray. God bless this magnificent country and GM for spiking the world’s interest away from foreigners using our cash to buy our country.
US Air Force (retiree)
And to think, the I-Miev is $47,000, the Volt, the better car, will be $32,500 after the tax credit. This is a no brainer folks.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Stop it! Stop it! You are on a roll.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Probably a Kamm-Tail….
Just enough aerodynamic improvement to keep the cell count under 300.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I’d assume some kind of personal grudge against you by Lyle.
/anti CaptJack day
(=
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
The video is great.
Though I’d really like to see a video clip of a Prius being “T-Boned” by a “Pre-Production” Volt.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I have to say, after reading all the posts here, I’ve become a permanent Democrat. That party actually believes government can play a positive role in people’s lives.
Let the mud flying begin. I turned in my Republican card last Fall.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Well, it seems that the various heat exchangers and the devices to have the heat extracted from three different systems essentially appear to need about two square feet of ram air. Although some vehicles like the Vette scoop up air from near the road, I am thinking that to exclude undue risks to new designs which may need higher tolerance-margins of cooling air volumes, that the grille might need to be a truly functional one.
Maybe there could be some sort of spring-loaded door that opens at lower speeds (below 40 mph) on hot days (it was 105 degrees in Austin today), and have it close when coefficient of drag would benefit at higher speeds.
It would not surprise me that we might get Summertime temperatures in the mid Hundred-Teens toward the end of the useful life of the Volt, which I would hope to be 25 years/well maintained/gently-driven.
Dan.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
…I have it on good authority/inside ’source’ that only mental patients order Victory Red
/black is awesome
…that Robin’s Egg Blue we have been forced to look at the last 9 months is the exact opposite, and the source of many sleepless nights for me. I still hope the first car (and all subsequent cars) crash tested are in Robin’s Egg Blue…clearly the Volt team has been reading the forums and learning.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Yep, CJS.
They axed the LED’s long ago. I do not think they really seriously considered them, but they looked cool.
Cost of LED headlamps would add several hundered dollars. I forget the exact number, but I think it was closer to a grand?
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hah! Best laugh I had all day, and boy-howdy, did I need it. I. too. give you a thumbs-up!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I think both the Volt and IMiev have different markets, and I hope for the success of both.
Does not the IMiev get to partake in the tax credit? So, $47,000 is not a fair number, and I am not sure if I have heard a firm US $ price yet.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Last month the wife and I go down to the local GM dealer to look at the new Camaro. Because my wife commutes 80 miles a day we test drive an Chevy Avio. So we go talk money, we have a pile of GM card rebate dollars (we built our house with credit cards) well they will only give us a grand off. I told her to wait.. we will get them dollars yet. so she gets mad and we go buy a Prius, the next day we get a letter in the mail say we can use all of our GM rebate dollars… Then we get another with additional owner loyalty rebates…
Is all pretty funny, So if I use my GM rebates and Tax rebates the Volt could be affordable. However I believe supply and demand along with additional markups would leave me out for a while. i am just hoping when Volt generation two rolls out I will be able to get a first generation Volt?
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
The Genset in my old Winnebago has an hour meter, and, the oil gets changed every 150 hours (equivalent to 3 months if it were a car’s engine hours if it were driven every day).
But the Volt might only need an oil change once a year.
I don’t like an oil to be represented to last 15,000 miles as it depends on what gets into the oil that matters more. Oils are so extremely good nowadays, the oil molecules themselves hold up that great, but its what gets into the oil that damages the rear oil seal and the valve seals. Long term acid buildup might also be a concern to have an oil change need twice a year depending on your Volt Genset hours, it seems to me.
Dan.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
AWESOME! I do hope some of the cosmetic things we are commenting on are just camo tho.
Not to make another Prius comparison, but I’ve seen a lot of new 3rd gens now out here in silicon valley and, while VAST improvements on the 1-gen Priuses and incrementally better than the last in terms of styling, they don’t hold a candle to the Volt.
That said, Volts aren’t 10k better in terms of styling, but then again gas-free operation is worth much, much more to many people than looks.
While certainly completely different vehicles from a technical standpoint, in the public’s mind they are competitors. I am worried that green-niks out here may not accept the Volt, just because it is made by GM and not Toyota. GM needs a SUPERB marketing campaign out here on the left coast to win them over and an equally superb vehicle. If it can’t win them, only a major price slash can get others to buy it before the next couple gens come out at reduced price.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Touche!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Amen brother, preach on!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Half full? Nice spin. We know that half full means half empty.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Thanks Mr. Petit. I will probably trade my “clunker” ‘99 Dodge Grand Caravan for a 2010 Chevy Equinox.
I’m about to pour some money into my ‘92 Honda Civic to get a few more years out of it. Then, it’s Volt time!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Some Cadillac & Prius both use LED headlights, extra cost option though. I do not know about BMW and Audi.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I like the sound of silence at the very end of the video, only the tires against the road!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I wonder if when the price is set Lyle will be reporting on the $50 per car ThombDbhomb official discount! GM does read this site don’t-cha-know!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Nice car.
I hope it comes in a good choice of colors.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Do you have something against fire trucks? Every kid/adult should have a fire truck! preferably a convertible.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
It really does look like its worth every penny. Go over to the Chevy store and get into a new Malibu, and, you’ll immediately know that you are getting every cents’ worth for your money.
And, it is just the right large size for me, because I’m a 6′2″ tall.
It is not a small car. I don’t even consider it a mid-sized car.
You can have a larger car with as smaller interior. My Element is as large inside as a Yukon, but it is called a Compact Utility Vehicle.
Go to the Chevy store and find out for yourselves. That’s the best way to find out.
Dan.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Stick with the colors black, white, and red for the first run of 10,000 Volt.
Make some profit with a high sticker price for these.
Reduce the sticker to under $40,000 for the next 60,000 (2011).
I still believe the Volt will be competing with 6 to 10 year old conversions. Vehicles like the CR-V, Altima, Aztek, Vitara, and Forester will make nice retro conversions.
Great to see the wheels of the Chevy Volt on the road. A bit of good karma to GM.
=D~
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Wow. Awesome. It’s finally here! The production intent Volt … the real deal. I guess if the Volt was software, this is Volt beta 2 and they’re getting closer to the release candidate phase.
All that’s left for them to do is to optimize and tweak the various systems under the hood and maybe do a few other things to the interior and exterior to make it even better. Kaizen … constant and continuous improvement. I read a story today about GM’s new product chief, Tom Stephens. He’s a guy who’s always looking to make an already good product a little better somehow. He wants to make GM cars as good as they can possibly be … the best in the world. Look out Toyota and Honda! GM just might be “blowing your doors off” in the next couple of years with their new models.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10270192-48.html
I like the spoiler on the back. They ought to think about making it standard on the Volt. Make it look sportier and all that. Optimize the look of the Volt with those little tweaks. Try out different things. They could get a few ideas from the people who do modifications on cars all the time … like in the movie “The Fast and the Furious”. Stuff like that can sometimes make all the difference in the world if you don’t overdo it.
So far, I like what I see with this production intent Volt. I would like to see more videos like this of the Volt driving around on the streets and maybe going a little faster on the track on curves, etc. Maybe they’ll have some different exterior colors soon. I liked that super shiny silver model I saw a few months ago. I’d like to get a cameraman inside the car with audio to get the full Volt driving experience too.
Way to go GM Volt development team !! This is a big milestone for you guys I’m sure. Your vision and all your hard work is REALLY starting to come to fruition now. I can’t wait to test drive one in the next year or so.
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
US Air Force (retired) and stating your political switch? You are a brave man.
Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, there are some things that just make sense. The Volt seems to make sense to both sides. There are many different opinions on how to get to the mountain top. But, we need to get there ASAFP. Despite all the armchair quarterbacking, the decision makers are moving the Volt along. Way to go USA (warts and all)!
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June 24th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Pete,
I’m really glad you brought that up. With the tens of thousands of details going into the Volt, anything anyone can bring up right now that would help the final product is
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helpful to the extreme
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and, I’d bet GM engineering appreciates you as well.
Dan.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
JEC, good question, I don’t think the I-miev will be here in the USA for awhile. I think there is a $1500 tax credit in Japan, and the other point of sale location in Europe none I’m aware of.
We’re lucky to be here in USA.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
OMG that’s hilarious! I don’t care if it’s CG or real, I want to see that!
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Both parties have positives and negatives.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
November 2010. Wait your turn…
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
What is the black box looking thing in front of the front wheels? It looks rather non-aerodynamic and low enough to be taken out by speed bumps or entry to a steep driveway. Is it there for test purposes only?
Unfortunately I can’t watch the video, but from the image supplied, the passenger window looks much smaller than I thought it was (I can see the door line appears to angle up now), and I take it the glass cover over the lights will be in place for the production model. I don’t think the image is all that flattering for the Volt, but I’m more interest in the technology, not the overall looks.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Since this is still a pre-production prototype (and the very first one, at that), I would imagine those headlights are temporary, until they get the finalized versions installed.I’m looking forward to watching details like this get polished in the next year!
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
So far, I like what I see with this production intent Volt. I would like to see more videos like this of the Volt driving around on the streets and maybe going a little faster on the track on curves, etc.
___________________
I’d like to see a lot more video also. I could watch it on and on. I do hope they get a chance to tune the suspension though before they go trying to tip it over!
Perhaps using the oft noted professional driver instead of Mr. Farah. After all, so far these cars are coming in at several hundred-million-dollars-a-piece, with all development costs included.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Naw, not for Statik. When Statik says the glass is half full, it means he is absolutley XStatik. Something about that British culture up North being a little understated.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Ask your questions to AF tomorrow at 4pm on the FL chat. I have a lot of the same ones that were posted above (and more) but it will be midnight here in Moscow and I’m sure I’ll be at a bar.
Oh, and congrats all!
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
This car is going to look awesome in white.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
“That depends on your Jobs.”
Now that…is nice.
Certainly a +1 for that.
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
“Both parties have positives and negatives”
Let the ions flow!
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June 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
In the picture, the rear door looks a lot shorter than the front door. That might make it though to get in/out…and it doesn’t seem like something that can refined for production.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I may try to get my done in an American Flag color theme. Cost hopefully is not to high.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
BTW I deleted all my opinions and kept it in the understated form you see above!
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Great idea! Hookup the Dems on one side of a Volt battery, and the Reps on the other side, and let the electricity flow!
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
JEC, full LED headlights are very, expensive…a lot more than a grand. You frequently see them as just DRLs.
Just as a example, on the R8 it is relatively new option last year…to the tune of €3590, about $6000 USD. Now that is a very high end automoblile.
It is hard to price it out as a ‘new’ option on the Cadillac, because it only comes on the ’super tricked’ out Escalade Hybrid Platnium Edition, which is tens of thousands more than the standard version…same goes for the Lexus LS600h (starting at just over 100K)
“Mr. Goodwrench charges” you $3,044 for each headlight to replace. Of significance, the headlights in the Escalade have 5 LEDs for low beam and an additional 2 LEDs for high beam.
The new Prius does come equipped with low beam LEDs under the ‘option 5′ w/Advanced Tech package package, , which bases out over $32,000…again hard to strip out what costs what, but they did make a significant improvement to the tech, so much that only 3 LEDs are necessary over the traditional 5.
Simple/crude math says costing is around $2,609 using Toyota’s new ‘hotness’ on low beam LED technology ($3,044/7×2x3)
Sidenote: It is actually a company called Seisakusho Ltd. (manufactured by Nichia Kagaku Kogyo KK) who are the players here…if anyone cares.
/apologies, I bored myself with that post…sorry about that
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”.
Sir Winston Churchill, Speech in November 1942
Churchill said that after the victory at El Alamein.
Andrew Farah nearly paraphrased Churchill
It is a very emotional time for everybody.
Congratulation to Lyle and the GM engineers, you have got us this far.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Somehow I like the looks of the near-production Volt better than any other I’ve seen so far. I can really see myself owning one of these and driving it to work and around town.
I’m not so sure I can see myself *paying* that much for one since I’ve been very happy for years driving a Honda civic and getting a consistent 40MPG, but the Volt is the first American car I’ve ever considered buying and I’ve now decided my next car *must* have 40+ miles all-electric range.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
If only we knew someone at NASA who could comment on those self-actuating grill slats, Dan …
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Lyle, thanks for getting the “charge port” pictures as requested. That answers a lot of questions.
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June 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I actually stopped by a Chevy dealer tonight (after they had closed, unfortunately), and looked at Aveos, Cobalts, Impalas and Malibus that they had on the lot.
I couldn’t imagine thinking of the Malibu as a small car. It’s bigger than my wife’s Solara convertible: acres too big for me. I’ve had two Saturn SL2s, a Plymouth Horizon and Valiant, and breifly, my Mother’s 1970s vintage Buick Century (which felt like an aircraft carrier compared to the other four).
The V6 Malibu got 22 MPG City (the only number I generally look at), and the sticker was over $22,000; but on the windshield, they’d painted a price under $17,000. I hear the 2.4 4 cylinder gets something like 24-25 MPG City (same as the Aveo, hard to imagine), though I’d think that (perhaps paradoxically) they’d be in higher demand than the V6.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Most likely later.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I like it. Not as aggressive as the prototype, but stylish, clean and a little aggressive looking in a euro sort of way. I wish I could afford one.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I’d fully expect the ‘ordinary’ red and yellow brake / turn signal indicators to be LEDs which are much less expensive than full headlights (but save 9/10ths of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs).
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Been visiting this site daily for over a year and this is my first post.
I think the IVs look awesome, can’t wait for mine, definitely in black!
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Actually, IMO, both parties are composed mainly of negatives.
I’m standing here all forlorn, with my positive cable in hand,
My electric circuit is all torn, with no “+” socket in the land.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
You can compare IMiev’s Japanese price and think thats the price here. The price depends on tax breaks – and in Japan they are higher.
Pricing here will depend on competetive environment too.
But I’m waiting for Nissan’s “Competetive with gas cars” prcing on their EV ….
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Wow this is such good news!
For the last two weeks the main headline news has been the Iranian dictatorship cracking down on the Iranian people. Its fitting that today we see the first pre-production run of a truly mass produced vehicle that will help free the US (and many other countries) from tyrannical oil.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Well, since the Volt is going to share it’s platform with the Chevy Cruze and the Cruze is the replacement for the Cobalt not the Malibu, I would say that the Volt will be closer to the Cobalt in size than the Malibu.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
No steering wheel to shimmy around or dash board to slip under in the back?
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Wow! A production Volt. This car is definately on its way. I can’t believe this is really happening. And a few weeks early! At this rate, they almost have to be the first major car company with any version of an electric car in the North American market. Not that being first is everything, but it definately gives them a extra edge.
Congratulations Lyle! And to the Volt production team. And GM.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Slightly off-topic, but related: My wife test-drove the new Camaro yesterday. It’s a home-run for Chevy for sure. I’ve never seen her get so excited about a car. Unfortunately, it might mean I need to wait a few extra years before I get my Volt. We can’t afford both…
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I believe Mitsubishi just announced $21k in the States
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
??? Are you saying that the Democrats are responsible for the Volt? I hope not. Are you saying you just totally disagree with the conservative folks that post here? Actually, I’m not sure what you mean.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I like the projector blacked out head lights a lot. I think they would be cool in body color though, so it matches what ever color people order. The clear chrome smeared eyeball look is played out. Time to retire it.
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
At this point, I tend to agree with you. But then again, I tend to be a “glass half-empty” person.
But there are positives and negatives to every political party. And every politician. No one is all good or all bad. I’m not crazy about Obama. I prefer him to Bush, but that’s not saying much. While I agree with many of his stated goals, I think his execution tends to be majorly flawed. He’s completely controlled by special interests, although he does a much better job of faking it. He just has less (and more) leeway because of the mess he inherited.
But right now I have to give Obama credit for everything he’s done for GM and the Volt. I may not like how he did it. Or why. So far he seems to be pulling off the 363 government sponsored bankruptcy for GM. He did pull it off for Chrysler. (Although I think it was a mistake to rescue Chrysler.) And without him, there would be no Volt, and possibly no electric cars. And, IMHO, they are a crucial step towards the future. Of GM. Of America. And the entire world.
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
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Wow….two thumbs up!
Way to go Voltec Team!
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
The lurker sees the IV and cannot contain his enthusiasm. He steps out of the shadows. He is truly one of us now.
Welcome Newty2727!
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Everybody overlooks the straightman. Thank you eightzero for setting it up.
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Indeed.
The i-MiEV certainly qualifies for the US rebate. And the $47,000 is a loose dollar conversion of a Japanese MSRP that is jacked up to cover off about $15,000 in rebates the consumer gets there (much like the US one will do/has done to the domestic MSRPs).
The $21,000 MSRP for the i-MiEV price (mentioned later in this thread by Herm) is a WAG from Mitsu about theoretical ‘future’ prices in the mid to later half of this coming decade, I wouldn’t put much stock into it.
(Ever notice how no one ever predicts things to get stay the same or get worse in the future?)
I’d wager that Mitsu’s cost will be somewhere in the low 30s by the time it lands here, and they price it around $35,000 (which would bring it to $27,500 post rebate)…I think they realize it has to be priced less than the Volt. (just my opinion though, I have no hard evidence/fact to back that up)
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
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Lyle Dennis and Andrew Farah somehow related?
Lyle & Andrew need to compare their family trees….their Volt enthusiasm, mannerisms, speech, looks, and geek smarts are way too similar for their not to be some family tree relation…lol
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
jbfalaska:
$15,000 credit in Japan on the i-MiEV…and they have confirmed to have it for sale in the US in 2011 at the New York autoshow in April.
…it also gets a name change here, because i-MiEV is terrible
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-mitsubishi-confirms-i-miev-will-come-to-u-s/
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Nice to see things progressing.
I’m a little unhappy about the charge port location. 90% of the parking lots have nose in parking. This means that there will have to be a longer charge cord on public chargers. This will provide a tripping hazard for passers by. Also the longer cord will require more time to put away and therefor will tend to get left out to be driven or tripped over. The alternative is to provide a charger along side the stall which will reduce the possible number of cars that will fit in a parking lot.
Another problem is curb side parking. The cord will either have to be dragged over the top of the car scratching the paint. Or the cord will have to be long enough to go around the front of the car to the side. Or it will have to be fished under the car. All while standing on the side of a potentially busy street. A charge port on the front of the car with favoritism toward the passenger side would make life simpler with a short cord that is easy to stow and wont be left out to trip over.
Beside the drivers door is pretty convenient for home charging but will require major changes in public parking spaces to accommodate both charging and safety. Either there needs to be a single standardized port location on the front or 2 ports with the appropriate interlocks to keep both from being used at the same time.
Changing this in the future will be problematic. I would hate to see problems with personal injuries stifle EV use. Making these decisions now will cut down on the expense and confusion.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I want mine… electric blue.
Actually to be honest, I’d rather a coupe-style with half-doors for the back. One of the best ideas Saturn had, and other than the Mazda RX-8, one that seems to have been abandoned again.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:21 am
So you got annoyed that you couldn’t get a discount on a $10,000-ish car, so you get all annoyed and get a competitor’s $25,000-ish car instead out of spite? Yeah, you shown your bank account who’s boss!
Why didn’t you get a Toyota Yaris instead? That’s more comparable to an Avio, er, Aveo.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am
I wish that they made the cord on a spool inside the car. It would have to be pulled out like a tape measure. This way it would go everywhere with you, so you would only have to find an outlet, and pull out as much as you need.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Yeah, for the new Camaro, the blue ones are something like 2% of sales. I’m not a fan of baby blue either.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Speaking of fire trucks, do you think the Volt will have an automated plug eject function? We have them on our structure engines.
Initially, the public will not be used to having a cord connected to the vehicle on those bleary workday mornings…
Regards
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June 25th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Can’t we wait a little on that. I would at least like to see a couple of production Volts on the road (including mine) before I have to figure out how to cut one up.
The Prius is tricky enough. As our Hurst tech said, “Don’t lick the big orange cable.”
Regards
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June 25th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Do you think these blokes at GM are abit too anal?
How many decades have GM been making econo cars…. you’d think they’d have blinkers and doors pretty much sussed by now. The Volt is just on a standard platform… it all sounds like BS excuses for why it takes a monsterous company years to get a new car out the door (and 9 times out of 10.. it still has design flaws anyways)
Just start making the thing…………………………
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June 25th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Amazing, to finally see it alive is a thing of beauty. Excepth the headlights, and wheels, and unpainted lowers.
Still great to see, but damnit, I hope they listen to the people that bitch about the no sunroof option on the Insight and how many customers want all the normal conveniences that are on a gas car, ALSO on an alternative fueled vehicle.
Where the industry as a whole screws up is making alternative powered vehicles look so out of place with such boring styling and drab options.
Hopefully we see a fully optioned and styled Volt to come soon!
Excellent milestone!!
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:13 am
OH, oh, uhhhh.
Okay, Volt haters, I have to say it, the back end of the car IS out of proportion and looks terrible. The rear overhang (sheetmetal from the rear wheels) is SO out of proportion compared to the front overhang. Also, what a shame they abandoned the Volt badge charge port door and put in an UGLY round hole, sorry, door below the Volt badge. Truly a shame. I hope they will correct this oozing zit, sorry, design deficiency maybe for 2012.
And for all you Volt haters, SEE GM, bankruptcy and all, are bringing the Volt to production; EARLY.
TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Welcome Newty2727, and I thought my 5 months of lurking was a long time!
Damn, that car looks sexy.
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Forget the Camaro then, it represents the best of the past, wait for the Volt it’s the future.
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Exciting! The Volt looks awesome!!
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:51 am
It’s really cool to finally see an actual \Volt drive around. After you watch the video a dozen times you begin to notice little details such as the car actually has the (airbag?) warning sticker on the driver’s visor and stuff like that.
I mean, if they’re essentially hand building prototypes and they’re prototyping the stickers, they’re serious about the details on this car, all right.
And you really get a sense of enthusiasm every time you read something or hear something from the people working on this car.
Not only is the reputation of GM riding on the quality of the \Volt, but to a large extent the reputation of electric vehicles in general will be riding on it as well.
Over the years, GM has had a lot of high and low points for cars but all things considered, I rather hope the \Volt goes down in history as one of the finest cars GM ever builds.
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June 25th, 2009 at 2:58 am
I’m not sure they’ve quite figured out econo cars yet even after all these years, at least as indicated by sales in the US compared to Civics or Corollas or something.
In any case, tuning the sounds of blinkers or doors isn’t probably easily done on a CAD system. I could readily understand having to put the whole assembly together to actually figure out what things sound like in comparison to everything else and cabin noises, etc.
They probably know what to adjust to affect it though; that’s where all those years of other car experience comes in.
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:07 am
nasaman Says:
1) Does anyone know if the silver spoiler on the rear is standard or optional?
2) Ditto the projector headlights with blacked-out surrounds?
————————————————————————————–
1) It looks like the plastic part on the back is production, but hasn’t been painted yet.
2) The headlights appear to be missing their blue-ish plastic cover.
That’s what it looks like anyway.
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Right. The charge connector is a big deal, not only for theft and vandalism, but also for rain and snow. It would be MUCH better if the outer charge port cover could be closed and locked when charging.
GM – take note!
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:27 am
I think most owners will be charging it in their garages..
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Congratulations to all the GM folks involved and thanks to Lyle for his long, tireless reporting.
If Volt is a “moonshot” then this first car is Apollo 1.
A ways to go yet, but outstanding progress and much to look forward to. Exciting times in automotive history.
(And for some reason, the car looks better in this report than it has in the past.)
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Now I noticed that lately on some of the europen cars, they no longer have those orange portions near the headlights, they are the same color as the headlights or they are inside the same glass of the headlight. It looks a lot better. GM should consider dropping that orange, it looks ugly.
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Looks like an air dam, there for aerodynamic reasons.. perhaps its made of soft rubber to survive road rash. The Volts mileage on the highway will depend on stuff like this.
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:44 am
It is good to see that you are following the People’s car company during your absense, Comrade.
The Party will look favorably upon your decision.
Now enjoy the vodka!
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Forget the Volt tax credit. The U.S. government has a part ownership of GM. Don’t waste tax payer dollars with the paperwork, time, mail costs and manpower needed to process tax rebates. Simply mark the sticker price as:
2011 Chevy Volt
MSRP $39,900 / $32,400
Instant green discount $7500
Let’s not fool around. It’s time to do something right.
=D~
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June 25th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Seeing this car finally roll out the garage door was very exciting.
To me, this is similar to the moon mission years ago (I’m dating myself). We got to see history unfolding before our eyes, and it was a living testiment to what man can do when he applies time, resources, and intellect.
For me, this is automotive history in the making. A high volume, no compromise vehicle that will transition the automotive transportation industry (which is 96% dependent upon petroleum) into the next age of propulsion. Truly an exciting experience.
Congratuations to GM and the Volt team, and thanks to Lyle for giving us all the chance to be a small part of this amazing transformation in the history of the automobile.
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June 25th, 2009 at 5:30 am
@58
Yeah indicators (blinkers) have been integrated into the main headlight on most designs since the milennium over here. I have a vauxhall(opel) vectra, and it’s all in one unit, so GM do do it outside of america. it does look like it’s a one piece headlamp on the volt/ampera, and if the indicator is LED then it won’t be obviously “orange” to the naked eye when unlit. although do you still have those horrible permenantly lit orange lights on your cars?
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June 25th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Well put, Static! When you add your “half- full to my “full full” we have a wonderful mess (lol).
I’d echo the kudos to Lyle and add the majority of people who’ve been avid fans of the whole “science experiment”.
Maybe instead of the Sunshine, lollipops song you could give us a reprise of some of your all time historic negative comments? Naw, that’d take too long (lol).
One great day here.
Way to go Lyle!
Be great,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!
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June 25th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Well, I guess that Charge Port picture answers my question from yesterday. I think it is much better to have it on the side of the car.
Nice job, GM team. Let the naysayers be your motivation to keep moving forward, along with us here of course. We got your back and many of us are ready to buy.
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June 25th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Or earlier, like say Independence Day, 2010. Wouldn’t that be a remarkable symbolic debut?!?
Be well,
Tagamet
Independence From Oil Day, 2010
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June 25th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Thomb,
Very diplomatically put!
Be well,
Tagamet
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June 25th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Spooky, but I noticed the same similarities.
Be well,
Tagamet
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June 25th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Never had a problem with comment moderation until I started my IV chant on a financial thread a couple of days ago (seems like light years now), so I’ll try it differently.
IV chant!
We Just Got The Volt Wheels On The Road!
Next stop, ER mode operation.
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June 25th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Completely agree, with enthusiastic congratulations to Farah, the GM team, and Lyle.!
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June 25th, 2009 at 6:59 am
I was just watching some Tesla videos on YouTube and observed that the roadster is not a well behaved (rather ugly) little car. It cannot take a corner with any aplomb, and one tester ran out of juice after 55 miles, which, as we know is impossible, no matter how hard you drive. I suspect some of those 15,000 cell connections failed.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Super-smart system has learned your name and that you cause…..
Actually, you are putting in something dot com or some other little word or phrase that the super-dumb system has on its list of objections. There are a lot of great things about this site, but the system for automated moderation is not one of them.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Yes, Farah-day.
We he (and his team) read that, they will enjoy it too.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:07 am
The car is an advanced prototype but not a finished Volt.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:12 am
So here in the beautiful state of North Carolina, people say
“If God were not a Tar Heel, why is the sky Carolina Blue?”
Watch your tongue.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:14 am
LED lights are going down in price fast.
They are cheap to make, once the process is established.
Prices are high for the moment because demand is outrunning supply.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Just back in to the parking space.
It’s better in lots of ways, and charging will be another.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:26 am
I think the problem is that all noise is much lowder in a silent electric car. And I admit that I never gave any thought to the sound of turn signals being to lowd in an electric car.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:29 am
The Volt wont start until you unplug it.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:33 am
You know I love ya Tag…I’m just teasing with you.
/nice to have you back on a regular basis
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Yeah, I know, Stat. I toyed with the idea of coming back with a chorus of “The Volt’ll come out TOO-MAH-ROWWW” but I’ll hold that for July 3rd, 2010…”
Be well,
Tag
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Dave,
I really agree strongly with you. Any benefit to be had ought to count equally to all as well. Assign the benefit to GM and let their computers do all the work.
Lots of business people like me must relentlessly cut costs and *eliminate totally* all taxable profit margins entirely to be able to get contracts.
This means that although we pay lower income taxes after required business equipment to be purchased every year (diagnostic equipment, etc), we are unable to make as much or any use whatsoever of a tax credit.
(We pay other taxes too that most others don’t pay, such as generated sales tax revenues for the State, to far more than make up for the lowered Federal Tax at “break-even” that would otherwise be offset by a Volt tax rebate).
So, I really agree strongly that there ought to be a provision in the law to make that $7,500 into an “instant green discount” for GM to be instantly credited that amount. Somehow, however, in such a way that it would not disrupt or slow down GM’s or the dealership’s needed cash flows or bottom line whatsoever.
Dan.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Your size comparison makes sense, but I have to say that the Volt appears larger than a Cobalt….even bigger than a Honda Civic.
Looks more like the size of an Accord, but that’s just me.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:53 am
They are not related.
But if Andrew Farah married Farrah Fawcett, she’d be Farrah Farah.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:57 am
The Volt is an electric car. It should look different than conventional cars. I’ll bet when you see it in the flesh you’ll like it.
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June 25th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Funny, I thought the exact same thing. When I watched the above video I at first for a second thought it was Lyle. They could be brothers.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:00 am
The Volt is almost exactly the same size as the Honda Civic.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:03 am
I am not a Tesla fan, but I saw one up close in the flesh, and it is a gorgeous little car. They did that right. Looked well built too, body-wise. It’s basically a Lotus, and they know how to build bodies.
Hooking 6800 laptop batteries together to motivate a car down the road, however, will be a technology that will be relegated to the scrap heap of history in very short order.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:05 am
I just ran that incredible video above, and, I now see what you mean about the styled grille.
I think It would not look as good, or , rather, it would look too different, too soon, if they didn’t have it there for what you might call a styling transition, it seems to me.
But, still, being a functional guy, I’d want all those systems to be just as comfortable from the Texas heat as I want to be with a truly open and functional grille for some added “ram air” for more cooling CFM’s. But I still have to keep in mind coefficient of drag.
So, as long as that adequate cooling of all systems happens here in the scalding Texas heat, I’m OK with whatever GM engineering and Style Design departments want.
It was 106 degrees where I was working yesterday, and today, the heat index is expected to reach 110 degrees. So, the AC system will be working hard in my Volt, as I believe Global warming as a trend is clearly showing up. The “historical average” for this time of year is supposed to average 92 degrees. That’s “history”. It just aint gonna happen nomore.
Dan.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:12 am
The Volt looks a little like my 2005 Acura TL. It’s pretty sharp looking.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Anyone seen a right side picture of the Volt? I was wondering where the fuel filler door is, and if it looks like the new charge port door.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:26 am
______________________________________________________
Historically Significant Voltec Photo:
That car hanging photo in Lyle’s above article is of the first production-intent Chevy Volt having its t-battery installed. I’d love to have a copy of that photo signed by the Voltec Team…I’d pay for that…I’d frame it and hang it up at my office…perhaps Lyle can arrange to make available in his gm-volt store? Or hi-res scan and make available by link for download.
“The first production-intent Chevrolet Volt is fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack at the General Motors Pre-Production Operations (PPO) building in Warren, Michigan Wednesday, June 3, 2009…”
Source:
http://gm-volt.com/galleries/photo/3658614390/preproductionchevyvolt001jpg.html
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I can’t play the video for some weird reason. Tell me more.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Good point. But remember, NOTHING is safe from the sufficiently talented fool =)
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:40 am
“And without him, there would be no Volt, and possibly no electric cars.”
O may be a great speaker but he does not control the world. Electric cars will be built because people want them not because O did something.
Chinese and Japanese Electric cars will hit our country in force in a few years. Ford will have one. None of this has to do with the one…
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I agree with avatar except I say make mine a bit more powerful and heavy enough to pull a medium weight boat.
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I was also a longtime lurker before venturing forth (or fifth, I forget which)
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June 25th, 2009 at 8:59 am
As much as I liked the original (production intent) prototype’s blue-LED accents in the headlight area, I never understood how they would get away with it. I believe there is a law now restricting blue lighting on cars (for Police only, not yours). However, I’ve seen some after-market blue-LED things on cars, so maybe I’m wrong.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:01 am
… wait a minute. Has anyone ever seen Lyle and Farah at the same time?
Pretty good costume, though.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:03 am
From the photos with driver it sure looks like the cabin area is almost the same as a Malibu, but with very little trunk space.
Have there been any published figures for interior dimensions?
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:04 am
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn15/sunpowr/2009_05_09_Tesla/chrgng.jpg
here is a picture of the Tesla charging cord, notice how thick it is?
from this thread:
http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3070&highlight=tesla&page=2
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
The boot (trunk) is 350litres according to Opel/Vauxhall.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:13 am
The overall design doesn’t look as impressive as the prototype, but the production models rarely do. In the case of the Chevy Volt, the one feature that I’d like to see (as a consumer) is a solar charging system built into the roofline, trunk (deck lid) and even in part of the hood.
My reasoning is simple – stop trading one dependancy for another. Why stop short at using less (or no) gas if you still need to plug the unit in at night – a process that will still costs me money.
Instead, integrate a solar charging system into that car that can charge the car FOR FREE during the day while it’s parked in the parking lot at work. This option is something I’d even pay extra for if it were available. Get OFF the grid and back to basics…and a little common sense.
I’m not suggesting that the Volt do away with the plug (it’s still necessary), but just add the solar charging option…
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Great news, we will all need VOLTS if Nancy Pelosi and her gang pass the energy bill they want to ram down our thoats in the next few days.
God Bless America,
Tom
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:21 am
You might get 500watts of usueable power by covering the roof, bootlid and bonnet. if you parked it in direc sunlight and moved the car on a turntable to catch the best light all day long it would take……….
16 hours.
So parked in one spot, with between 6 and 12 hours of usable sunlight in a whole day you may get a 25% charge. provided your panel is clean, you’re not near any tall buildings or trees and you’re not parked in a garage/underground parking/multistorey parking. so, if you only use the car once a week (or do less than 10 miles a day) then integrated solar cells could be a viable power source. instead of paying the extra $ on the vehicle you may be better installing a large solar/wind system at home, and actually charging your volt from that. driving on wind power would be pretty cool…
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Good! I am happy to hear that they are ahead of schedule. That is evidence of committment to the project. Keep it going and don’t get derailed for I am sure there is things happening that would stop this project. Mother GM, has to protect the baby (i.e., Voltec) from much unknown factors, possibly the US Government itself.
Good report! That is what all of us supporters want to hear however, we still are indoubt about the executive pool and to who, is the I GOT TO TAKE HOME A LOT OF MONEY guy.
Considering greed, somebody at GM is taking advantage of the existing situation but hopefully, it does not affect the progress on the Volt project.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:22 am
i agree that most recharging will be done in your garage, but the future goal of america (should be) is to have charging stations at your work or on the street in front of a restaurant. it would be simple now to engineer this connection now rather than just push it off and say it isn’t our concern just to get it out of the door into customers hands.
plus, marketing people from competitors will use anything they can to be better.
as electric cars become more and more in the next ten years, i wouldn’t want my $40k volt to be one of the ones that people don’t want because of the public connection isn’t secure.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Brian, this is old ground that the technos on this site have gone over long ago.
It is simply not cost effective or feasible to get enough juice from the sun shining on you car to run anything more than a little fan to keep the car cooler while it is parked so you don’t need as much AC when you get in and drive.
That’s about it.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Personally, I think that BEVS are doomed to remain a niche item unless and until battery costs come way down dramatically. Range anxiety is real. Charging time can is an issue. Not to mention the other assorted advantates of an EREV. (Battery conditioning, etc.) And for battery costs to come down to that point, we need EREV to bridge the gap. And GM is the only one building one.
Besides, the only reason Ford (and Chrysler) is jumping on the electric car wagon is because a) GM has the Volt, and b) the expanded federal tax credit. The Japanese car companies are, for the most part, very comfortable with the current status quo. Nissan is invested in BP, which IMHO is impractical anywhere other than Isreal. They only recently announced their own regular BEV.
Mitsubishi is the obvious exception. But they don’t have the resources to change the market on their own. Or spur this kind of investment in car batteries technology. And any shift coming from them would, IMHO, take much longer than the Volt.
China’s a different story. But I don’t see the American public accepting Chinese cars any time soon. Not with all the public health scandals coming out of China right now. It’s great for the Chinese market. The whole world will benefit from cleaner air and reduced gasoline usage in China. But that won’t help with the North American market. And, by the way, even they still don’t have the kind of resources for new battery technology that the US government has.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:32 am
They said they are already working on changing small things they found and they are not even supposed to have any IVER’s out yet until more than a week from now – hopefully you’re on to an ongoing trend in Volt progress Tag!
Every day of testing and improvement is a hard earned “free day” ahead of schedule and under budget!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:36 am
That was so bad it was good!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Very cool! Can’t wait until I get the chance to experience a real ride in a Volt!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I definitely miss that little slider tool on the right side of this website. Its hard to find things now and you don’t know where you are in the comments portion or how long you need to scroll to get to the top or bottom of the site.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I bet you are right that it’s camo, along with the ‘bodged’ together headlight clusters. I wouldn’t build the rather expensive headlight assemblies until I knew the body lines were right either!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:44 am
LauraM
You are a formidable debater. I am very impressed. I wouldn’t challenge you unless I was very prepared. Even then, my fear would be my downfall.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Lyle,
I figured out how to make the new comment thingy better; put the “Recent Comments” box (found on the home page) on each of your posts. Then, everytime I refresh, I can see where new comments were added.
If you take up my suggestion, I would add that the list of recent comments be lengthened, maybe with a day time stamp.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Bring on the Stig!
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Thank you I was waiting for someone to finally comment on the idiocy of that statement, and it took only 52 posts. Give me a break GM, you are allowing stupid sh!t like blinker sound tie you up, because you need to make a car people want to drive, I’ll tell you a secret WE DON’T WANT TO PAY $4.00 BUCKS PER GALLON AT THE PUMP that’s what we want, I don’t give a damn if the car has turn signals, I know my hand signals I’ll use my hands, just build the damn electric power train.
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Nice car but 40 mile electric range is pretty weak. It shouldn’t be hard for other EV makers to top that I am sure.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Ahh, another optimist in the group (lol). Actually, I’ve been floating that 7/4 release date for a long time now. Soooo many variables that NOONE knows exactly when it’ll hit the pavement. It might as well be EARLY (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!**********NPNS
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Last I checked Tesla Roadster could easily go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds ! Nothing GM makes can touch it.
No charge for the lesson. Consider yourself schooled.
The Bus Driver
“I take everyone to school”
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Brian, this has been discussed many times and it basically boils down to the fact that you simply can’t get enough power out of a cell that size to make any significant sort of impact to battery condition.
They have been used to run vent fans successfully in other cars but with the price of the car already pushing most budgets the running guess is that solar will not make the cut in GEN 1.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Great report Lyle. Now we finally know where the charge port is located. Good video and pictures. Thanks to all for a great vehicle and a wonderful web-site that I spend too darn much time on. Good luck GM and keep up the good work. We are all in a tizzy waiting to see one at our dealership. My savings account is building up every month. Hope I can keep my hands out of it until I can buy either the Volt or some other electric vehicle. Or maybe the convertible Camaro, if it ever hits the market.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Double ditto for me too.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Well if they add a gas, diesel, or hydrogen range-extender to their vehicles I will seriously consider them as well.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:07 am
It looks OK, except with it being in black it is hard too judge the true lines of the vehicle. It would be great to see it in a lighter color – white or silver.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:23 am
When is Congress and the EPA going to step in and mandate minimum electric range on these hybrids. I think the automakers are dragging their feet on this one. Everyone knows that just about any car made today can be electrified for around a 100 mile range using off-the-shelf technology. This is a no-brainer. The automakers are just artificially limiting range to keep their cost down and maximize profits. This cannot stand. It is time the EPA grew a pair and forced the industry to maximize current technology now. Man Up.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:28 am
The heat here in Austin is a normal and localized variation of average temperatures. We are in a heat wave, not in the grips of global warming. Other parts of the country that are usually very hot this time of year are seeing below average temperatures.
The Volt on the otherhand is exciting to see in this advanced stage…long live GM.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Last I checked Tesla Roadster could easily go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds ! Nothing GM makes can touch it.
No charge for the lesson. Consider yourself schooled.
The Bus Driver
“I take everyone to school”
_________________________
Final exam time -
“2010 Corvette Z06: will cost just $75,235….
We need to talk a bit more about that engine, the LS7 7.0L V8. As we mention above it produces 505hp and can go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and has a top speed of 198mph.” From Product Review News
Even teachers have to hit the books sometimes!
I’ve been a Tesla Roadster fan from it’s first announcement.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:39 am
To get this done on time, with all that has been going on around them is truly amazing (engineers are people too). Those guys have accomplished something they will remember all their lives.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I think we can say that when we can buy one and drive it off the lot.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:42 am
That’s the whole idea.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I live just down the road from the proving grounds. That video was shot going down my roads! I haven’t seen the Volt out and about, but I’ve been looking!
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Dan, you need it for business, so the whole darn car is tax deductible!
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I see your point, but the new Camaro gets pretty decent mileage for what it is (the V6 anyway) and is simply a beautiful car.
It takes all kinds to make the world go round.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Thank-you Tom, well said. Sadly, however, Nancy and many of her cohorts have been owned by the extereme enviromental movement for years. And thanks to them, there really isn’t enough electrical energy capacity to sustain a mass produced EREV, in the numbers that we need, to truly offset the amount petrol Nancy and her minions have roped off, that we can’t drill for.
Sorry, wind mills and solar panels won’t get it done, Nuclear energy could, but then we are back to the Nancy and her gang problem.
You need thousands of mile’s of new electrical power lines to even start to thing about getting the wind mill juice to the grid. Oh, good luck with, you need to spend years and dollars fighting the extreme enviromental lobby to get permits and approval to put those lines up.
There might be an endangered tit mouse or wild flower that must come first ya know
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Wow, I admire you not only for getting to the heart of automakers stunning level of selfish greed in putting profits before customer needs, yes the automakers recent profit levels are truly stunning by any measure of red ink, but I also admire the great wealth you have accumulated to be able to afford the type of vehicle that you advocate legislating. Well done!
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Some very good points.
The current location will work well for me since I will charge at home in my garage and there is not even a whisper of public charging stations here.
But you bring up some interesting issues like curb parking and nose-in parking that hadn’t occured to me.
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June 25th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Has anyone else seen Transformers 2? Volt barely makes a half second appearance with grill. No video of the car running around or its body. Disappointing. Minus 1 star.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I say, is that Dr. Spock? My parents used his retched baby raising book and the results are, well, still not in. LOL! Now…
Der Fuhrer got Herr Porsche’s appeal for state assistance for an affordable small car and ran with it though his naming suggestion was nixed and so Volkswagen came about. Adolf penned 10 areas of concern for the Bug to address. Why is my head spinning thinking that we NOW must have to have Der EPA step in and DICTATE what the Volt perimeters should be?! Oh! The US controls a commanding ownership of the Volt unlike Porsche.
Humm, and the newly converted DemoKats are all comfy with their New Das Stat are they? Sure. Our Congressthings and Der iene will also step in and throw their oh so valuable two cents in and Rep. Barney Franks, 3 cents. God forbid that they might even get to re-name the car or forbid black as a colour option!
If these forces grow anymore, ANYTHING, they need also to grow little paint mustaches, or walk around wheezing, looking like, oh, I don’t know, yes I can, Darth Vader. Ooops, no environmentally bad black paint options on that helmet!
Let the Volt come into it’s own with out any further STATE dictats or the delays will be that the Volt will never get a legitimate, real birth certificate! Looking good it seems. Thanks Lyle!
The Boys, Zeus and Apollo are growling. Have to attend to them. WHAT!? They grew some little mustaches! Heavens whats next!
Regards! Higgins
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:08 am
The Citroen Berlingo EV had a charge door that was hinged at the side with a “flap” door at the bottom of the charge door. See the below link: (Click on the “Charging” option on the left side of the page to see a picture of the charge port with cord plugged in.)
http://www.berlingo-e.co.uk/
When closed the charge cord has the flap door over the top of the cord. With it closed it looks like it pretty well sealed the charge port.
GM, you should consider something like this.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:09 am
GM will do “heavy lifting” toward plug-in goal [w/POLL]
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/25/gm-will-do-heavy-lifting-toward-plug-in-goal-w-poll/
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I have driven a 2008 Malibu. The Volt will be slightly smaller inside and out. Hopefully the fit, finish and quality will improve on the Malibu which is a very big improvement over my last Chevrolet car. The Malibu is a great looking car inside and out. Kudos to GM for developing it. Now improve it even more GM. Especially by adding a strong hybrid system to it. Not what you just discontinued.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:15 am
You have a legitimate point.
BUT… if the fancy new car hits the road and the doors rattle or the ‘blinker’ sounds awful or the switch gear feels cheap then they will get FRIED in the media!
The USER experience has to be better than excellent!
The media (who the majority of customers WILL listen to) need to be blown away by the car which means they (Andrew and team) have to get it right the first time.
Spend the time, make sure they are 8 hour seats “comfort window”, (My ‘97 Land Rover Discovery has them and my 2002 Subaru Impreza does not, my ‘98 Malibu with leather seats is somewhere in the middle.) Make sure the damping is right on the switch gear (not too stiff but not too ‘floppy’) and on and on.
They have most of a year to work this stuff out, let them do it. This is the real difference between the Chinese stuff and the German stuff, The Volt needs to be pretty damn German in this context.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am
It does look nice but I still like the concept better. I know, I know aero changes needed to be made.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Not yet but I think i’ll be looking more at Megan Fox than anything
lol….
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I loved my 2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI. It was a very very cool car, and it matched what I want out of the driving experience peeve-for-peeve, at least while I was living in the Appalachians. Up to this point, it’s been my favorite car.
The only problem with it was that it was a Volkswagen. The diesel engine performed wonderfully over the time I owned it, but the transmission was total crap. I went through about 5 transmissions during the time I owned it (though I only had to pay for 1.5 transmissions). There’s NFW I’ll ever own any Volkswagen product again, unless it’s inside the factory warranty period, there’s a VW dealer in town, and I have a second car to drive while the VW’s being overhauled yet again.
But it’s a testament to how much I liked the car was that I still miss it, even after so many transmission-swaps. But, alas, I’m not rich enough to own a VW, and I probably am rich enough to own a Lexus.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Sometimes the students correct the ‘teacher’.
Comparing sports cars to sports cars…
http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/corvette/overview
ZR-1 0-60 3.7 seconds.
No charge for the correction.
I left school a long time ago.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Okay 2.5 years and 1.5 billion dollars of taxpayers money and this is the best you yanks can do. Gidday.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Sounds reasonable.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I agree and a house based solar/wind solution is in the ‘thinking about it’ phase.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Yup. Was there anything else in the movie besides Megan Fox?
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:36 am
even at that level it looks like a very expensive way to run a Fan
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Agreed. A lot more negatives than positives for both parties. I don’t care which party it is, both are out for themselves and their big money supporters much more than for you, me or the country. A pox on all politicians is what I say.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:38 am
The strength of this design is that you carry around enough battery for 90%-ish of your driving and then use the fuel efficient range extender to go as far as you want or need on the weekend or whenever.
Some night the kid is sick and you HAVE TO go to the hospital now… depleted battery or not the little Chevy will be good to go.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I disagree with you LauraM on the comment that without Obama we would have no Volt. Even if George W Bush was still President, he would have supported GM the same way. As would most of the top few people who ran for the office last year. The only thing Obama has going for him is the deep problems we have and we can thank his party and the GOP for most of that. Add the Wall Street bankers to that list and you can nail down the culprits to this mess.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Great Lyle thanks,
JC NPNS
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:44 am
“almost exactly ”
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
You crack me up dude……
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Man go read some specs/datasheet or research the Volt before opening your fat trap. There’s a built in “Range Extender” you idiot.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:50 am
LauraM, you may be correct about fully electric (BEV) vehicles. Mostly because if the Cap and Trade bill passes as envisioned by the democrats it will raise electrical rates so high as to make electric cars much less desirable. But, personally, I think a BEV would make an excellent second or third car for a family. Just think of all the running around the neighborhood – all short mileage trips. Sounds good to me, but only if congress and Obama gets off this Cap and Trade bill. That one bill will cost a lot more than we will ever gain in saving the environment. And nothing in the bill insures any environmental savings. It is just another way to force people to live in the manner that the big government and environmental people want you to live. Plus it will generate a lot of tax money to be wasted on special interest spending. All to purchase votes at election time.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:50 am
LOL! right on the money!
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am
The Volt in the video looks very similar to a Prius as it goes down the road. Without the tiny styling details that I know about (but my wife does not) I would have thought it was a Prius.
I think Prius styling is fine, though not particularly excitingly, but the lesson I draw from the very similar appearance is that everyone will be doing a comparison of Prius vs Volt. I’m not sure that’s a good thing, as it will accentuate any price differences.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I just don’t understand the environmental movement sometimes. They want clean energy, but no windmills. Windmills kill birds and apparently look ugly. Personally, i think they look very cool. Especially in a wind farm.
In CT there was a fight against high powered electric lines. They are being run anyway now.
With the environmental movement, we are damned if we do, damned if we don’t.
Question: Why don’t we need thousands of miles of new electric power lines for Nuclear energy? No one wants these things in their backyard, so they may need to build them in the middle of nowhere. In which case, new lines will have to be run anyway. Am I right about this?
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
They will get this done and these small details are very important to the perceived value of the Volt – I own a 2008 Malibu (excellent car – I’m 6′1″ and all the details are well thought out) and the development of the Malibu & CTS will be a huge help to the fit and finish of the VOLT as well as cutting down the development time for these details.
I am with TAG in that July 4th 2010 would be an excellent day to roll out the first 1,000 Volts (Red – White & Blue(the Imperial Blue of the ‘08 Malibu))
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Check out these folks: http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/products.shtml
Now for buyers in the US, use that $7500 tax rebate to buy a solar package for your home. And yes you also get a Fed AND State rebate on the home solar package. Kind of like double dipping…..kind of.
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June 25th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Personally those “green-niks”, as you called them, can take a flying leap out of the tallest building on the left coast as far as I am concerned. Any company who tries to tailor their vehicles and marketing to them will end up losing more money than they make. Those people have minds like bear traps – but just permanently closed. GM should forget them and build a car for the “masses”.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Actually, I read that Tesla Roadster G3 is going to be the last of these batteries. Don’t know about the Model “S” or their eco model yet to be named.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I wish the video would show the car running on generator. That is the mode the majority of my commute will be in every day. It’s kind if a HUGE detail the keep leaving out. The car is a gas hybrid, why do they seem to be marketing it as a BEV?
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I agree on the location but wonder if making the ’shiny’ Volt emblem the charge door instead of the plastic ‘gas filler’ style door. (much like the original design but hinged instead of sliding. Of course the plastic gas filler door thing will be cheaper, but a shiny charge door would be cool and would feel ‘nicer’.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
That is a great thought but I highly doubt it. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the “Cash For Clunkers” is extended for another year to accomodate the rollout of the Volt and GM bumping the Price to $40,000 + $3500 = $43,500.00
Or
$40,000 + $4500 = $44,500.00
That’s my “Nostradamus” SWAG if you will,,,,
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I have to disagree with you about the look of the car.
It’s a classic ‘wedge’ shape and I’ve always loved the look.
Disclaimer: I even loved the “shape” also known as the TR7, so maybe I should shut up now…
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
lol. Thank you.
But it shoudn’t be about debating. If you disagree with me–please tell me. And tell me why! That’s why I come here. To learn from the other posters. (And Lyle, of course.)
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Cool video and news, Lyle, but each day I bring up your site, I’m hoping for the following headline: “I finally get to test drive the pre-production Volt in ICE mode!”
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I bet when you test drive in the flesh you’ll Lust for it…
Ya beast!
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Certainly it is true that the ER part of EREV is critical, and we have not seen much of ER yet. But on the other side, it is the EV part that separates Volt from the ICE cars on the road today, so it is good that EV is emphasized.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Forty miles on a single charge. Are you shitting me ?
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Hey, umm, no one was supposed to get that one!
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
When I say “debating,” I don’t mean anything negative. I mean an exchange of opinions that is well-reasoned, fact-based, and possibly convincing to someone whose ego is not caught up in their position.
Many times, I have disagreed with your conclusions, but I can’t “go at” you because I know you would make me look stupid.
Keep up the good (but evil
) posts.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
You can go farther if you don’t mind using gasoline !
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Well, he’s kinda right. I see volt wheels on the road…
Maybe we need something like LJGOBITS – “Let’s Just Get Our B… In The Seats!” but it doesn’t sound as catchy.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Yes I am! And your a good SHI*
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
What’s the point dude, once you start using gasoline you cancel out any gains made from the electric range. Get your head on straight man. This is a hybrid, not a full electric. Think Prius, not Tesla. I know, the Volt was inspired by Tesla but Lutz could not get funding for a true electric, hence the compromised Volt you see here. Get It !!!
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
For cold climates where folks plug in their engine block heaters, I wonder how the Volt will handle this? The Volt has an ICE, so they will need some sort of heater, but will this be incorporated into a single plug that can heat the block, battery pack while charging the battery?
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
It would need to be a postumous wedding. Farrah Fawcett died this morning.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
If you can find it, there’s a Top Gear episode where they drove two Tesla’s around. (If you’ve never watched the show, it’s a BBC show featuring 3 hosts larking about with sports cars and car projects – it’s a hoot). In any case, (and I apologies for any mistakes since I’m recalling this from memory) they got about 50-60 miles out of a charge driving around their track. I suspect a large part of the problem is that track driving requires hard non-regenerative braking and there are more losses accelerating hard and driving at track speeds. In any case, they managed to cripple both cars. I remember they overheated one, hosed the brakes on one and something else went out on one. But for the time they were operating they were very enthusiastic about their driving characteristics.
I think that was the same episode where they compared mileage between a stock Prius and a stock BMW (3 series?) and the BMW won with a couple miles/gallon higher mileage than the Prius.
Of course the challenge was that they drove the prius around the track as fast as possible and all the BMW had to do was keep up with it. If I recall correctly Prius mileage went to 19 on the track and the Bimmer did about 22 following it.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Brutus my boy, the complexity and cost to build an EREV far exceeds a BEV.
Maybe you should read up on what the Volt is and is not, prior to blessing us with your next insightful posts.
PDNFTT (but, just this one time. They do need to thrown a bone or two occasionally)
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Headline:
GM Tests First Pre-Production Chevrolet Volt, Plans to Sell In China
http://www.freep.com/article/20090625/BUSINESS02/906250453/Chevy+Volts+to+be+built+and+sold+in+China++too
Or
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6558152/green/gm-tests-first-pre-production-chevrolet-volt-plans-to-sell-in-china/index.html
So, just as I have always said, GM is a GLOBAL company and to play in the “Level Playing Field” for labor you are competing with lower labor rates. For those who bithc about this read the link above.
Now, with GM doing this, they are taking the manufacturing jobs to China to sell to China. This is a little disturbing in that shouldn’t China prices also include the R&D costs incurred for Volt development? Why not import the cars in from the US? Sure it may be cheaper but what about the jobs? Is this what the billions were used for? To build cars in China and jobs? This makes no sense at all. This only confirms that GM smoke screens ALL funds given from the tax payers for the bailout loans so well, you can’t determine where the funds go to and to what branch in the massive pool of GM accounts.
So here we go again. In the past I have seen shit similar to this in that although it appears that they are (and they probably will be) manufacturing the Volt in China for China, many other parts and subassemblies are identical and will get built there (China) then shipped back to the US and installed in the US Volt. In bulk, it is cheaper than it being assembled here in the US buy a UAW employee.
Believe me I have seen it and it will happen.
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June 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Folks, take it from an engineer: Whether the glass is half-full, or half-empty, makes no difference. The real take-away in either case is that YOU CAN GET BY WITH A SMALLER GLASS!
Today’s is the most exciting post in the history of this excellent website! Kudos to the Volt team for getting their glass sized just right!!