Please release a version of the Volt like this as a performance “styling” package!!!

Zachary Taylor: If any part of the quoted item is highlighted, only that portion will appear in the comment edit box. If you don’t highlight any part of the quoted item, all of it will transfer.

Ahhhh. That’s the mystery. I frequently have random bits selected, I suspect. I usually wind up editing the html directly to get what I want but sometimes I’m too lazy to bother. But, now, I can just pay attention to what I’ve selected in the first place! Thanks!

1) Many seemed confused re: The mix of photos available online of show versions and pre-productions versions of the Volt and Ampera. One interesting photo found on the LINK listed on the above article shows the pre-production Ampera that made the Geneva Show trip next to the show car on the same stage. Just like the show versions of Volt, you can see many of the tweaks and changes made to the latter as development from hot looking show car to real, mass-producible reality takes shape. Notice the Volt’s lower edges on the front clip are completely different from the silver and black show cars we’ve seen numerous photos of. Obviously wheel sizes and tire types differ quite a bit as well. Notice how the kick panel, lower skirt has changed on both cars. The rear clip of the Ampera has many noticeable difference as well, in shape, lower “ground effects” area and taillights.

2) Comments started on ground clearance due to the differences in the Ampera’s side skirts. Both Volt and Ampera pre-production units have different lower sides – assumably based on frontal ground clearance factors that are practical concerns vs. a show car which is engineered primarily for “wow” appeal in captivating attention to it’s sporty look.

The Ampera has body-color side skirts which have been shortened and straightened vs. the show car. The Volt’s charcoal grey side panels could be improved IMO – as on light body colors, the driver and passenger doors now seem to hang down into the grey plastic skirt with no continuity of line as on the Volt show cars. Notice the designers tied the show car side panels in with the low air dam . Engineers obviously had to raise the air dam and add a larger lower flexible lower “spoiler” to manage under car turbulence while raising height of the parts that could be damaged by curbs, speed bumps, potholes and driveways. Notice the pre-production Ampera (The one with the Volt Wheels and tire size) has no rubber spoiler below the bumper but has in it’s place an angled portion to scoop the air under the car.

Personally, I like the show car’s looks much better with both Volt and Ampera. That said, I fully understand engineering’s practical need to meet real-world requirements. We all know that those fat, low-profile tires and large wheels on the show cars don’t translate to high fuel mileage.

I like the fact we now can see what a white Volt will look like. But remember, it won’t look as good as the Ampera because of the aforementioned “hanging doors” look the Volt’s grey lower side panels create. So IMO the Volt looks best in the darker color spectrum as we’ve seen pre-production Volts in charcoal grey and black. In the darker colors you cannot see the unflowing lines created by the new plastic skirt from the side view.

I’m looking forward to other’s opinions ( as beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder ). To me, the Ampera’s nose is a bit uber-futuristic looking for my taste, but I would guess it has a slightly, slightly better coefficient of drag. My guess-because a flat-verticle rubber spoiler before entry underneath the car isn’t as efficient as a gradual-smooth angled surface. I don’t have a wind tunnel at my house though . Has anybody noticed the two little “nibs” on the grey front lip of the production Volt? I wish a GM engineer could explain their purpose.

RECHARGE! James

poodle tear stains

and the first pic (gwlittle.com)… well there it is. Perhaps this appeals to European tastes though.

CS mode highway mileage, now that is the conundrum of the year. I still predict it will be worse than the similar Cruze due to the additional weight and the energy conversions required, but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.

I prefer the front of the Volt and the back of the Ampera… wonder if THAT will be an option!