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Archive for the 'Design' Category

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Guest Post: IVer Production Brings Design Changes, But Why?

August 26th, 2009 | Posted in: Design, Prototypes with 233 Comments

When Bob Boniface, the Volt’s Chief Designer, officially presented the first ‘IVer in motion’ on July 28th (also known to him as Christmas morning), that Volt was painted in the finest color known to man, which of course is not a color at all, it is black. While this made the Volt look impressive, [...]

Posted by: Statik with 233 Comments

Chevy Volt Chief Designer’s Update

July 29th, 2009 | Posted in: Design, Voltec with 259 Comments

We just heard from Volt lead designer Bob Boniface on a webchat and he was able to shed some light on issues related to the design of the Volt among other things. Some key information is as follows:
Ports
He confirmed the Volt will have two ports, one for gas and for for charging each on [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 259 Comments

Pre-production Volt in Motion: Lead Designer Bob Boniface says “Its Like Christmas Morning”

July 28th, 2009 | Posted in: Design, GM Q and A, Video with 325 Comments

Bob Boniface is the chief designer of the Chevy Volt. In this GM video he discusses what the current pre-production state means from a design standpoint and what work is yet left to do.  We are treated to some new moving footage of the pre-production vehicle in black.
Boniface explains at this point his team [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 325 Comments

Poll: Should Hybrid Cars Have Distinctive Styling?

July 15th, 2009 | Posted in: Design, Hybrid with 279 Comments

As we recently heard from Chevrolet manager Ed Peper, GM is working on a dedicated non-plugin hybrid vehicle that would get high EPA fuel efficiency ratings.  This is a new approach from GM’s previous strategy to offer hybrid versions of standard gas models like the Malibu, which was discontinued due to poor sales.
Indeed GM has [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 279 Comments

Electrification of the Automobile Will Evolve Car Design in New Ways

May 16th, 2009 | Posted in: Design with 67 Comments

We learned watching the Chevy Volt change from concept to production form how the forces of aerodynamics and electric drive introduce new constraints on car design.
Whereas some were dismayed by these changes, experts agree that these new constraints offer exciting new possibilities.
One question is whether the vehicle’s design should be a badge of distinction for [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 67 Comments

GM Plans to Unveil Several New Voltec Electric Car Concepts Throughout 2009

February 9th, 2009 | Posted in: Design, Voltec with 128 Comments

It has become extremely clear that GM is pressing ahead aggressively with its plans for electrification of the automobile, and that the first generation Chevy Volt is just the tip of the spear.
The Volt program is well along towards production and GM has announced they will now be in the battery pack design, assembly, and [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 128 Comments

GM Considering 4-Door Cadillac Converj for 2013

January 31st, 2009 | Posted in: Converj, Design, Voltec with 52 Comments

The Cadillac Converj was a particularly beautiful concept car revealed by GM at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle is a 2 door 4 seater luxury model that uses the Voltec range-extended electric drivetrain with some tweaks to improve driving performance.
It also has a remarkable futuristic interior involving a massive OLED touch screen center [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 52 Comments

Volt Chief Designer on the Public Reaction to Chevy Volt Redesign

December 29th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Public Opinion with 129 Comments

I recently had the chance to ask Bob Boniface who is the Chevy Volt’s design chief about how he perceived the public’s response to the cars redesign from concept to production form.
How do feel about the public’s response to the unveiling?
It depends which day. When the Transformer photos leaked people went crazy for it, [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 129 Comments

BREAKING: Bush Approves Loan to GM: The Chevy Volt Dream Lives On

December 19th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Financial, General, Politics with 233 Comments

Today is truly a historic one for the US automotive industry, and for the dream of petroleum independence and the Chevy Volt.
After weeks of intense political wrangling and nail-biting financial drama, US President George Bush has agreed to grant low interest loans to GM and Chrysler.
As he just announced those loans will be sufficient to [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 233 Comments

Driven to the Brink GM Vows to Build Volt No Matter What, Chrysler Shuts Down All Vehicle Production, and Merger Talks Resurface

December 18th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Financial, General, Original GM-Volt Interviews, Politics, Production with 109 Comments

The drama of the end game seems to be picking up steam. Despite early reports that the Bush administration would announce loan plans to GM by Wednesday, still no word. Most recently, White House press secretary Dana Perino said “there’s nothing new on the auto front.”
President Bush discussed the topic on Wednesday on [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 109 Comments

US Government Inches Closer to Automaker Bailout Plan

December 9th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, Financial, General, Politics with 122 Comments

The devil continues to be in the details of the democrat-written bill that will use government funds to allow GM and Chrysler to survive until next March. A draft was presented by the top Democrats to the White House on Monday night.
The bill will be called the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act, and [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 122 Comments

Flextreme Concept Wins Prestigious Design Award, Still Not Production Intent

November 28th, 2008 | Posted in: Design, E-REV, Opel with 76 Comments

In late 2007, GM unveiled the Opel Flextreme concept car and later showed it rebadged as Saturn.
The vehicle has a unique monocab design, but importantly, like the Chevy Volt, is also an E-Flex vehicle. It is meant to demonstrate how the range-extender could also be diesel and how the E-Flex E-REV drivetrain could be [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 76 Comments

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