Silver Emerald Volt

The decision process was in the form of a contest.

GM claims nearly 13,000 creative entries were received from which they were able to whittle down three finalists.

They are:
1) “EV-ergreen by Devin McQuarrie, 30, of San Jose, CA
2) “Viridian Joule” by by Dave Thomas, 40, of Sanford, FL
3) “environMINT” entered by Matthew Valbuena, 30, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

These finalists were decided “based equally on originality, creativity and the ability to capture the innovation and spirit of the Volt.”

Staring today you can vote for your favorite name below. The winner will be chosen by this public vote and will be flown all-expenses-paid to the LA Auto Show next month where it will be announced on December 1.

Not only will the winner go down in history as having named the Volts’ paint color but will also get an exclusive test drive of a pre-production integration Chevy Volt including in the now-ready-for-primetime charge-sustaining mode operation.

VOTE HERE

Editor’s Note:  There are reports on the Internet about an Ohio Chevy Dealer taking deposits on eBay.  The dealer claims to have Chevy Volt allocation.  This is denied by GM who report no dealer allocations have been given yet.

A few weeks later at a media event, another IVer Volt was put through its paces by Frank Weber, who is officially ‘King of the Engineers’ at GM. (Ok, that is not his actual title, but it is way too long to repeat, and too boring to remember)

This particular Volt gave us the opportunity to more easily judge/identify the changes, because it was in the worst color known to man, Robin’s Egg Blue.

Actually, that is bold-faced lie. Bob Boniface just recently sent me a note telling me that particular IVer was in “e-coat gray without paint,” not Robin’s Egg Blue. (However, my making that mistake illustrates my point…that Robin’s Egg Blue is a terrible color, and all previously built Volts in that color (or similar) need to be used in crash tests…but I digress)

As you can see from the illustrations, the hood has been changed into more of a bonnet, and the front side quarter panels have been adjusted accordingly. This type of hood, while often seen on trucks and SUV/CUVs is a rarity for sedans.

What was unclear is if this design change is functional or aesthetic. From first glance, it appears it could allow for more access, or perhaps it offers additional protection/redundancy from the elements for the sensitive components inside. Then again, perhaps Bob Boniface just really liked the new Ford Fiesta and this is his homage to it.

When I inquired about the subject, all of those first assumptions proved incorrect, and Mr. Boniface has this to say:

“Hood cutline change was made for compliance with European Pedestrian Protection regulations. Hood cutines tend to be very stiff due to metal flanging and the original ones fell into test zone for head impact.”

So there you have it, functional changes. However, he did add his thoughts on what that meant for the aesthetics as well:

“I was happy to move them because I think the side view line makes the fender appear thinner.”

Taking the reason for the changes to its logical conclusion, one could assume these changes will see their way to the Opel Ampera project as well.

Personally, I think the new changes give it a little more of the “nerd’s shoe” mystique, but it also gives the Volt a little more uniqueness…and that can’t be a bad thing.

Sidenote: Frank Weber’s official title actually is “Global Vehicle Line Executive/Global Vehicle Chief Engineer, Global Electric Vehicle Line Team” …that has to be one whale of a desk plaque.

Ports
He confirmed the Volt will have two ports, one for gas and for for charging each on opposite sides of the vehicle. The charge port is in the front quarter, driver’s side.

Change from Concept to Production Form
The never ending questions of why the car changed from concept to production continued. Bob explained that the proportions between the two are drastically different because “the concept powertrain layout was completely different and pushed the front wheels far forward giving us the long hood we all loved.” This though produced a Chevy Tahoe-sized wheelbase of 116″ which as he put it “made drivability and maneuverability unmarketable.”

Coefficient of Drag
Boniface still wouldn’t publicly confirm the Volt’s CD, stating that “many of our competition quote grossly exaggerated aero figures that are not repeatable when we test their vehicles in our tunnel,” in particular to a reference about the Tesla Model S having a CD of 0.27.

“If I quote an actual GM derived tunnel figure,” he said, “it may not look impressive to you when, in fact, it is superior to most if not all of our competition.”

Finally he assures us “The Volt aero performance is second only to the EV1 in GM history.”

He also noted GM will test the 2010 Prius’ aerodynamics next week and says “I expect the Volt to stand up to the competition.”

Colors
He said “We will have a full range of colors,” but “you will have to wait until we get closer to launch to find out all colors.” Boniface also reported there will be more than one trim level and that GM may take customer feedback in determining color options.

Low Font End
It was noticed in the IVer video that the front end of the Volt appears precariously low to the ground, especially the air intake port.

Boniface explains “we took the Volt ride height down as low as possible without violating GM best practices.”

“The piece to which you are referring is a flexible airdam that sits fairly low to the ground (same height as Corvette airdam),” he writes. “This piece is a big aero enabler and should not be damaged by a hit to a curb.”

Future Voltec Vehicles
Boniface excites us with prospects for the future now that Volt design work is done. His team is “working on some other (secret) projects now,” he says.

Charge Sustaining Mode
Boniface decided to take a non-design question about why GM hasn’t allowed anyone outside the company to experience driving the Volt while in generator mode. He said “I have driven the mule in charge sustaining mode and, frankly, I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

“It was remarkably smooth and quiet with a nearly seamless transition,” he said. “I think the team wants it to be perfect before letting others drive it.”

To make sure he was perfectly clear, Bob actually made a cameo appearance in our GM-Volt.com comments section, which by the way to my knowledge is the first time any GM executive has done so in the site’s history. He said:

When I said that I did not understand what all the fuss was about, I was referring to the internal fuss. Of course I understand that this is a critical part of the EREV experience and people are eager to understand this part of the puzzle. The point was that the transition is so good that I do not know why we do not allow people to experience it.

Boniface explains at this point his team is now looking for fit and finish, gaps and flushness.

He says cars are meant to be seen in motion and this is the first time he can do so with the Volt and thus “its like Christmas morning for me,” he says.

“It looks like a different car to me,” he adds.

He says buying cars is an emotional purchase and that cars are very much a fashion statement.

“We were able to strike a good balance between aerodynamic performance, and those visual cues that excite a buyer,” he says.

He closes by stating the car is “meeting the aerodynamic performance,” that GM had set out for it.

Below the video you can also join in a real time webchat with Bob today at 2PM EDT.

Indeed GM has public plans to launch 14 hybrids by 2012 and 26 by 2014.  The next question is whether these dedicated hybrid or hybrids should have unique and distinctive styling as does the Prius or the Inisght.  Though the Prius’ design is clearly polarizing it obviously attracts some buyers who want to display to the world that they are driving a hybrid.

Ed Welburn is GM’s VP of Design and I had a chance to ask him this question on a web chat.

Do you think hybrid vehicles should have unique designs like the Prius and not simply be versions of standard cars like the Malibu was, and are you developing new unique dedicated hybrid designs for your 2 mode hybrid system and BAS+?
That is a subject that we debate in the studios every day. I believe it can be an advantage to give a hybrid vehicle a unique asthetic. Volt (an electric vehicle) has a unique asthetic because of its aerodynamic characteristic and the creative design ideas involved. But the debate goes on…

So it looks like this may be a hot button issue in the conference rooms of General Motors’ design studios. Maybe we should help them out with a poll.

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 driver who want to let others know they are driving without gas.  Take for example the Prius’ unique look or that of the new Honda Insight.

Volt lead designer Bob Boniface thinks so too.

“People who spend money on technology . . . want to wear that on their sleeve,” he said. “[But] it does still need to have one foot in the mainstream so it fits in people’s lives.”

Places where the presence of electric drive could have the largest impact on design are the grille and hood. Since ventilation isn’t as important in electric cars, a large open grill isn’t necessary, and designers could stretch and tweak the nose of the car in new ways.

Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive also noted “You don’t necessarily have that huge engine up front, so you can sculpt the hood.” Indeed that is what his team has done with the upcoming Karma extended-range vehicle.

New interior space may also arise as batteries shrink and gas tanks disappear.

Source (Autoweek)

The Volt program is well along towards production and GM has announced they will now be in the battery pack design, assembly, and manufacturing business, opening the country’s largest and first battery assembly plant.

They have matured and advanced what used to be known as E-Flex propulsion system for electric drive with range extender, and are now calling it the Voltec propulsion system. Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz , who has now just been named co-chairman of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) explained why the change was made:

“Every one is calling everything ‘flex’…flex fuel, eco-flex, Ford Flex, etc. So basically we said everyone knows the Volt is electric and the Volt name has resonance, so Voltec propulsion system or Volt with ‘EC’ for electric car. Everyone knows immediately what it is and we also have a history of Vortec engines.”

GM also unveiled a concept of how a Cadillac sedan could look using the Voltec propulsion system and blew us a way with the striking and beautiful Converj concept, which incidentally was named the Best Concept Vehicle in the ‘Eyes On Design Awards’ at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Posawatz also tantalizes us noting that the Converj is just the first of a series of extended-range electric vehicle or Voltec concepts GM will be unveiling throughout 2009 at various auto shows. He noted the Geneva Auto Show it likely the next place we’ll see one, which appears to be the European Volt sister, the Opel Ampera.

Here’s what Mr. Posawatz said:

“You’ll see in future shows there will be future variants showing up through this year. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll be able to say around this time next year which on will be the production car. Right now its not a formal process. Individually people will say I either do or don’t like the Volt, they say its not my style or its not my type or whatever. Over the course of this year were going to unveil a bunch of different possibilities of which some will make it into the product line, and some wont. Part of it is going to be this process of ‘what do you think?’”

When I asked how many different Voltec concepts GM would be unveiling he said the following:

“I cant comment in specifics, in Geneva, in LA, in a few other shows this year you will see a couple of different concepts. So there’s some more stuff coming. But the Volt isn’t a one-trick pony nor can it be, but I have to say were being very very thorough in assessing what is the next best play. In order to get volume you have to have more choices. As much as the Volt is a wonderful car there are people that have different functional requirements. Bob Lutz believes that the Converj ought to be on that list. We’re going to work through the discussion of which of the concepts are going to be the right ones to look at as a next installment in the Volt family.”

Looks like 2009 will be an exciting year for electric car enthusiasts.

It also has a remarkable futuristic interior involving a massive OLED touch screen center stack/console interface, and featuring widescreen screen video camera displays instead of side view mirrors

MotorTrend has reported that GM executives are considering producing a 4-door version of the car. As well a release date of 2013 has been targeted. It was said that the rear doors wouldn’t disrupt the rakish roofline and likely have hidden handles, aspiring to a “four-door coupe” look.

The argument is 2 door cars look “fashionable” and may sell well in their first year, but see sales erode quickly over the next years as practicality takes over from lust.

Of course there’s a lot of financial uncertainty between now and then. GM vice-chair Bob Lutz told me in an exclusive interview that he really wants to produce the car, and that it would retail for the price of “two Volts.” Design executives said they were aiming to build a car that should retail for about $60,000 when creating the Converj.

Lutz also said that there was already a production clay model of the car that could go into wind tunnel testing, but cautioned that the Converj couldn’t be built unless the government considered it as a qualifying product for advanced technology loans.

Source (Motor Trend )

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, but when the day the ones with us standing in front of it..it was the same exact car, people hated it.

When they saw the actual car, most people liked it better than the show car. I worked on both cars, I ran the concept car and I ran this one. This car compared to the show car is a much more sophisticated piece of product design. When you park the two of them next to each other, once you get over the fact that the other one had huge wheels and the wheelbase of a Chevy Tahoe. People don’t realize it bit that car had a 116 inch wheelbase, and a slanted roof. Once you get past those proportional pieces, you realize that this car, the integration of the volumes and the surface vocabulary is much more sophisticated. I love the concept car too, but I like this one better.

Design is two-fold. Styling is only one component to fit. Design has a problem solving component too. The problem we had to solve here was get 4 full sized adults in here comfortably, safely, in a sporty silhouette, and still provide on the promise of 40 miles of petroleum-free driving. That’s difficult.

Building a good looking concept car is very easy to do. There are no constraints.

Did you intend for the car to have more of a mainstream appeal, since it is intended to be a high volume car?
It had to have mainstream appeal, but it didn’t want to be plain vanilla or generic. Were talking about tens of thousands of these that we want to sell. I don’t think that the other car wouldn’t have done it. And frankly the other car, the layout, the powertrain it was the best we knew at the time. Remember it was a concept, we didn’t know it was going to go anywhere. We took an off the shelf gas motor and an off the shelf traction motor and placed them in tandem, and that’s what shoved the wheels forward. As we got into it, we have a much more efficient powertrain here, a much more efficient shape of the body, and a much more efficient interior package. It has more popular appeal. This is going to fit into more people’s lives.

There are those people who have not seen the car in person and say ”Oh they just built a Prius.” This doesn’t not look like a Prius at all. We’ve many times had them parked together, and its crazy but they don’t look alike at all. Yeah they both have four wheels and a smooth shape, but that where the similarities end.

What people can’t tell from photographs is the stance of the car, the width of the track versus the height of the car. The size of the wheels and tires. These are 18 inch. The base will be a 17 inch with an optional 18 inch. This is the production overall diameter. This roof is about 2 inches lower than a Prius. And our wheel diameters are about 2 inches greater than a Prius and the track is wider. So this car has this hunkered down stance in person that our competitor’s just doesn’t have. This car is athletic.

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 allow GM and Chrysler to operate until March 31 2009. GM will receive its first $4 billion on December 29th, and an additional $5.4 billion on January 16th 2009. It could get another $4 billion on February 17th if the second half of the TARP is released.

Bush said normally he wouldn’t have intervened and would have allowed the companies to fail, but cited the current finical crisis as being extenuating circumstances. He determined allowing the automaker to collapse would be devastating to the economy. Bush also agreed with the automakers that a disorderly bankruptcy would cause them to fail and liquidate as consumers wouldn’t buy their cars.

The automakers will be given until March 31, 2009 to prove they can restructure and obtain net positive value, but not necessarily profitability. They must obtain meaningful compensation from labor and debtholders. If they fail to meet those goals, the loans will come due and they will have to file for an orderly chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Government would take non-voting stock in the companies, and there would be limits to executive compensation. The Treasury would oversee the restructuring.

The following specifics have been published by Politico.com:

Binding Terms and Conditions: The binding terms and conditions established by the Treasury will mirror those that were voted favorably by a majority of both Houses of Congress, including:
—Firms must provide warrants for non-voting stock.
—Firms must accept limits on executive compensation and eliminate perks such as corporate jets.
—Debt owed to the government would be senior to other debts, to the extent permitted by law.
—Firms must allow the government to examine their books and records.
—Firms must report and the government has the power to block any large transactions (> $100 M).
—Firms must comply with applicable Federal fuel efficiency and emissions requirements.
—Firms must not issue new dividends while they owe government debt.

Targets: The terms and conditions established by Treasury will include additional targets that were the subject of Congressional negotiations but did not come to a vote, including:

—Reduce debts by 2/3 via a debt for equity exchange.
—Make one-half of VEBA payments in the form of stock.
—Eliminate the jobs bank.
—Work rules that are competitive with transplant auto manufacturers by 12/31/09.
—Wages that are competitive with those of transplant auto manufacturers by 12/31/09.