GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

I had the chance to speak with Nick Zielinksi, he is GM’s vehicle line director for advanced technology vehicles. He is doing some of the coolest stuff at GM, developing the engineering for their “way in the future” cars.

Since you are responsible for the generation two and three Volts can you say anything about what ideas you’re considering?
Its far enough in the future that we can’t talk about the details. But we think (we know) from what we’ve learned on the Volt so far, from your site and people that have been exposed to the car, and the mule development. I can say things like in terms of the AER and performance we’re happy about how the vehicle is progressing.

Are you working on any high performance vehicles, like an electric Corvette?
We’re working on a lot of exciting stuff but I can’t go into the details. We’re working on a lot of neat things, a lot of it focused more on efficiency and improved fuel economy as opposed to balls out high performance.

I think people want better prices, so why not make a car with a smaller battery to reach lets say 20 grand?
You’re pretty much describing our plans for Gen 2. Looking to improve efficiency, maintain performance, take cost out of the car and how can we broaden Voltec technology to other vehicles.

Who decides what the future goals are?
The way we did it for Gen 2 is we pulled together the Volt executive leadership like Jon Lauckner (VP of global program development) and Frank Weber (Volt vehilce line executive) and sat down with them to get a vision of where we want to take this car.

What about other models?
We have a future car portfolio planning committee and we’re trying to identify market trends where there may be holes in the market or new markets we can exploit and its their responsibility to come up with cars for those purposes.

And then they’ll ask you if you can do it?
Exactly.

People want a more economical car, and that seems like they way to go.
You’re right on target. We think there’s so much promise in the technology but we’ve got to get the cost down and the volume up and its going to go together.

We just found out last night, GM had given its European Voltec-propelled EREV sedan an official name, the Opel Ampera. We also were given a teaser photo indicating that the car had a very similar styling to the Chevy Volt (see above) although when compared directly, seems to have a squatter, wider, more splayed-out aggressive look.

I was able to gain some more information about the car and what it represents from GM sources.

GM wants it to be clear that although the Opel Ampera will indeed arrive first in Europe as a production vehicle, that they also intend to bring the Chevy Volt there as well. This will then give European customers two GM extended-range electric car options for sale.

I was also told that the Ampera will use the same Voltec platform underpinning the Chevy Volt and that it will have the same 1.4 L generator burning gasoline/E85. Specifically, it will not have a diesel generator despite that fact that such a possibility had previously been demonstrated in the Opel Flextreme concept.

Furthermore, Volt vehicle line director Frank Weber wrote a post about the Ampera on GMs Fastlane blog. He noted the Ampera “will be true to its roots by offering the distinctive styling, dynamic efficiency, versatility and affordability European customers have come to expect from Opel.”

He also outlined the similarities of the Volt and the Ampera as follows:

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are production programs designed to meet the needs of thousands of customers (not a modified production vehicle for fleet or demo drives.)

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will meet all safety standards for North America, Europe and Asia.

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will give most drivers a petroleum-free daily driving experience without range-anxiety associated with battery electric vehicles

-The Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt will offer a fun and highly refined driving experience

Source (FastLane)

It has been known for some time that that Chevy Volt is a global vehicle intended to be sold and driven in many of the countries GM does business.  Europe is clearly a key market intended for this car.  We have also heard that the Volt will first appear there under the Opel brand, which is known for advanced technology.

The automaker has just announced that it will reveal what appears to be the European version of the Chevy Volt at the Geneva Auto Show on March 3rd.

They have given the five-door four-seater car its own name, the Opel Ampera.  As well a teaser photo has been released. There are no technical specs at this point, however the photo shows the body is unmistakably that of the Chevy Volt although with signature Opel branding features. It is unknown whether this vehicle will use a diesel or gasoline range extender, but the first 60 km of driving will indeed be on pure electricity.

Per said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer, “With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving,”

It was also noted that “additional information on the Opel Ampera will be released March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show.”

UPDATE: GM Voltec spokesperson David Darovitz has confirmed to GM-Volt.com that the car is indeed the European version of the Chevy Volt.

The vehicle will also be produced as the Vauxhall Ampera.

Source (GM)

At the Detroit Auto Show GM finally announced plans to bring two concept cars to reality, and bring them to the USA.

The Chevy Spark is the production name that will be given to the mini-car previously known as the Chevy Beat. Over the months we heard it was coming then that it might not. Now GM has offcially announced that the Spark will arrive in the US in 2011. It is expected to get 50 MPG fuel efficiency on highway driving.

The second vehicle they said has also been greenlighted for a US launch in 2011 is the Chevy Orlando. This is an MPV or multipurpose vehicle that will be built on the compact delta platform, the same one used in the Chevy Cruze and the Chevy Volt. The vehicle is built for diversity and utility and is able to carry 7 people. This class of vehicle is sometimes referred to as a microvan, though it will not have sliding doors I have been told.

Jon Lauckner who is GMs VP of global program management was asked whether that car would also get the Voltec extended-range electric vehicle drivetrain.

Lauckner said “I would point out that the Chevrolet Orlando is built on the same basic vehicle architecture and component set as the Chevrolet Volt, so if it makes sense, it’s certainly something we can take a look at.”

Not exactly an overwhelming yes, but hey you never know.

Source (Automotive News )