For those that love the look of the Concept Chevy Volt they are already preparing themselves to be disappointed. We already know some of the styling cues of the concept won't make it into the production vehicle.

Concept:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s240/jscott1000/Concept_voltchevy_volt_side_view.jpg

I've taken the liberty of re-styling the concept to what I think the production vehicle might look like.

I have enlarged the headlights, made the front vents smaller. Reduced the size of the wheels, increased the aspect ratio of the tires. Increased the size of the side mirrors, smoothed out the body lines on the side, eliminated the clear windows in the doors, raised the roof line, reduced the stagger in the rear wheels, smoothed out the rear and enlarged the rear taillights.

Possible Concept:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s240/jscott1000/productionvoltchevy_volt_front_view.jpg

Comments??

Not bad, but I don't think it will even be close to the production Volt.

A while back, GM released a view of the front quarter of the car, and that blunt nose looks like it was almost gone. If you look back on some of Lyle's posts on the home page, you will find it.

A real picture of the final design is what I am really looking forward to seeing!

True the real Production Volt may look very different, but I hope not. It would be very disappointing if the final car lost all of the styling cues of the concept. I changed the features that I felt would not survive based on viewing before and after pics of concept versus reality.

I've been waiting for a pic of the final desing to leak onto the internet myself. I know there were some big changes to improve aero, but I hope the car still looks as cool as the concept. The look of the Prius makes me ill :confused:

Chris

Nice work jscott. Those changes were subtle and I am very impressed. The car has to have a distinctive look and that was preserved in your alterations. When the final version comes out I'm sure we will look at it and say, yep, that's a Volt alright. Somehow the image has been cast and will stick in our minds. How do those guys do it? I'm not one to judge good looks but know when I see something that looks good to me. The Volt will look good to me I'm sure. I just hope it will be aerodynamic.

PS, jscott, thanks for removing the hole in the air dam too.

Looks like the Volt won't have the transparent roof either.
I'm kind of glad about this, the see-through roof makes it look like a fish bowl.

Wouldn't an introductory two-door sports car concept reduce weight and cost and appeal to the "big market" age 16 -25 consumer? Think Mustang introduction way back when.

The initial design of the Volt said WOW! I wouldn't want a Volt which didn't look sexy. The Volt should not be a Prius "wannabe". GM needs to send a clear message to the foreign competition that its electric cars will have advanced styling superior to any of their products. An affordable electric car will bring buyers to the dealerships. Sexy styling will sell the cars once they're in the dealerships. The quickest way to kill sales is to offer a car which looks like Homer Simpson designed it. GM needs to take some styling cues from Tesla Motors of California. We don't want a Cobalt clone either.;)

I for one, hope they keep the futuristic lines on the Volt. The concept was a head turner and I think that is going to be very important if the car is going to achieve broad appeal.

I think the person you are trying to get with this car, isn't the hyper green Prius or smart car. Your getting the guy that still wants a sports car, but doesn't want to spend $100 a week on gas. It's about winning for the enviroment, without looking like you gave up your balls to do it.

I think the person you are trying to get with this car, isn't the hyper green Prius or smart car. Your getting the guy that still wants a sports car, but doesn't want to spend $100 a week on gas. It's about winning for the enviroment, without looking like you gave up your balls to do it.

I think you just described me to a T.

That's my feeling too. To captivate a large audience and really make a difference on oil consumption and environmental issues, this car has to be as far from the "green eco-bubble" car as possible without sacrificing the core performance goals. Unfortunately, after talking to the designers at the Volt Nation event, prepare yourself for some of the cool muscular styling features of the concept to go away to facilitate better aerodynamics. They wouldn't be specific, but they did say that it would look less Camaro like yet still be recognizable as a Volt.

What I really want is a little electric Solstice GXP!

For me the looks of this car are probably almost as important as the environmental aspects. I would sacrifice some EV range for the more muscular stylings, even if it doesn't go as far on all electric it is still better than every other car on the road(For the time being).
Plus making it look really cool will help sell more, getting more EVs on the road.

Here is a recent interview with Bob Lutz that talks about the design changes. It appears that the rear of the vehicle is close to the concept car, but the front will be quite different.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f67/gm-confirms-e-flex-volt-australia-plus-local-toyota-camry-hybrid-way-62474/

I anticipate that the long hood will be shortened and the cabin may be somewhat longer. I think flush headlights and other aerodynamic mods will be made. I'm afraid it may look more like a Prius than most of us would want.

Also in the article, Bob states that the first Volts will go to California, then maybe Washington, DC, followed by Florida.

Great work JScott!

I've got some updated images that were created after all of the information came out of the media tour last week. These renderings offer a realistic interpretation of changes that have been made to the concept vehicle to balance design with acceptable aerodynamic performance.

The images are here: petrozero.org (http://www.petrozero.org)

Scroll down to the second post...

I found this a while ago, looks in the ballpark....

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9485/mariobro88tb9.jpg

Chris

I found this a while ago, looks in the ballpark....

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9485/mariobro88tb9.jpg

Chris

Nope. The tape car images clearly show no fender flares, no sculpted sides, no fender ridges and much smaller wheels. Pretty much just a rounded jelly bean nose and slab sides with a high rear deck lid. The sculpted image above seems to be mostly what we're not getting. All the features that made the original concept stand out and grab your attention is what creates drag in the wind tunnel.:(

Nope. The tape car images clearly show no fender flares, no sculpted sides, no fender ridges and much smaller wheels. Pretty much just a rounded jelly bean nose and slab sides with a high rear deck lid. The sculpted image above seems to be mostly what we're not getting. All the features that made the original concept stand out and grab your attention is what creates drag in the wind tunnel.:(

The more I look at the taped up model, the more it looks like a Camry with a slightly mroe rounded front.

DOH!!!...... :p

It reminds me more of a Toyota Echo. Kind of sad.

Ouch! My eyes, my eyes... It burn into. I'm going to have to go wash the image of Toyota Echo out of my brain.:eek: You really have to post that picture.:( I'm going to have to wear a blind fold :cool:to check out the news post. Darn, that not going to work.:rolleyes:

Nope. The tape car images clearly show no fender flares, no sculpted sides, no fender ridges and much smaller wheels. Pretty much just a rounded jelly bean nose and slab sides with a high rear deck lid. The sculpted image above seems to be mostly what we're not getting. All the features that made the original concept stand out and grab your attention is what creates drag in the wind tunnel.:(

I know I will probably catch hell for this, but here goes. I was driving into the city today, and saw a car that reminded me of the Volt wind tunnel model (tapemobile). Let's see how they compare, and consider DaV8or's comments on no fender flares, rounded jelly bean nose, etc. from above.

Let's first look at Tapemobile:

Then look at this:

Its a Toyota Corolla. Its wheelbase is 102.4 inches. The Volt's will be between 104 and 112. Its overall length is 178.7", the Volt's about 170. Its width is 69.3" vs. 70.5" for the Volt concept.

But by moving the rear wheel aft on the Corolla, shortening the rear overhang, and making some minor mods, these look close to me. The hood has a different slope than the windshield, the back window tapers back like the Volt, and the shapes are similar, although granted not identical. The dimensions are also close.

This could be similar to the Volt, as it has eliminated the fender flares, sharp corners, long hood, etc.

Just some food for thought.

Well...with a higher butt that looks like a sweet ride to me.

I for one would not be disappointed to drive a car like that with an EREV power plant.

I for one, hope they keep the futuristic lines on the Volt. The concept was a head turner and I think that is going to be very important if the car is going to achieve broad appeal.

I think the person you are trying to get with this car, isn't the hyper green Prius or smart car. Your getting the guy that still wants a sports car, but doesn't want to spend $100 a week on gas. It's about winning for the enviroment, without looking like you gave up your balls to do it.

Bingo, we have a winner!

The last thing I want to see is something looking like pink cotton balls designed in the San Francisco's Castro district. You know the look, my daughter used to play with My Pink Pony when she was four.

If the developers come across with something sporty looking the'll have their Mustang for decades to come.

If you look at the 2008 and (single) 2009 Cobalt pictures on the web, and look at the "sporty" models (including the one picture of a race car version) you see the Mailbu grill, the wing in back, and the other features of the taped Volt. With the Volt on the Cobalt platform and with urgency in getting the Volt out quickly, the Volt may well have a similar look to one of the Cobalt pictures, with some design adjustments here and there, such as decals. If it works out to be an electric Cobalt (even as GM denies that is so), I think that will be a design mistake. Still, I can see how natural cost and time pressures would make it so.

On a GM auto survey site I participate in I saw a picture of what I believe was/will be the Volt. It looked like a cross b/w the Prius and the Malibu with a front end like the 'peaks' that we've gotten of the new front end.

Unfortunately once you finish the survey you no longer have access to the images. I wish I'd have grabbed a screen shot...but I wouldn't be able to share it anyway b/c of the NDA.

Wouldn't an introductory two-door sports car concept reduce weight and cost and appeal to the "big market" age 16 -25 consumer? Think Mustang introduction way back when.


Of course it will. But for some reason the automakers decided long ago to burdeon everyone with those additional 2 doors that in so far as I can tell, rarely get used.

I came across this thread on GMInsideNews today.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f32/what-chevy-volt-concept-63559/
It looks like MonaroSS took a pretty good attempt at unmasking the wind tunnel vehicle.

Could his image be pretty close to the actual production model?

I came across this thread on GMInsideNews today.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f32/what-chevy-volt-concept-63559/
It looks like MonaroSS took a pretty good attempt at unmasking the wind tunnel vehicle.

Could his image be pretty close to the actual production model?

Nice attempt. I think he got some of it right. Unfortunately, he's being kind of optimistic with the side treatment. The tape model pretty much shows that there are no fender flares or side sculpting at all. In the interest of aerodynamics, I believe it will be flat slab sides, the rest I concur.

Word, Blakec,

I was looking at the Audi S5 and Lexus IS350 when I stumbled into this concept vehicle. Pretty sweet. I need only to commute 5-10 miles but want to look cool as hell doing it. This plug in just might be the ticket. I had lost all hope for american made vehicles up until now. I agree with previous threads; If they stray from the sleek lines and futuristic looks too much then they (GM) will have put the final nail in their own coffin. The interior needs to stay as is too.
I believe that peak oil is here and we need to get used to the idea that gas will be too expensive for our transportation needs. It will need to be used to run farm equipment maybe airplanes. Once the oil is completely gone....starvation (unless you have your backup plan ready)
Cheers

Looks like they borrowed the rear end design from the new Pontiac G6 and shape like the new Camaro.

Hmmm...looking at the photos and reading what everyone is saying...if the Volt does come out looking like a Prius, then GM has lost me as a buyer. I hate the Prius's looks. It stuck up high in the air backend is ugly and nothing about the rest of the car is anything worth crowing about. I loved the Volt concept for it's design. It was different and cool. Maybe I'll go after a Camaro. At least the Camaro isn't losing it's looks and is cool.

I never really liked the concept Volt. Sure I would buy one if it was released that way, just for the technology. But I'd be just as happy if it were released as a decent looking sedan like the rendering of the taped one in CalgaryVolt's post.

Edit: Anyone seen this image yet?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/csfiles/blogs/autocarconfidential/WindowsLiveWriter/ChevyVoltworththehype_AAC7/jc-volt-rtStandard%5B2%5D.jpg

I've been waiting for a pic of the final desing to leak onto the internet myself. I know there were some big changes to improve aero, but I hope the car still looks as cool as the concept. The look of the Prius makes me ill :confused:

Chris

Me too...the concept Volt is HOT! The prius looks like a bar of soap or a doorstop with wheels.

I would be willing to accept a Volt that looked like the concept and was not quite as efficient as the final production model...they could probably split the difference between what is possible (ultra-efficiency in the production model) and the worst range reducers in the concept, and offer a fine looking SS model or push it to Pontiac as a GXP model that could keep the long hood line...maybe it could get 35 miles per charge instead of 40, but would still look like the awesome ride that the concept is. GM, you listenin'? :):D

I for one, hope they keep the futuristic lines on the Volt. The concept was a head turner and I think that is going to be very important if the car is going to achieve broad appeal.

I think the person you are trying to get with this car, isn't the hyper green Prius or smart car. Your getting the guy that still wants a sports car, but doesn't want to spend $100 a week on gas. It's about winning for the enviroment, without looking like you gave up your balls to do it.

Well said!

I hope they offer a 5 door version. I want what the volt has to offer, but some of us own homes and participate in things like biking and require some way of hauling stuff. Some people may not like the look of the prius, but being hatchback, it does allow some hauling that a sedan cannot accomplish.

The alternative would be to have a hitch so a trailer can be attached.

I hope they offer a 5 door version. I want what the volt has to offer, but some of us own homes and participate in things like biking and require some way of hauling stuff. Some people may not like the look of the prius, but being hatchback, it does allow some hauling that a sedan cannot accomplish.

The alternative would be to have a hitch so a trailer can be attached.

They might offer two models, too...sedan and hatchback. Heck, maybe they'll even offer a coupe for more sporty looks...I'm probably dreaming now though...just a sedan that keeps that long hood line is ok by me...I'll give up a bit of efficiency for that look!

I hope they offer a 5 door version. I want what the volt has to offer, but some of us own homes and participate in things like biking and require some way of hauling stuff. Some people may not like the look of the prius, but being hatchback, it does allow some hauling that a sedan cannot accomplish.

The alternative would be to have a hitch so a trailer can be attached.

I may be wrong, but I do believe that the Volt is a hatchback.

I may be wrong, but I do believe that the Volt is a hatchback.

You're not wrong. The Volt designers said to my face at Volt Nation that it will be a four door hatchback design with folding sets. Initially for the first year at least, there will only be this one body style.

Looks a lot like the new Honda civic. That's what I would have guessed it was and most people will think it is.

(Re: the concept picture)

Ugh, please don't make the Volt look like a futuristic concept sports car. Electric cars should look like other cars on the road. They shouldn't try to be sexier. I want to drive a car that doesn't draw attention to me as a wannabe car afficianado or a self-absorbed narcissist.

I want everyone to drive electric vehicles. This kind of design will turn off more people than it will turn on. It's true. Look around on the roads today. People like cars that look like Civics and Accords or a simple little truck.

The average commuter and soccer mom who needs to drive 40 miles a day will not want to buy this car, and they will think that EVs are just a concept. This kind of design will not help with the adoption and acceptance of electric vehicles. Big mistake.

Do not make the Volt look like a concept car. Give it universal appeal. Make it accessible. Make it so your average car buyer will be willing to give it a try right off the lot.

We can dream and druel but what GM will give us ain"t gona look
like the concept for sure for $30,000.oo:rolleyes:

I am on the wait list for one of these. I saw a "red" version online - it was Prius looking and un-inspiring. The production model better look VERY similar to the concept model - or I am not biting. The concept was HOT. Don't let your lame designers of the Cobalt, Impala, and all the other lame GM designs get anywhere near this puppy. I will buy another 3 series BMW for 40K before I buy a 40K Chevy car that looks different than what you are advertising.

I am on the wait list for one of these. I saw a "red" version online - it was Prius looking and un-inspiring. The production model better look VERY similar to the concept model - or I am not biting.

Sadly, the "red version" is probably pretty darn close to the production reality. The original concept in all it's glory is history. It will look better than a Prius, but it's no baby Camaro. I am disappointed too and have been trying to adapt my thinking towards driving a very conventional looking car. It's very, very tough for me.:(

The concept volt is a big ugly turd. What the GM designers think looks cool confuses the hell out of me.