2012 Chevrolet Volt Convertible

[scottf200]

This would sell to my wife easy but I'm already pushing for her to get mine and me to get GEN II. This would have ruined my big plans if it were true!!!

Imagine the aerodynamics then think about the effort they put into the Volt in the wind tunnel ... more than any other car (per Volt book). I'm curious what other car's models that are convertible and non-convertible have as a difference for drag coefficient (CD).

[Zod]

I thought the line "The one hand operation also means the top can be lowered while the vehicle is in motion" was something of a give-away too having... ummm.... kinda tried that in a '69 MGB one time (somewhat accidentally).

Oh yeah! I forgot about that one by the time i started posting. No serious article (or car manufacturer) would ever suggest such a thing.

[SharkVolt]

The sad thing is, that car as pictured is really a good lookin' convertable. I bet it would sell faster than the regular Volt. (especially in southern California)

Jerry, #536

[Slapshot28]

Flattery will get us everywhere.

1) Use the company name as a verb: Google.
2) Use the product as a Halloween costume: iPod.
3) Use the product for an April Fool's joke: Chevy Volt.

[scottf200]

Roofless Volkswagen E-Bugster Electric Concept At [2012] Beijing Auto Show
BY ANTONY INGRAM Apr 23, 2012

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...jing-auto-show

<snip>
The E-Bugster uses a 113-horsepower electric motor to power the front wheels, with a range of 110 miles from its 28.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. A fast charge can replenish the range in around 35 minutes.
<snip>

[mbepic]

Roofless Volkswagen E-Bugster Electric Concept At [2012] Beijing Auto Show
BY ANTONY INGRAM Apr 23, 2012

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...jing-auto-show

<snip>
The E-Bugster uses a 113-horsepower electric motor to power the front wheels, with a range of 110 miles from its 28.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. A fast charge can replenish the range in around 35 minutes.
<snip>

If it is like the Leaf, frequent 'fast charges' like that may wear out the battery in about a year..........not recommended.

[John_Maine]

Wish this was for real because I would be first in line for one. I love having a convertible and it's one reason I haven't jumped on a Volt. If I'd gone right from my Grand Prix to a Volt, I wouldn't have given it a thought but I traded the GP for a Mustang convertible and I love driving in the sunshine.

[daryllafferty]

If anyone still thinks this might be real, look closely at the URL:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-...lt-convertible

and see the words "april-fools" in there. Kind of a give away.

[scottf200]

If it is like the Leaf, frequent 'fast charges' like that may wear out the battery in about a year..........not recommended.

I was merely showing that another company determined that a convertible did have some practical merits despite what we believed to be a complete downside - aerodynamics and thus range suffering. My clipped text was just to show/prove I was pointing out an electric car. Bigger battery than a LEAF actually and many of them are getting by just fine without a Quick Charge/L3 but just using L2 at home. As will with the newest EVs being 6.6 kW chargers L2 is even more fine at home with a larger battery (ie. you can charge over night). Hope that helps explain my angle.

[kgurnsey]

First off, obvioulsy I have no illusions of this being true in the near future, however, it is possible to be done as written.

The Miata has a manual top that is easy as pie to put up and down with one hand from the driver's seat. The first Gen cars were easy because the top was pretty light. the second Gen cars are even easier because the top is weighted and sprung in such a way to reduce the effort required. But that's a two seater.

However, VW Cabrios from the 90's and early 00's had both manual and power tops, and they were 4 seaters, much like a theoretical Volt Convertible would be. The manual ones were also super easy, again because of the way they were weighted and sprung. Totally doable, 'cause it's been done. Whether or not the power savings would be justified is a matter of debate, but manual tops are definitely lighter, so that could be another argument. One caveat though, I have never put up a manual top on a VW Cabrio from inside the car. It's easy to put up and down, but it's just to long a stretch from the drivers seat. My arms aren't that long, so it has to be done from outside.

As for the solar aspect, that's a bit more dubous, especially considering that the sedan version could have a solar panel, a la Fisker Karma, and it doesn't. However, thin film panels are being incorperated into clothes and backpacks and such, so I'm sure it's doable.

-K