Some of the Volt Revealed

[PricklyPete]

ABC New bit

This is the first hybrid that is getting me excited since it is a serious departure from what is currently being produced (modular technology) that to me represents the future of automobiles (whether the engine is a fuel cell stack, a petrol engine, a diesel engine, or some other contraption that someone comes up with).

I really hope the GM is able to make their deadline. I do not expect them to be cheap unfortunately...but I'd be willing to buy one to push the technology as long as GM comes through with a quality vehicle.

 

[JulesMaximus]

40 miles on a single charge, that's more than enough for my daily commute. :thumbsup:

I'd like to see the cost down to about half what they're projecting though.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
40 miles on a single charge, that's more than enough for my daily commute. :thumbsup:

I'd like to see the cost down to about half what they're projecting though.

QFT. They're setting the price way too high IMO.

 

[ElFenix]

is that guy's name really csaba csere?

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is that guy's name really csaba csere?

Yes, he's Hungarian and a long time editor for C&D.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is that guy's name really csaba csere?

Yes, he's Hungarian and a long time editor for C&D.

Yep, I've been reading his stuff for many years.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
40 miles on a single charge, that's more than enough for my daily commute. :thumbsup:

I'd like to see the cost down to about half what they're projecting though.

I agree...and hopefully they will. But realistically the price of cars are going up. A decently appointed Civic or Corolla costs $20K these days. A V6 Accord is going to cost you $30K well appointed. For so much technology...I don't think $40K is crazy. Also, GM is lobbying very hard to get a $7K tax rebate for high mileage plug-in hybrids. We'll see if that happens by 2010.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is that guy's name really csaba csere?

Csaba Csere (pronounced /'t??b? t??d?/; roughly phonetcially transliterated to "Chabuh Cheruh") is an American former technical director and the current editor-in-chief of Car and Driver.

 

[PricklyPete]

Some more pics...

edmunds article...

 

[kevman]

kinda cool looking...time to buy gm stock...

 

[Juddog]

I wish GM had gotten to working on this instead of focusing on SUV's a few years ago.

I have high hopes for this car though, but the price is a bit high for those economy minded folk.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is that guy's name really csaba csere?

Csaba Csere (pronounced /'t??b? t??d?/; roughly phonetcially transliterated to "Chabuh Cheruh") is an American former technical director and the current editor-in-chief of Car and Driver.

He's a nice guy, and really brilliant. He could be a physicist if he wanted to. But he loves journalism, and cars.

 

[Mermaidman]

Major reveal leaked today!

http://blogs.thecarconnection....rst-production-photos/

 

[dsity]

ewww. they changed it.

 

[AdamK47]

All the good looks went away to lessen drag. Such a shame.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Major reveal leaked today!

http://blogs.thecarconnection....rst-production-photos/

I actually like the closer to production model. It doesn't have the same charm as the original concept but at least it looks 1000x better than the Prius.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: AdamK47
All the good looks went away to lessen drag. Such a shame.

yep. lots of people are complaining. i agree that it doesn't look nearly as good, but i still think it looks good. there's a reason why the volt, prius, and insight all have the same basic shape - aerodynamics. damn you laws of physics!

 

[Uhtrinity]

IMO it looks better than the blocky muscle looking prototype. But still leaves a lot to desire in aerodynamics, after all this is supposed to be an efficient car.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: AdamK47
All the good looks went away to lessen drag. Such a shame.

yep. lots of people are complaining. i agree that it doesn't look nearly as good, but i still think it looks good. there's a reason why the volt, prius, and insight all have the same basic shape - aerodynamics. damn you laws of physics!

But the Volt doesn't have the same egg shape as the Prius or Insight.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
40 miles on a single charge, that's more than enough for my daily commute. :thumbsup:

I'd like to see the cost down to about half what they're projecting though.

I'd be interested if it was 125 miles on electric. That would cover my commute.

 

[MBrown]

only 40 miles on a charge? Why are people excited about this?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: MBrown
only 40 miles on a charge? Why are people excited about this?

The Prius can go about 10 miles on batteries alone. 40 is a pretty good increase.

 

[StageLeft]

Running 40 miles in a go is nice, but charging this via anything but gasoline/diesel is a pipe dream for many years yet, so I hope they are not jumping the gun by building a platform capable of taking generators that are not reaslistically going to be seen for years (like fuel cells).

For so much technology...I don't think $40K is crazy.

Except it's going to be more like $48k, not 40k. That will more than eat up any price savings. This is a neat car but pragmatically it's grossly inferior to some of the current and soon-to-be-out hybrids with more conventional tech.

only 40 miles on a charge? Why are people excited about this?

It would be plenty for me and electricity is cheaper via my plugs than the same distance from a gas pump. If I could do 40 mile jaunts I could slash my gasoline use MASSIVELY.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: MBrown
only 40 miles on a charge? Why are people excited about this?

40 miles on the initial charge. The small gasoline engine will keep the car going after that.

Originally posted by: Skoorb
This is a neat car but pragmatically it's grossly inferior to some of the current and soon-to-be-out hybrids with more conventional tech.

Well, someone has to lead the charge (no pun intended )

 

[PingSpike]

I just read they are switching from the 1.0liter 3 cylinder turbo to a regular 1.4liter 4 cylinder. Apparently its heavier but cheaper. This is a good move IMO...I don't see any reason to worry to much about the gasoline engine since if things go according to plan it hopefully will barely get used. But the thing has to be affordable enough to get people to at least buy it.