Jalopnik
UPDATE: The Chevy Volt Forum's got pictures from inside the design studio of the interior and a GM artists render of the front. Hit the jump to see it in all of its graininess. - Second update: now with a front end picture!Something we didn't tell you yesterday was that while we were in attendance at the GM event yesterday, we pulled out our cell phone to check a text message we'd just received. Immediately, GM PR was on top of us, confiscating the phone because it had a camera on it. OK, we could deal with that — we understood they didn't want the scoop to get out that we'd just seen both the first test mule of the Chevy Volt electric car (dressed up in the skin of a late model Chevy Malibu) and a scale model of what the actual Volt will look like when it hits the road in two years. But apparently some pigs are more equal than other at these embargoed and supposedly confidential press events. WWJ Radio's Jeff Gilbert has posted video of the battery lab and the wind tunnel we described from yesterdays Chevy Volt event at GM. We don't know how he got out of there alive with it, we don't know why GM officials weren't all over him for filming this and we don't know what the ramifications will be. But seriously though, who knew a radio reporter could be so sneaky, anyway? Kudos to Jeff on his liberation of the video. However, although we won't be the first ones to break embargoes, we also won't be the third. Without further ado, the video above tells the story we saw better than the words out of our fingertips.
That rendered image on the back wall, on the left side is very interesting don't you think?
Not saying nothing, but that may ring a bell from yesterday's event. Yeah, now that we take a look at that, it looks pretty darn familiar.
Seriously guy, stop digging stuff up, we're getting hungry here. This one looks like that one time when Bob Boniface lifted the sheets to reveal the restyled nose of the Chevy Volt except it's turned 90 degrees relative to the railing in the back from when we saw it! Draw your own conclusions from that.
[sources: WWJ, ChevyVoltForums.com, Autoblog]
Comments
Tight. So it does exist.
How many bothans died for this?
GM HQ: We need to have a meeting to determine the proper time and place for the meeting regarding the feasibility of continuing the Volt program. Should we come to some type of positive, or other than negative, conclusion regarding the Volt program, steps should be considered to schedule a meeting to solidify to Volt technology test in a 1/3rd scale. I expect immediate results, and I expect that you all have similar expectations of your results too. Questions? Ready break!
Did the tiny clowns blow away?
wow. I was expecting a 30 second shaky cell-phone kinda flick, but this means he walked around blatantly filming and they didn't notice...
or maybe he said "oh, it's just a recorder. i'm a radio journalist, right?" and they said "oh, ok".
you can even see his reflection in the "high voltage" room window, camera to eye, filming away. Methinks Lutz wants this leaked, no?
Thats only 1/3rd?
Looks much smaller to me
He probably bribed the security guard with a Hummer.
I always thought those girls in the secret gonzo porno flicks were in on the camera-hidden-in-ridiculous-sunglasses trick. Maybe not!
You need a pair of these, BW.
Great now they're gonna have to crush em all. Nice going, Jeff Gilbert!
As if General Motors needed help from websites to prematurely launch its products.
It looks like it has a tall behind and a del Sol-esque rear window-pillar-fin-ish thing going on.
"The finished Volt will bear a 'clear family resemblance' to the sporty vehicle initially shown at last year's Detroit auto show, Burns said. 'But it won't be a twin.'"
Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development
So it won't happen and when it doesn't it will NOT look like the show car still trotted-out at auto shows and featured heavily in GM's ads.
Yeah, you might be able to get 150 mpg, but your electric bill is going to go up. The car maybe be greener, but you are just moving the polluter.
"We don't know how he got out of there alive with it, we don't know why GM officials weren't all over him for filming this and we don't know what the ramifications will be."
It's a deliberate leak, thinly disguised (but cleverly released) as a softball piece from a no-name media outlet.
Is there even a Jeff Gilbert or WWJ Radio?
@schmere: This "long tailpipe" theory has long been disproven.
"We don't know how he got out of there alive with it" Easy, like all GM locks, he just shoved a flat-head Screwdriver in the lock and turned.
@Peteski: Here's what's under all that tape.
[www.blogsmithmedia.com]
The production model looks very much like the concept car that spawned it.
You can definitely see the cameraman is some reflections. He's carrying around a huge TV-style video camera. Clearly, GM knew it was happening. An attempt at viral marketing, perhaps?
I thought electric cars were supposed to be quiet. Wasn't that prototype in those silly ads silent. In this video it sounded like a broken Hoover. Was that lady spraying it with magic fairy dust to make it work? She looked more like a PR person that someone I would imagine working at a car testing facility but what do I know. GM is so funny; I wish they would just do things right.
No one can see you if you're on the radio.
@schmere: point vs. non-point pollution. Check it out.
GM HQ: Appears the minions have figured out our diabolical plan to infiltrate the "blog", thereby creating interest in our "future" vehicle.
Anybody else get the feeling that THIS is GM's entire turnaround plan?
The video was probably 'leaked' to generate some kind of stockholder excitement after the fiasco that was last quarter's sales figures.
That Volt is looking like it's coming together nicely. I have no confidence that it'll be a pretty car to look at, but if it's even halfway decent it'll be a tough choice between that and a Camaro.
My my, seems this Jeff fellow had a scripted list of questions, unrestricted access to the testing facility, and way beyond cell phone cam recording equipment.
Seems the General has issues with the traditional car boyz, yet wants to show how advanced they are with the Volt so get the message out there in this way.
Maybe the collective "told 'ya so" tone to the reports of '08 vs. '07 sales results were the straw that finally broke the General's back and prompted them to find, or invent someone who would give them good press.
Sad thing is no one wants to see this project fail after the EV1 debacle, alot of folks are pulling for the car to happen, like now.
@Benson2175: Actually she is in charge of Volt wind tunnel testing and schedules all the wind tunnel time.
GM HQ: Crap! Who leaked our "super secret" plan?
Shenanigans!
My bad,
Jeff exists, WWJ 950 in Detroit, and seems like a decent car type. GM did not invent him, but methinks he likes the General and that feeling is reciprocal.
GM HQ: What is this "Shenanigans" they speak of? This whole internet thing is a little creepy. Get Al Gore in here! He has to stop all this, this... DAMN THE COMPUTER!
@smart42: Jeff's actually really good people. I've been listening to him on WWJ for over 15 years. He's a real live auto journalist and he breaks real live stories. Some are puff pieces, but what MSM journalist doesn't have his or her fair share of puff pastries in the breadbox? Overall, he's one of the better ones.
So it really is the 2012 Malibu...
GM HQ: Don't tell me we're working on cars beyond 2012. Everybody knows that's the year the world ends.
@Flat4:
I doubt its 2012. Ted Turner says we have at least 40 years before the world descends into cannibalistic chaos, while Al Gore's Doomsday Clock is currently at 7 years, 9 months, 22 days and change.
@badco/LoJ: (fingers in ears) NEENER NEENER NEENER NEENERNEENER NEENER NEENER NEENER I CAN'T HEEEEAR YOU!
cool to see it is coming
Apparently they will soon put the batteries in it, sounds like progress GM-style.
Don't know how? seriously? this adds huge cred to GM and helps to begin to assure people it isn't vapor and, at a time with another impending strike, is it that hard to foresee this being 'leaked' intentionally, esp given their reaction to your cellphone>? come on.
I don't know if anyone else caught this, but did you notice the emphasis placed on the word 'average' when the narrator was talking about the need for GM vehicles to average 35 mpg? And then yesterday NPR had an excellent segment on the current dealer markup on hybrid SUVs, often around $5k. SO, does this mean they will continue making other vehicles that get shitty gas mileage, and then use the volt to cover themselves? And of course dealers will no doubt tack a nice markup on there too - so once again, a hybrid currently isn't worth it for most individuals.
Hey Congrats on the COTD! Oh wait...THERE ISN'T ONE!!!
Oh and just to be a Douche, I went to a neighbouring auto website
where FIVE posts have been put up since 5:30 p.m.
So far I'd say this nights and weekends thing is a Great Success!
@Я: Nights AND Weekends???? I thought it was Nights OR Weekends! Maybe he lives in ali where its still technically Late Afternoon/Dusk. (I'm NEVER gonna get a star doing shit like this, will I???)
I think that the requirement for achieving an average or 35mpg by 2020 is totally ridiculous.... Thats 12 years away and we can do way way better than that; we already have cars that get 50mpg (61mpg epa) so what's the big deal?
@Bento the Wertsmith:
I'm NEVER gonna get a star doing shit like this, will I???
...And you might be better off that way.
I've already attempted to remove mine on my terms rather than facing humility of having it removed.----->[jalopnik.com]
I wonder how much I could have been getting paid to sit on my hands?
not only is jeff good people, he is a good CAR GUY. I worked with him... well... in the same building... he was on the news side...
also in that building is John Mcelroy... the 2 of them make a VERY formidable automotive journalism team.
@POLAЯ SAYS SOMEONE ELSE: I bet there is a drinking game going on. No one will post till they are relativity sober after midnight, with some more info on the volt...
@POLAЯ SAYS SOMEONE ELSE: Enough to buy one lug nut from Ferrari...