Jalopnik
Yes friends, we were the first to tell you that the Chevy Volt would be wending its way around town underneath the skin of old, dead Malibus back in September. Now we're the first to show you a picture of a Chevy Volt wending its way around town underneath the skin of an old, dead Malibu. Also, we were like, the second to bring you that Volt video a few weeks ago. So we've got that going for us too. Oh, and then there was that production shot of the Volt we saw at the end of last year. One more feather for the drips-and-dribbles from the General hat. Full spy report from the pride of Brenda Priddy's pride of spy photographers, Chris Doane, below.
The Chevy Volt (test mule)Today we have the first rock solid evidence that the Chevy Volt has begun development. Hiding under a previous generation Malibu body, we saw GM starting to run the E-Flex powertrain through it paces on the track.
The General will hope to have the Volt on sale in late 2010 as a 2011MY car. However that timing will depend on how well the Lithium Ion batteries development progresses. A task given to Continental Automotive Systems and A123 Systems. It could very well be a 2012MY car by the time Volt's start rolling down the production line.
One thing we do know for sure if that the Volt will be riding on the next gen Delta chassis. This next gen chassis is also know as GM's "Global Compact Car Architecture." According UAW documents, GM seems set to build the Volt at their Hamtramck plant once the G-body Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS cease production.
Price wise, GM was hoping for an MSRP of around $30,000. It now seems that number may be closer to $35,000.
Photo Credit: Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Co.
Comments
thats not volt, the malibu is on life support.
The malibu needed some dental work done? or is it the automotive version of Hannibal Lecter?
Seriously, that thing is a monster!
What a sexy beast! GM, don't change a thing.
Are you guys like me? Do you wonder if Brenda Priddy is hot? She must be a car nut, so there's a bonus. I'm just sayin' is all...
where flux capcitor...
@Rock517: 96.3% no f'in way!
@Rock517:
[www.southeastautomedia.org]
I guess some things are better untold. But whatever is your drift.
@Rock517: She might not be hot, but there's a good chance she's priddy....
Is is rear engined or is the rear track six inches wider cus they like Porsche?
I hear they are putting a Honda gas generator in the back of every volt to charge the battery while you are at work....this way when everyone buys them it won't disrupt the power grid.
Jalopnik is always first in my heart.
So, does this represent the future of sleepers, cars that get far better fuel economy than you'd expect?
I'm not sure if that's proof for or against my theory that everything looks tougher with fender flares.
You know, Mr. Wert, Chris Doane has proven his mettle in reviewing road iron for Jalopnik in the past (2007 Audi A6 3.2L). With Wes Siler temporarily sidelined due to his unfortunate accident, perhaps Chris could be a fall-back reviewer during Wes' recovery and fill any gap that develops... not knockin' Wes; I'm fond of both him and Chris, but Chris strikes me as a proven adjunct reviewer with established auto journalistic 'chops'...
@Rock517, @Starlton Heston, @warpig: Guys, she occasionally comments on (and therefore reads) Jalopnik.
[clears throat, shoots Jalopnik server a dirty look]
@charles_barrett: Gay Mafia in action.
(is joke)
At this rate, it might even be in showrooms before the Camaro.
This is curiosity, not snark: why did they fit pants onto the car?
@Rock517: Brenda? She may indeed be hot, but I'm grooving on Chris Doane. Just look at those pretty eyes and pouty face. Poor guy, I'm old enough to be his father.
Forgive me Chris, I think your work (both lensing and wordsmithing) is wonderful, and I am not trying to pester or embarass you unduly.
@Mad_Science: "Gay Mafia in action..."
You bet your ass... Solidarity brothers and sisters...!
I just hope my hijinks don't cause Chris any discomfort, as I am kinda in-your-face on certain topics, 'tho I try to keep the tone light if not always PG-13...
Good thing I actually RTFA, 'cause for a moment I thought the pic was of the actual upcoming car and threw up in my mouth.
@charles_barrett: There really IS a gay mafia in Phoenix. It's actually terrifying; a mafia borne of vanity and meth.
By the way, Gizmodo has talked me into saving up the dough for a Canon Rebel XSi that I'll be taking some digital photography and photojournalism classes at the local college with. Might be a while before I throw down for it, but Brenda Pritty's number is on my list as soon as I get snug with it.
I also regret to inform you all that's not a shell. That's the Chevy Volt in its entirety. That's as close as we're gonna get.
You know why? Because Chevy's going to ride this "electric car technology we care go green" wave by leaking "NEAR PRODUCTION" models to us until 2036 when some asteroid smashes into the planet and kills us all. Isn't going to happen, folks, until/unless it becomes an extreme necessity for the survival of GM, e.i. every other car company starts offering at least 3 full-electric models.
Just sayin'.
@Eric Merrill: I don't doubt your tales of Phoenix-area mafia, as I have family there. But I also agree with your implications of drug connections. 'Tis too true for blogging...
2012 is the new 2025
I was all kinds of confused when I read this... First I thought it said "Chevy Volk," and then I saw a Malibu with dental headgear, and I whimpered a little out of confusion.
I saw a Saab in a similar getup the other day near my house wearing manufacturer plates. I keep seeing it with its borg like appendages so maybe I'll grab a pic of it the next time I see it. Maybe its a saabavolt
@charles_barrett: Oh, but I still think it's hilarious. Blog and laugh on. I had a tie mafia in high school.
@Eric Merrill: And YOU should be keeping that camera work up-to-date in hopes of becoming another one of Ms. Priddy's star spy-car reporters around the Arizona test-grounds...
Most boring... spy photo... evar!!!!!
@69 woodie..wait for it..: Yes it is a Volt. It's the "Night of the Living Dead" Special Edition they're working on.
How do they know it has the e-flex or whatever? Is it because it's riding really low from the lead-acid batteries they're using? Did it hum? Were there kids standing around it while an "acceptable-to-the-general-public" black man stands towering over them?
you can tell how great this car is gonna be by the excited look on the driver's face
I hope GM has AeroVironment design the actual Volt body. They already designed the most aerodynamic passenger car body ever... for GM, for the Impact prototype to the EV1, 18 years ago.
It makes the old Malibu look better with the front nose of the car lower than the back... Oh wait it must be braking and thats just nose dive.
I really wish I could find a picture of Joan Cusack using the water bubbler in "Sixteen Candles".
Priddy has had discussions with the forum folks at allpar.com
POLAЯ Powers
in
Voltmember!
Voltmember: [picking the skin off an old Malibu] Ooh yesh. Yesh yesh yesh yesh. This is a keeper.
POLAЯ Powers: Aaaall right... you're not going to put that Malibu skin on, are you?
Voltmember: [puts on Malibu skin]
POLAЯ Powers: You did... ok... that's just gross.
Voltmember: Yesh, rushty. Yesh thish ish good.
"It could very well be a 2012MY car by the time Volt's start rolling down the production line."
Dear LORD! I have to endure 4 YEARS! of "Breaking News: Chevy Volt will have tartan seat fabrics!"
Who-ray.
Whats with the fender flares? Looks weird.
@reefer: Dude, it's a test mule.
@Hyman Decent: So what... And thanks to warpig, I know she's not hot.
@Rock517: keen eye for cars = hot. successful entrepreneur = hot. mad skills = waaay hot.
is that thing under heavy braking or did they install all the batteries right behind the front bumper?
@skylark64: Quietest spy photo evar.
Jalopnik sleep in?
Carbon monoxide leaking?
Somebody, call Ben.
Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey!
@Unevolved...?: They were probably up all night playing GT5:P
Gotta be Gawker's awesome gerbil department messing things up live again. "Off-peak time" and "testing" seem to be completely foreign terms to them.
yeah it looks like all the sites are dead in the water about now.
Oh man, I'm gonna be so productive today.
People will wonder what happened.
@Mad_Science: Now if I could just remember what it is that I do, exactly....