Jalopnik: 2010 Chevrolet Volt

Rumor: GM To NOT Put Chevy Volt Program On Hold, Cut Engineering Staff Tomorrow

Ray Wert — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:32:17 EST

Rumors of tomorrow's "important changes" at GM have approached a fevered pace, but the latest one we've heard is coming directly from someone who's directly related to someone who could be directly affected if the rumor is true. So, it must be true, right? Anyway, we've just been told by the family of a Chevy Volt engineering team member that not only is the untouchable Volt program on hold, GM's even letting some of the engineering team, aka "the chosen people," go. Hit the jump for the full rumor. UPDATE: One PR source is telling us this morning that the Volt program is definitely not on hold and another is telling us all options are still on the table. We guess we'll find out later today. UPDATE #2: We're now being told, more vigorously this time, that there's no plan to cut the program.

"My uncle works on the Volt as an engineer. He's getting laid off Friday because apparantly the project (aka VOLT) is on hold indefinitely."

We've put in a call to GM PR to ask them about the veracity of our tipsters claim, but we've yet to receive a response. We'll let you know when we've got more to tell you — but in terms of reliability, it would mean yesterday's Reuters report claiming GM was expanding R&D spend on hybrid electrics was total baloney. I hate baloney. Even when it's fried.

Chevy Volt Engine Won't Recharge Batteries While Driving; Just A Regular Plug-In Hybrid?

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:40:00 EDT

Edmunds Inside Line is reporting the Chevy Volt apparently doesn't use the engine to recharge its batteries while driving, going against what every media outlet — CNBC, the buff books and every web site including this one — have reported as fact for the past two years. Confusion apparently stems from a press release issued when the concept version of the Chevy Volt was first revealed in 2007 indicating:

"When the battery is depleted, a 1-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish the battery."

Instead, we're now being told, via the press release from last week's production reveal:

"a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery."

So, after some portion of the initial 40 miles of all-electric driving depletes the battery, the engine will be used to "sustain charge" while powering the electric drive directly — and not to charge up the battery. Perplexed by this apparent change in course, we placed a call to Chevy spokesman Terry Rhadigan to find out more — and figure out why the Volt isn't just a regular hybrid?

According to Rhadigan,

"The reason it does that is because we want you to arrive with the batteries 'empty,' filling up on grid power costs about 1/6th of what it does with gas."

In this sustaining charge mode, the Volt never actively tries to recharge the battery. Energy from regenerative braking is dumped into the battery, but at stop lights the engine will actually power down, saving gas rather than recharging the battery as we'd always thought. We incorrectly assumed, after our conversation on the Volt using GPS to determine efficient charge capacity on the battery with "Maximum" Bob Lutz at the production Volt reveal, it would do just that.

So basically, the Volt's not a hybrid because it still only has one drivetrain, an electric one. The engine makes electricity to power the electric motor running the wheels as well as to "sustain" the batteries, but not to charge them up. It's still, we guess, an Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), as GM's always claimed.

We don't know how to feel about this news. Certainly, from an engineering perspective and total cost of operation, it does make sense. That 1.4-liter four-banger doesn't have the power to both motivate the quite-beefy Volt and recharge the battery pack, and it probably allows the on-board generator to take advantage of constant RPM efficiency tricks. But, it again tells us we must keep our guard up on the marketing spin here. There's no doubt the Volt has changed the way hybrids are developed already, but it may also change the ways they're sold to the public. [Edmunds Inside Line]

The Top Ten Design Elements Of The Chevy Volt

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Yesterday's reveal of the production Chevy Volt got us thinking we should take a closer look at the design features, both inside and out, that make GM's plug-in hybrid unique. We've picked out five exterior and an equal number of interior design elements we feel are most important, and taken a little deeper look at each. Without further ado, hit the jump for our top ten key design elements that make the Volt so...eclectically electric.

GM's Lutz: Chevy Volt Will Use GPS To Determine Distance From Home, Adjust Engine Accordingly

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT

At GM's "blogger town hall" at the end of yesterday's Chevy Volt unveil, the General's Vice Chairman and product czar, "Maximum" Bob Lutz, made mention to a Volt feature we hadn't yet heard about, and is even more techie-cool than the iPod-like interface on the center stack. Apparently, the Volt will "know how far you are from home" using what we're assuming is an on-board GPS system. The plug-in electric extended range hybrid's computer will then use that distance, along with route information, to determine how long the car needs to run the gas engine to charge the on-board battery pack, allowing the vehicle to truly maximize fuel economy. Even if you're not drinking the GM Kool-Aid, you've got to be wow'ed by a system like that — as long as it actually works. Read the full quote from "The" Bob after the galleries and the jump below.

"with the Volt, you never have to worry you use the full 40 (mile range), the worst thing that happens is the gasoline engine comes on, and the car will know how far you are from home, and it will only run the gas engine long enough to give you enough charge to get you home where you can actually plug it into the wall outlet. So the car will be smart enough to know where its home base is."

We love this man. How cool is this as a feature if it works?

Chevy Volt, Live And Unplugged!

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:01:00 EDT

The finale of GM's centennial celebration today was the official reveal of the production 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the first official plug-in hybrid production vehicle from a major auto manufacturer. Details are slim, but what we know is this — GM calls it an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), it has a top speed of 100 mph and 40 miles on all-electric based on the EPA city cycle. The rest of what we know, plus the official press release, are below the jump.

More on the Chevy Volt:

UPDATE: Images are back, yay!

Vehicle Type: 5-door, front-wheel-drive sedan
Category: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)
E-REV competitors: none
Chassis: Independent McPherson struts front, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering
seating Capacity: Four
Manufacturing location: Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly (subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives)
Top speed (mph): 100
EV range, city (miles): 40 (based on EPA city cycle)

Chevrolet Volt Leads General Motors Into Its Second Century

DETROIT - General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.

"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."

Form follows function
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.

Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.

Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.

Some of Volt's interior technological features include:

* Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display
* Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display
* Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls
* Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage
* Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming

New era in automotive transportation
The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.

The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.

Charge out of driving
The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.

The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced. Visit media.gm.com/volt for more information.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

GM's 100th birthday celebration kicks off in a few short hours featuring their revival of the semi-electric car in just a few hours with the official unveil of the Chevy Volt on a very MTV Unplugged-like stage. Click here to get electric with us tomorrow at 8:30 AM EST as we watch Chevy's exercise in generating buzz both under the hood and with the worldwide apparatus collectively known as the "media." For the moment, hit the jump to see our past coverage of the excitement — but whatever you do, wake up early tomorrow here at our Chevy Volt Live-Blog!
(9:30 AM EST) UPDATE: Dear god, one hundred media people stuck in the Wintergardgen watching GM give themselves a big hand for an hour. We're really hoping the Volt comes out sooner rather than later as we're getting pretty bored.
(5:50 AM EST) UPDATE: Wert, FTW! First media person in the "media work room" here at the Ren Cen in downtown Detroit. Yes, I have no life. But fear not — I won't be the only one. Ben and Mark are both on their way as well.
(12:10 AM EST) UPDATE: We've got shots of the Renaissance Center Wintergarden stage taken this evening in the gallery below.

The Chevy Volt, A Jalopnik History

Production Chevy Volt Press Photos Revealed, Now Without Engineers!

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:40:00 EDT

You saw the live shots of the Chevy Volt already, but now here it is, folks: the long-awaited Chevy Volt press photos — without engineers covering up all the important bits of the car. As we've already said, the plug-in hybrid should achieve a 40-mile all-electric range, after which point a 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder will be doing the electricity-generating duties. Just don't call the gasoline mill an engine: In Volt parlance it's a "range extender." More importantly, a full charge on the batteries will take just three hours from a 240-volt socket — eight on a standard 120-volt outlet. But our favorite number has to be the 273 ft-lb of torque from zero RPM. If everything (and by everything, we mean the batteries) comes together, expect the Volt to start rolling out of GM's Hamtramck assembly plant toward the end of 2010. Full press release and details are below the jump.

Chevrolet Volt Leads General Motors Into Its Second Century

DETROIT - General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.

"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."

Form follows function
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.

Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.

Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.

Some of Volt's interior technological features include:

* Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display
* Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display
* Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls
* Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage
* Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming

New era in automotive transportation
The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.

The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.

Charge out of driving
The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.

The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced. Visit media.gm.com/volt for more information.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS: 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT

General

Vehicle type:
5-door, front-wheel-drive sedan

Category:
Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)

E-REV competitors:
none

Chassis:
independent McPherson struts front, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering

Seating capacity:
four

Manufacturing location:
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly (subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives)

Performance
Top speed (mph): 100

EV range, city (miles):
40 (based on EPA city cycle)

Dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm):
105.7 / 2685

Length (in / mm):
177 / 4404

Width (in / mm):
70.8 / 1798

Height (in / mm):
56.3 / 1430

Cargo volume (cu ft / L):
10.6 / 301

Battery system

Type:
lithium-ion

Energy (kWh)
16

Electric drive unit

Power (kW / hp):
111 / 150

Torque (lb-ft / Nm):
273 / 370

Exterior

Tire and wheel size:
specially developed low rolling-resistance tires on 17-inch forged aluminum wheels

First Full Picture Of Chevy Volt?

Wes Siler — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Remember when the first shots of the Chevy Volt dropped yesterday? It was like a pinup calendar of hunky GM engineers; you could barely see the car itself for their chiseled features and toothy grins. Well here’s the Volt de-hunkified, courtesy of Edmunds Inside Line. We’re still waiting for Edmunds to call us back, so we don’t know if GM slid them this shot under the table or if they spent hours photoshopping all the man-on-Volt action out. Either way, this is the Volt as it will be when it’s officially unveiled later this week.

[via Edmunds]

New Transformers 2 Video Captures Chevy Volt, Corvette Centennial Concept, Fanboy Commentary

Mark Arnold — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:40:00 EDT

This new video may not be the clearest shot we've seen of the 2010 Chevy Volt, Corvette Centennial Concept, or any of the other GM product-placement-bots on the set of Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, but what it does bring to the table is behind-the-scenes commentary from real fanboys. The Transformers geeks inform us that Bumblebee, also known as "that muthafuka riiight there," is "the shiiit." You just can't get this kind of insight anywhere else. [via Transformers.MovieChronicles]

2010 Chevy Volt: Concept Versus Reality

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EDT

The 2010 Chevy Volt has been a landmark project not only for its daring powertrain and breakneck development cycle, but also for GMs general openness with the media during the process. Along the way we've been invited in to see the development first hand, even spending a whole day with the Chevy Volt. But despite the buddy-buddy, easy-publicity PR maneuvering, up until the wee hours of this morning, we still didn't know what it looked like. Now that we've seen it in all but minute detail, it's time to compare the concept against the reality.

Front End

Given that the original concept body had terrible aerodynamics, a radical change to the front end was not unexpected. In truth, the front corner of the Volt has been getting the Lutz-style sneak preview for months now; so too the smooth, swept-back corners and flush-mounted headlights. It appears the intake detail at the base of the windshield is retained and the lower grille grows to the main intake, with the side intakes flanking.

Rear View

It's hard to tell from the grainy video footage, but it appears the tail end of the Volt gets a lot of the same look as the original. The thin, horizontal tail lights remain, and the glass may remain or it might be a black insert, but the rear styling elements of the concept are retained. The gray plastic lower bumper seems to have been removed (darn) in favor of body-colored style, and more than likely the exhaust tips are more traditional that the big center exit on the concept.

Three Quarter High View

The dominating, all-glass roof of the concept is carried over ~~but we cannot yet speak to function~~ as seen in the side view images (Pointed out by the keen eye of majred) and given a coat of dark tint. We can also see that the roof goes all black, abandoning the body color stripe running from the C-pillar up the roof line and across the windshield. Also apparent is that they've maintained the strong character lines at the base of the rear which joins the C-pillar, fender, and rear deck planes.

Front Three Quarter View

This might be the view with the most significant changes. Gone are the dramatic fender flares and almost inconceivable side glass, replaced with far more tasteful and production-friendly shapes. Despite the changes there, the car maintains what we assume to be a plug-in port just ahead of the base of the A-pillar (on the drivers side — we're betting there's a "Volt" logo on the passenger side). This view also more effectively illustrates the removal of the wraparound band of color we talked about earlier.

Side View

To be perfectly honest here, we can only talk about half of the side view since the angle on the video helps us zero. As we mentioned in the earlier post from the first leaked images, the side glass gets a fairly nice, if not conservative, treatment, abandoning the ridiculous, un-roll-downable side glass. The plug-in port and rear view mirror are visually joined and will probably act as a signature design element, pointing out the car's plug-in-ability.

Center Stack

Well, so far the interior looks nothing like the concept version, and we're not sure how we feel about that. Though a larger percentage of Jalops worship at the altar of Mac, I'm torn over this obviously Apple-inspired center stack. If it's got haptic feedback hiding beneath those touch sensitive buttons, we'll herald it as the greatest ergonomic design in decades, if not, we expect it to be slick, but ultimately confusing on a daily use level.

Chevy Volt Fully Revealed With Corvette Centennial Concept In Transformers 2 Set Video

Mark Arnold — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:35:00 EDT

UPDATE #2: Check out our shots of the new Chevy Volt from the live reveal today in Detroit!
UPDATE: The Chevy Volt's been revealed — a little bit early — in living color and not just merely in the grainy cellphone camera video we've got in this post! Here it is kids: our first look at a 2010 Chevy Volt, complete and in-motion on the set of the still-in-production Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. We got a glimpse at the upper half of the Chevy Volt earlier this evening, but this is the whole enchilada: tail end, blacked-out roof, front end, and even the final Volt badge on the back. There happen to be other cars doing their thing, like the Corvette Centennial Design Concept, and of course the Chevy Camaro and Optimus Prime, but who cares? We finally get to see the skin of revolutionary car we can't get for at least another year and a half for an indeterminate price! Yay! Oh, wait...

[Transformers Live]

Top Half Of Chevy Volt Revealed On Transformers 2 Set

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:07:00 EDT

It appears the top half of the 2010 Chevy Volt has been photographed on-set at the filming of the new Transformers 2 movie, and it gives away a lot of the styling cues which have been hidden from view up until now. The front of the greenhouse on the production Chevy Volt bears little resemblance to the concept, with smooth A-pillars, and a sweeping roof line. The side glass gets a more traditional, and actually quite appealing, shape. The tail definitely takes inspiration from the original, though.

The back end does remind us of the concept a lot, with a short rear deck, C-pillar and tail lights forming a small spoiler, and we can just make out the crisp, aerodynamically-inspired line running up the trailing edge of the rear fender. The side mirrors and plug-in port have obviously been made to stand out with a distinct, contrasting silver coat of paint pointing the way to the tech lying beneath. All this leads us to two conclusions; One. that all that Transformers love is finally paying off, and two, the Chevy Volt is probably playing Al-Gore-Bot in the movie. [TransformersLive via Autoblog]

Chevy Volt To Get Occasional Power From Cruze's 1.4-Liter Inline Four-Cylinder

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

We all know the story on the 2011 Chevy Volt by now — inline hybrid, electric motors, giant T-shaped lithium ion battery, 40 mile all-EV range, late 2010 debut date and "on-board range extender." Well, we didn't know so much about that last one until now. GM is confirming the same 1.4-liter in-line four-cylinder set for duty in the Chevy Cruze will be doing the electricity-generating duties for the Volt.

Combined with the planned GM 100th anniversary production skin reveal coming up ahead of the 2008 Woodward Dream Cruise, we're just about to the point of knowing all there is to know about the Volt.

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: This is the right way for GM to go with this program. The original Volt concept had a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder — little more than a snowmobile mill. The 1.4-liter will offer the reliability of a regular production engine but just as importantly, reduce the number of engine lines GM has to run. In fact, thanks to the news from those leaked UAW documents that the Volt would be built in GM's Hamtramck plant and the Cruze will be built in the Lordstown, OH plant — they'll only need one engine build location near the two — like the expected Flint engine plant.

With your average engine costing about a billion bucks to develop and put to production, and the weight and packaging between the two engines being about the same, this one is practically a no-brainer. Now, if only they'd turbocharge it for a Volt SS! Yeah, 'cause that'd be cool. Actually, no it wouldn't be.

[via Automobile Mag]

GM, Nerds Working To Finalize Chevy Volt/Power Grid Interface

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:20:00 EDT

At this week's Plug-In 2008 convention (now that sounds hard-core) GM is working with 30 utility companies and consumer groups to develop a strategy for how the Chevy Volt will work in the real world. Among the high points are what kind of tax incentives early adopters will get, and how exactly plugging the cars in at night will work. With GM diligently working on the engineering details, efforts are now turning to the workings of the world into which they will birth their automotive messiah.

Volt is a plug-in hybrid, so you just plug it in, right? Well, not really. Volt will be able to recharge on plug power, but that'll take a lot longer than it would at a charging station. A charging station has to be designed and standardized across all power providers, and it will also be designed to take advantage of cheaper off-peak power. What about apartment dwellers? How do they charge their cars? So many little things to work out and so little time. Guess that's why GM went and signed up with that fancy convention. [Detroit Free Press]

Chevy Volt To Become Transformer

Travis Hudson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Following word this morning the production version of the Chevy Volt will be shown in September, we hear the rocking-down-electric-avenue Lutz-mobile will also be featured in Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen.

Although there's no official word if the Volt will actually be a Transformer, but given its guts and looks, it's just begging to become some kind of electric-themed Autobot. The Volt would join the Trax and the Beat as not-yet-available Chevy vehicles featured in the movie.

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: This may be the reason why they're hurrying up the production look of the car. They've got to beat set filming times, right? [Reuters via TFW2005]

GM To Employ Duct Tape, Rush Production Volt To Stage By September

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EDT

GM is accelerating development of the 2010 Chevy Volt in an attempt to ready the production version for a reveal as the company celebrates its 100th anniversary in September. Although we know GM desperately needs a cutting-edge Prius-killing success to stem the sales slide, given past RenCen rush jobs, we're not sure that setting a time deadline instead of a performance benchmark is the best way to move forward. A look at potential pitfalls after the jump.

Exploding batteries: Remember the flaming plug-in Prius from a few weeks ago? No, that wasn't a manufacturer-sanctioned ride, but it still plainly shows the dangers inherent in releasing unproven technology. The fact that GM has yet to name a supplier for Volt's lithium-ion battery pack (though we hear it'll be either Continental or CPI) is another red flag for the power source.

Embarrassing show mishaps: GM needs a win...and they need it to be a clean win, both on the stage and showroom floor. No panels falling off, stalls, massive oil leaks, fires, or collapsing spokes-robots on stage. Asking engineers to work 18-hour days in an effort to ready bleeding-edge technology for debut at a huge, public event, all while holding their jobs over their heads, is a recipe for disaster.

Gas price crashes: Let's not forget November is rapidly creeping up on us. This is an election year. Don't be terribly surprised if gas prices suddenly fall to earth in a magical, ballot-influencing Bullworth-like fashion in September. The result would be GM touting Volt's amazing fuel economy at the same time Tahoes again start flying off dealer lots.

Are any of these outcomes probable? No. Possible? Yes. [Automotive News (Sub. Req.)]

Rick Wagoner Announces We May See Chevy Volt Sheetmetal Soon, Eventually

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:40:00 EDT

We were beginning to think GM had developed a masterpiece of long-range marketing with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt program. Let reporters in every once in a while, strategically leak images while actually showing nothing, all the while keeping a late-2010 entry on the lips of every eco-dork in the motoring press. Let them build the buzz for you! Genius. However, with Slick Rick's statement that we'll be getting a look at the production sheetmetal for the Volt, we wonder if they've made a strategic error. What it looks like is practically the only thing we don't know about the car.

Showing it off now is going to be like pulling a Camaro on us: By the time it hits the show floor, we'll be tired of the look. They'll be wasting acres of print space now, rather than revealing it with a flourish and sending it to dealers right away, Apple style. Whatever. We're not paid to come up with strategery, but making fun of it we can do all day. [TopSpeed]

2011 Chevy Volt To Be Priced Under $30,000?

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:20:00 EDT

While the 2011 Chevy Volt is proceeding down the path from vaporware to successful range testing to production ready, its price seems to remain stubbornly in the land of the lost. The original goal was to have it on the road for around $30,000, in April, Maximum Bob dropped the bomb saying the price may come in at $48k. Well, Minimum Rick seems to be following his "Wait a month and clean up after Bob" modus operandi yet again. Wagoner, who definitely gives a shit about global warming, is now saying the Volt may actually come in below the original target.

How much lower? That's a silly question to ask considering how GM seems to keep mixing the messages themselves. An $18,000 price point difference makes for a mighty different business case though, especially considering gas will only be available with live organ exchange by 2010. [Translated from German: FAZ.net]

Spending The Day With The Chevy Volt

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EDT

UPDATE: Thanks to intrepid commenter stopcrazypp, we just broke the first video of the 2010 Chevy Volt, go check it out. Yesterday we took a trip out the sprawling campus of the GM Tech Center in Warren Michigan. The enormous Eero Saarinen designed complex has been recently upgraded with the Vehicle Tech Center, where we would be rubbing elbows with about eighty of the industries finest hacks and flacks for the day. The motor press had all descended on the complex for a rare glimpse inside the world of GM development, and not for just any car, but for the incredibly important and high profile Chevy Volt.

The day would consist of four parts, all designed to prove the Volt wasn't just vaporware, but indeed reaching some level of technical completeness. First we would be paying a visit the all important battery lab, then the digital visualization center, a brief lunch — GM loves their potato salad by the way — and then a trip to the styling studio and finally the wind tunnel. After a brief intro to the world of the Chevy Volt and a lot of cheerleading about how fantastically unique the program is, things got down to business. We were split into groups and hit the buses — probably to confuse and disorient us — and we went over to the battery lab. There we saw the batteries undergoing accelerated testing in a nice hot lab. The idea is to stress the competing battery designs to ensure they would still deliver the promised 40 miles in full EV mode at the end of 10 years and 150,000 miles. It was interesting to see a real GM EV1 and it's "T" shaped battery pack still in the lab, next to which the new T-pack was sitting. The new one is a lot smaller and lighter, featuring lithium-ion batteries instead of lead acid like the EV1 was equipped with. The system is designed to just slide right up into a faux drive shaft tunnel and bolt into place as a stressed member. Pretty slick. Next we headed over to the 3D visualization studio. The theater is designed to work with active polarized goggles which allow a greater 3D effect and limits the negative effect of an obtuse viewing angle. There we watched as the operator virtually built the chassis and drivetrain of the Volt, which is based on the next generation small car platform. They added the all-important battery first as this is being marketed as an "Extended range EV" more than a hybrid, so they continually reinforced the point throughout the day. Then came the suspension, which was a pretty standard trailing arm setup in the back and a McPherson up front (really long funny anti-roll bar links though). Next came the "power pack" — a conglomeration of engine, generator, and electric motor. Apparently they haven't finalized which engine to run in the car yet, because the durability and performance characteristics are so different than a conventional car. If you think about it, they'll want something that is better driving a generator, and yet, only operates about 10-20% of the time during normal driving since it's a plug in car as well. After lunch and commentary we took the bus out to the design studio, which is dedicated to the Volt for this program. There we got a peek at the nose and tail of the Volt. Bob Boniface, designer director, told us they had joked the original would have been more aerodynamic if they had turned it around backwards. With the production design, that's basically what they're doing. The smooth shapes at the rear of the concept have replaced the squared and geometric shapes of the front for production. The rear has taken inspiration from the concept, but has been adapted with Kamm-back like shapes to cheat the air for less drag. The interior is pretty slick looking in that jetsons-meets-quirky-Italian-coachbuilder kind of way. While what we saw of the interior was still in clay and rapid prototyping pieces, the overall effect was slick and futuristic, and not at all unfamiliar. We got the impression the General is going to have a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to the driver experience here. Finally we visited the largest wind tunnel in the automotive industry. The biggest wind tunnel we've ever worked with is probably only 15 feet long and that was for fluid dynamics way back in college. This baby was positively HUGE It was the whole building in fact. A 1/3 sized Volt was on the test deck (and completely covered in camo tape for our not viewing pleasure) but you could fit a school bus in there. The folks running the place gave us the rundown on what they do, how they do it, and even some of the really clever tricks built into the tunnel (like a very cool vacuum lip in front of the test area to 'slice-off' the troublesome boundary layer when simulating road conditions). While walking through the re-direction vanes in the corners of the rectangular shaped building, we emerged staring face to face with every art deco steampunk nerds wet dream. A looming zeppelin shape towered above us in a rounded duct over 50 feet across. Six enormous hand-formed wooden blades attached to a concealed 4300 horsepower GE electric motor. This is what shock and awe looks like. This beast of a fan is capable of driving wind speeds in the tunnel up to around 120 MPH and here we were standing under it — cool. After seeing that, we walked back around to the test platform and they fired the system up — with us in it. While they only turned it up to about 30 MPH, it was plenty fast enough for us to watch a smoke wand demonstration of the aerodynamics on the Volt. However, after seeing that fan it was a little hard to get excited about the Volt again.

So there you have it, yes the Chevy Volt is real, saw it with our own two eyes, and there are a lot of excited people working on it as we speak. Lutz called for this concept and wanted this program to be more than just a car, he wanted it to reestablish GM as a technical leader. If they can pull of the timing, they're talking about a start of production in November of 2010 — an aggressive target when wading back into the waters of mass produced electric vehicles, even more aggressive when throwing an onboard generator into the mix. Based on what we saw, we're pretty excited to see this come to fruition, and based on our experience on that side of the fence, they've even got a shot at doing it on time. As we toured the place and saw the progress and concepts, on thing kept rolling around in our heads - why didn't someone try this before?

Chrysler's Press Claims Japan Paid 100% Of Toyota Prius Hybrid, Battery Development; Lutz Says Volt Could Cost $48,000

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT

BusinessWeek's David Kiley had a fun idea to spend some time talking with some industry heavy-hitters about CAFE and fuel economy. He spent a few minutes talking to both former Toyota USA President and current #2 at Chrysler, Jim Press, as well as GM Vice-Chairman "Maximum" Bob Lutz. The topic was the fuel efficient topic of choice among greenies, hybrids. In the article, Lutz claimed the upcoming Chevy ~~Vaporware~~ Volt might end up with a sticker price at around $48K. Normally that would make a pretty spectacular lead for us, especially given it's a price tag that's betwen 33% and 60% higher than originally stated by the brand all about the 'merican revolution and the GM exec born from jets. Fortunately for him, his comments were eclipsed by Press on the Prius.

And why not, as Press noted the inherent unfairness of competition from Toyota in the hybrid game, saying

"...the Japanese government paid for 100% of the development of the battery and hybrid system that went into the Toyota Prius."

Phew, that's nice work by an automaker if you can get it. Here in the US, we're lucky if we can get a bailout for our automakers if they're about to go bankrupt. Oh wait, sorry Jim, Chrysler already used up that chit. But, we know how keen US politicians seem to be on helping out an industry which employs millions of people and effects almost every American's daily life, we're assuming similar plans are in the works. Yeah, right. [MSNBC]

Chevy Volt To Be Produced At GM Detroit Hamtramck Assembly

Ray Wert — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:39:16 EDT

We may have gotten the scoop on the old, dead Malibus GM will use to test the Chevrolet Volt, but the ~~New York Times~~ Detroit Free Press gets the scoop on where the Chevy Volt will end up being built:

"Among G.M.'s commitments to the union was a promise to build the Chevrolet Volt, a hybrid-electric car, in its Hamtramck, Mich., plant, beginning in 2010. G.M. has said production of the car could start a year later, however. The Volt is a pet project of G.M.'s vice chairman, Robert A. Lutz, who said today that G.M. was pleased with the contract."

That's right folks — now Hamtramck will be known for both Paczkis and the Chevy Volt. How electric! [Freep via New York Times]