• over the back fence

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

    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. More »

    9:32 PM on Thu Nov 6 2008
    By Ray Wert
    8,090 views, 90 comments

    Most discussed Parkington: Lol. Who killed the electric car again? $$$ My friend was joking about it. This is what he said. Maybe Volt more »

  • paris auto show

    First Live Shots Of The Chevy Volt Plugged In

    Ever wonder what the plug-in unit for the Chevy Volt looks like? Well now you know. Here at the Paris Motor Show the display car is tethered to the very slanted display stand by way of extension cord and locking plug-in mechanism. The power port is, as expected, hidden behind the "Volt" name plate ahead of the mirrors, though we expected it would flip up, apparently the plate slides forward. Pretty trick-looking if you ask us.

    9:20 AM on Fri Oct 3 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    1,756 views, 39 comments

    Most discussed nollid51: Who knew we could get so excited over an extension cord. more »

  • 2011 chevrolet volt

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

    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."
    More »
    Feature

    10:40 AM on Thu Sep 25 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    9,258 views, 158 comments

    Most discussed beercheck: @Fourstring85: Well, the most cost effective would be no ICE on-board at all. But then, when your grid-supplied juice runs more »

  • chevy volt

    Chevy Volt On Video, With Annoying Alt-Pop Soundtrack

    Thanks to the folks at GM-Volt.com, you can now not only see the Chevy Volt slowly moving on a GM road course, you can see it with a soundtrack! Yes friends, a spaceship-like sedan apparently deserves Coldplay, as its spacey sprocket of an unofficial musical accompaniment. Check it out below the jump and tell us in the comments how long you were able to watch before the music became too annoying to bear any longer. We made it nine seconds. More »

    8:30 AM on Mon Sep 22 2008
    By Ray Wert
    1,153 views, 32 comments

    Most discussed bradyb: Trash the Coldplay and replace with that sweet jive that they play in the Cadillac commercials. You know, the commercials more »

  • chevy volt

    The Top Ten Design Elements Of The Chevy Volt

    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. More »
    Feature

    12:30 PM on Wed Sep 17 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    19,665 views, 82 comments

    Most discussed Ben Wojdyla: "Oh no, don't tell us the details of the biggest product story in the auto world right now, for the more »

  • 2011 chevrolet volt

    Chevy Volt: Five Key Interior Features

    Oh sure, the exterior's hot for a plug-in appliance, but the interior's just as slick. In fact, it's on the inside of the Volt where some of the biggest differences from concept to production were made. We sat down with Volt styling guru Bob Boniface, and let him give us the scoop on all that is interesting on the inside of the car. Here's the top five. More »

    By Ben Wojdyla
    10,193 views, 31 comments

    Most discussed bmoredlj: I think the fact that the center buttons aren't physical is just one in a litany of proof of over-arching more »

  • 2011 chevrolet volt

    Chevy Volt: Five Key Exterior Features

    It's been four years since the world's largest automaker (arguably) began work on reviving the electric car and almost two years after the concept was first revealed on the stage of the Detroit Auto Show, and seeing the Volt's shiny exterior up close we can say, yes, it's nothing like the look of the sleek, low-to-the-ground concept with vented windows we've seen toted out for every show over the past two years. But, that's not to say it's bad. In fact, it's quite a sharp looking extended-range electric vehicle. We sat down with a ruler and compass and here's the five features we want to make sure you take note of. More »

    By Ben Wojdyla
    10,392 views, 21 comments

    Most discussed Oo.et.oO: WTF? you call yourselves car guys? how did the insight "[blaze the trail]" of the lower glass in the hatch? the more »

  • 2011 chevrolet volt

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

    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.

    More »

    8:00 AM on Wed Sep 17 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    5,226 views, 69 comments

    Most discussed Deartháir: Here's hoping the GPS is a little more accurate than my TomTom is. Here's where I was trying to go. more »

  • 2011 chevrolet volt

    Chevy Volt, Live And Unplugged!

    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: More »
    Feature

    12:01 AM on Wed Sep 17 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    31,130 views, 216 comments

    Most discussed cgarison: 40 Minutes past the "debut" and no pictures. more »

  • chevy volt

    Chevy Volt: Taste The Rainbow

    An aspiring designer at GMInsideNews has taken it upon himself to restyle the Chevy Volt, responding to criticism that the plug-in corporate savior is a bit on the bland side. Aside from applying a selection of questionable hues to the Volt, he sketched in "lightning bolt zigzag style headlights" in an effort to give the design some teeth. The beltline has also been jacked into a pseudo-G6 high-rise tribute, resulting in an effort that's arguably more derivative than the prevealed Volt we've already seen. What do you think? Full renderings in technicolor goodness after the jump. More »

    12:20 PM on Mon Sep 15 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    4,761 views, 45 comments

    Most discussed Dr.Danger, I run the Death Star: El Ectricamino more »