The Volt project's often dismissed as a marketing stunt, a gimmick, too expensive for the segment, or a toy for wealthy eco-nuts. We withheld our judgment until we had the chance to do a test drive. Now, after driving a Volt-in-a-Chevy-Cruze-shell powertrain mule, we're prepared to declare it — much to the delight of the Volt's PR team, engineering crew and Bob Lutz — utterly unremarkable.

The Volt's unremarkable because it's exactly like driving any other appliance car on the road today, and that's the point. GM is trying very hard to make the Voltec system driving experience as familiar as anything before it and even at this early prototype mule level they've succeeded quite nicely. The Voltec system consists of a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine driving a generator, an electric motor driving the wheels and a lithium ion battery pack in between the two to hold plug-in and regenerated power. This doesn't work like a Prius or an Insight, there's no transmission, the engine doesn't power the wheels; it's an EV that goes 40 miles and then it runs off the generator, and it works.

Our ride in the Volt was up to about 55 MPH on the grounds of GM's Warren Tech Center and the cars are, dare we say it, peppy. There are no whirs or whines or whistles like in a traditional EV, just silence, like the motor has stalled out and you're coasting along on momentum. There's no shifting going on as there are no gears to shift, just direct power, and unless you're paying attention you don't even notice. Stab the go-pedal and it responds happily, it's even got a little get-up and go. According to Lutz the current prototype accelerates from 0-to-60 MPH in around 8 seconds — that's about 2.0 seconds faster than a 2009 Toyota Prius and about 3.5 seconds faster than a Chevy Aveo. Not too shabby for an appliance if you ask us.

There are two drive modes, a normal highway type where you accelerate and coast normally, and a second drive mode which maximizes regenerative braking in city traffic. It feels like you're hitting the brakes but you aren't hitting the brakes. We had hoped the Volt would give us a back-rub and deliver a milkshake, but it's just a car, even bridging on the pedestrian, the bland, the appliance. But this is again, the point, to make this huge paradigm shift and make it seem easy.

The Volt is coming, and from a powertrain perspective, it's pretty darn good. Lutz was adamant on that point saying "Volt is currently on time and we fully believe it will hit the market as expected." The Chief Engineer, Frank Weber, a rather intense German who has been extraordinarily cautious in the past about the program's hurdles, seems to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday he remarked "There are no more large elephants in the room, only hundreds of small ones."

In June, GM will be completing the first full prototype vehicles, nearly 80 in total, which will look and feel and operate like real Volts. They'll have all the correct body panels, interior bits, and system calibrations and we'll be driving those eventually. At that point we'll be much more able to judge the complete vehicle. Until then, we're kind of hopeful the Volt might actually be fun to drive, along with being frugal at the pump.

Click HERE to see the exclusive video from WXYZ's coverage of the event.

Not only did Obama's auto task force visit GM, but they also traveled down the street to Chrysler's Warren manufacturing plant. Both GM and Chrysler are begging asking for an additional $17.4 Billion in government loans, needing this money to survive throughout the coming months.

We're happy the Arizona Senator and Presidential hopeful, John McCain, isn't in charge based on his quote on CNBC today:

"I think the best thing that could probably happen to General Motors, in my view, is they go into Chapter 11. They reorganize, they renegotiate ... the union-management contracts and come out of it a stronger, better, leaner more competitive automotive industry."

Thanks, Senator McCain, for staying positive.

Both GM and Chrysler released statements regarding President Obama's auto task force visit which you can read below:

GM Statement:

"We were pleased to host the Task Force so they could experience firsthand the new products and technologies that are an integral part of GM's near- and long-term competitiveness. We look forward to continuing to support the efforts of the Task Force as they move quickly to address their critical tasks. We believe today's visit provided a constructive glimpse of GM people, their passion for their work, and the technology solutions that are behind the pages of our viability plan."

Chrysler Statement:

Chrysler was pleased to meet today with the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry here at our manufacturing plant in Warren, Michigan. Warren Truck Assembly Plant is home to 2,600 Chrysler employees and produces Dodge pickup trucks, including one of the company's best known products, the
Dodge Ram, winner of Car and Drivers' 2009 truck comparison.

We can confirm that on behalf of Chrysler LLC, the meeting was attended by Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli, Vice Chairman and President Tom LaSorda, Vice Chairman and President Jim Press, and Chief Financial Officer Ron Kolka. In addition to meeting, the group toured the assembly plant and reviewed Chrysler current and future products, including electric and hybrid vehicles.

Beyond this, we are not commenting on the details of our meetings with the Presidential Task Force.

We're fully engaged with the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, the U.S. Treasury and the White House during this process of ensuring the industry's viability going forward. We look forward to continuing our dialogue.

We'll see in the coming weeks how this visit helps our struggling U.S. automakers. Cross your fingers.

[via WXYZ]

According to Michalek, at the Volt's expected $35-40k price point, "You're doing it at a cost that will never be repaid in fuel savings." We're not going to disagree with the good Prof's assertion, but let's say we view the findings skeptically. Pay-down on the price differential with hybrids and EREV vehicles is something incredibly shaky to calculate, it requires projecting the variability on individual driving habits, daily and yearly mileage driven, price of fuel, price of electricity, factoring unforeseen tax, parking, and HOV benefits among many others. Then there's also that unquantifiable factor early adopters and environmentalists are motivated by.

Is the Volt going to cost more than previous cars with similar chassis attributes? Certainly, but it's also not like other cars on the road. Comparing a Volt to the Prius is like comparing a scramjet to a Cessna. Is the scramjet far more expensive than a prop-driven Cessna? Definitely, but the scramjet pushes technology forward, and is changing the thinking and the paradigms in its industry, and the same can be said of the Volt.

Will the Volt succeed? We don't know, we don't even know if GM will survive long enough to deliver the car to dealers, but we can say its existence has helped push the industry in a new direction, and that's not something you can put into a pay-back model. [Bloomberg]

We managed to get you some revealing European patent filing images earlier this week, but the always sly guys at World Car Fans did one better and got images of the actual Opel Ampera out in the open during a photo shoot for its European reveal next month. Follow the link below to see the images of the European Chevy Volt.

[via world car fans]

GM had hoped to keep the little plug-in electric under wraps until its official debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show, but thanks to these European patent images we can show you that the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a rebadged Chevy Volt. The Ampera does receive new front and rear fascias and a new set of alloys all inspired by the 2007 Opel Flextreme Concept, but that's about it as far as differentiation.

The Opel Ampera is on track to launch in Europe roughly one year after the Volt goes on sale in the U.S. in late 2010. There will likely be a Vauxhall variant as well, but changes for that model will only include a badge swap and nothing more. The European Opel Ampera will carry the same Voltec Electric Propulsion System as the Chevy Volt and will provide 40 miles of driving when powered by its 230v charged lithium-ion batteries or, for longer drives, it will continue use juice generated by the small internal combustion engine.

[via carscoop]

The GM "Plug-In-Ready" program is a plan to get the biggest target buying markets for the 2011 Volt ready to accept the car and maximize it's effectiveness as a plug-in. It's also part of the ongoing effort to work out how electricity providers commercialize the infrastructure needed to support plug-in hybrids and manage billing rates to the consumer.

The first efforts of the program are centered on the metropolitan areas of San Francisco and Washington D.C. as well as areas identified as lousy with early adopters. This news comes on the heels of announcements last fall from cities and municipalities planning partnerships with Better Place, a plug in power post company.

This kind of background information serves as a reminder this Volt thing is more than a project about just the car. GM has taken a big bite here and is chewing it's way through an awful lot of problems. Hopefully they don't choke on it.

General Motors Outlines Roadmap for Cities to Plug Into the Chevrolet Volt Electric Vehicle

* Plug-in-ready communities key to commercializing electric vehicles
* Next phase of getting the Volt ready for market will include communities such as Washington, D.C., San Francisco and other early-adopter markets
* GM and a broad group of utilities working together to establish infrastructure and accelerate the commercialization of plug-in electric vehicles

WASHINGTON - General Motors today outlined a comprehensive plan of action to help communities get ready for plug-in electric vehicles such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. GM announced details of the plan at the Washington Auto Show.

"Collaborating with communities such as San Francisco and metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C. - where there's already an interest in plug-in vehicles - is another important step toward raising customer awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of vehicles such as the Volt," said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

General Motors is working with key stakeholders in cities such as San Francisco to develop policies and enablers to accelerate the transition to plug-in electric vehicles. GM will undertake similar efforts around the country in communities such as Washington, D.C. These actions will help ensure the early success of the Chevrolet Volt - which hits the market next year - and other plug-in vehicles. Stakeholders that are key to establishing plug-in-ready metropolitan areas and regions include:

* State, city and county governments
* Electric utilities
* Regulators/public utility commissions
* Permitting and code officials
* Clean Cities coalitions
* Local employers
* Universities
* Early electric vehicle adopters

"Cities have an indispensable role in making plug-in vehicles successful," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Here in San Francisco, we are acting now to make sure the charging infrastructure will be available to support these vehicles as soon as they are ready for sale, and we are working with other cities in the region to make the Bay Area a thriving market for electric transportation."

Challenges that need to be addressed include consumer incentives to make this early technology more affordable; public and workplace charging infrastructure; consumer-friendly electricity rates and renewable electricity options; government and corporate vehicle purchases; supportive permitting and codes for vehicle charging; and other incentives such as high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane access.

GM is making great strides toward bringing the Volt from concept to the showroom. More than 30 prototype vehicles powered by lithium-ion battery packs are undergoing rigorous testing at GM's Proving Ground in Milford, Mich. In addition, last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM announced it will manufacture the Volt battery packs in the United States.

"The Chevy Volt is truly coming to life, but preparing the market for electric vehicles also requires capable partners from outside the auto industry," said Peper. "Momentum is building as governments, technology companies, communities and universities are increasingly working together to prepare the market for electric vehicles."

Several recent positive developments in this regard include:

* Last October, the federal government approved a $7,500 tax incentive for consumers of plug-in electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt.
* In November, the California cities of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland announced a plan for plug-in vehicle infrastructure, incentives and enablers.
* A new Michigan law expedites the development of advanced battery manufacturing and research capabilities in the state.

GM is also helping to pave the way to plug-in commercialization on several other fronts, including:

* Working with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and a coalition of more than 40 utilities to solve challenges and accelerate the commercialization of plug-in electric vehicles.
* Playing a lead role in helping to create Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards for the vehicle charging interface.

"We know plenty of work still remains, both within and outside of GM," said Peper. "But today's and other recent announcements underscore the comprehensive work being done to bring the Chevrolet Volt and other electrically driven vehicles to market - and they also highlight why we are so optimistic about the ultimate success of the Volt."

[Source: GM]

The European Volt (Opel Volt perhaps?) will be built in the UK at the Ellesmere Port plant, home of the current Vauxhall Astra, and not imported from the Hamtramck plant in the U.S.

GM sources say that the project has caught the interest of UK business secretary, Lord Mandelson and that he is interested in seeing the plug-in electric car manufactured locally in the UK.

GM Europe President, Carl-Peter Forster said,

“We would look at assembling Volt at Ellesmere Port if super-credits were included in the EU CO2 legislation - because this would encourage automakers to provide more ultra-low CO2 vehicles earlier and in greater volume. While the CO2 policy is close to finalisation, we will wait to see the final policy before making any further decisions."

It is expected that within the next couple months GM will release a business plan before continuing talks with the UK government.

This possible manufacturing split will help GM save some cash in the long run but will dramatically cut production numbers from its Hamtramck plant in Michigan. Will the cut costs translate to a lower price of entry for potential buyers of the Volt? We’ll have to wait and see.

[via: AutoCar]

Ford: Escape Hybrid SUV

Ford CEO Alan Mulally started this trend by first claiming that he'd drive to D.C and, not surprisingly, showed up in a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid. It shows to Congress and the world how Ford, which is in a better financial position than the other two, is making fuel efficient cars people want to buy and already has good hybrid technology. Ford also showed up with a 2009 Ford Flex to, we assume, move staff around.

Chrysler: Aspen Hybrid SUV

Chrysler's Bob Nardelli also drove to Washington, D.C. in a hybrid SUV: the 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid. How does the Aspen Hybrid stack up against the Escape Hybrid? It gets worse gas mileage, it uses mediocre hybrid technology developed in conjunction with GM and is built into a car that's proven to be wildly unpopular.

But don't worry, they've already cancelled it — just four months after starting production. This not only demonstrates the company is unable to build attractive, efficient vehicles. It's another reminder parent company Cerberus is just waiting for Chrysler to get sold off to someone else.

He showed up to the hearing in a JEEP EV, a futuristic electric vehicle that will be a great halo vehicle for whichever company ends up owning Jeep.

General Motors: Chevrolet Volt Mule/Malibu Hybrid

General Motors' man at the helm Rick Wagoner drove to Washington, D.C. in a 2009 Chevy Malibu Hybrid but drove to the Senate hearing in a 2011 Chevy Volt test mule. There was also a Chevy Suburban and Cadillac CTS in the area, perhaps to shuttle executives around when not in front of the camera.

The fact that GM brought two different hybrid vehicles down shows the company is willing to work hard for the money, so hard for the money. The Volt prototype clearly demonstrates they're on the path to creating a mass production hybrid vehicle. The Malibu just shows they're not dumb enough to drive around Washington, D.C. in something unreliable.

The Entourage

Special thanks to STR8SIX for getting these live shots togther. His report below.

I made a short trip into downtown DC this afternoon. I was only able to spend about a half an hour snooping around the senate buildings. I found the Ford Flex and Escape hybrid from the Ford convoy. I also found an Aspen hybrid. Each of the vehicles had a driver sitting in it with the engine running. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the Chevy Volt mule. One of the security officers said that GM was giving test drives in the Volt and did not know if it would reappear this afternoon. A dark red Cadillac CTS with the engine running was parked in front of the Ford vehicles. That may have been Wagoner's ride back to the hotel.

[Additional Photos From Win McNamee/Getty Images, Ford, Chrysler GM]

"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.

As with any steady-state output, sometimes there will be surpluses. Those surpluses of electricity not used by the electric motor, as might occur during light loads, will be dumped into the battery so that energy isn't wasted. But recharging the battery is not the objective of running the engine. In addition to extra electricity from the engine/generator, energy reclaimed from regenerative braking will also be stored in the battery. Over an extended period of these surpluses being added to the battery, it's possible for the engine to switch off and the car to return to all-EV mode for an unspecified distance.

So, let's be clear here — contrary to the second set claims of GM PR on the Volt's engine — it can in fact recharge the batteries. You could almost say GM was for this claim before it was against it — and is now for it again. Stinkin' buncha flip-floppers.[Edmunds Inside Line]

"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]

[via GM-Volt]

5.) It's Like A Big iPod

Every online media outlet's already compared the Volt to an iPod, but none have really detailed why. We'll be happy to explain. See, the Volt nearly does away with mechanical buttons on the car in favor of electrostatically activated controls, a technology more commonly known for its touch application in the iPod. The Volt not only swipes the iPod's buttons, it goes retro, swiping the discontinued white and chrome color combination as well. Except the Volt one-ups the 'pod with a very nice pearl paint finish onto which the "buttons" are stenciled in place. But wait, that's not the only color — according to Boniface, GM will offer several different color options for the center stack, including piano black. At this point the controls are touch only with an auditory feedback, but Bob Lutz claims he's pushing for haptic feedback on button-press — we'll see if "Maximum" Bob's able to win out over the need for maximum cost savings on that one. We're rooting for Bob.

4.) E-Flex Gives You Four Seats, Maximum Cupholders And Power

The Chevy Volt's E-Flex platform battery pack is the element everything else in the car is built around, and being that it's like a five foot long capital T running down the center of the car there isn't much room for three abreast seating in the rear. As such, there has to be a strong center console to cover it and only four seats. That doesn't mean the center spine goes unused; Boniface claims they've integrated a very nice set of cupholders and a storage bin into the plastic sheathing. More importantly, they've also added a rear seat power outlet.

3.) Double Control Screens

With so much information needing to be hurled at the Volt's driver — from battery charge level to HVAC to fuel economy to whether the pot roast is done — just one screen in the center stack was obviously not enough screen-space to get the job done. So, Chevy designers have designed an all-digital double dose of control screens, giving the Volt a high-tech, Star Trek command deck feel. One is a seven-inch LCD info screen beyond the steering wheel. The other seven-incher is a touch screen that controls climate, entertainment and power status. On top of that, you can apparently option the Volt out with a third screen if you want to pop in an external Nav unit thanks to GM smartly dropping a power outlet in the dash-top storage bin. No word on whether or not you'll need a stylus to push on one screen to control the action on the other, although we're practicing with a Nintendo DS just to make sure.

2.) Graphical Door Inserts

It may not be a car guys cup of tea, but the snazzy graphics on the door inserts do lighten up the cabin and give it just the right amount of urban hipster artist chic to satisfy even the smuggest of hybrid buyers. The car will be offered with a variety of color and graphics options to be selected on the order form but sorry, no mix-and-match option like the Saturn SC.

1.) One Seriously Slick Shift

The Volt will be a passive entry and passive start car, meaning you'll only need to have your keys in your pocket to operate the thing. Once in the car, starting it means grabbing the shifter and pressing the start button with your right thumb, pulling it back into drive and away you go. So although at first glance the shifter is a very odd looking design, in practice it seems to make perfect sense. Clever. And for you power freaks out there, there's a default "Eco" mode and a higher performance "Sport" mode. There's also a green leaf button — but we're not entirely certain what that does. Frankly, your guess is as good as ours.

Head Back To The Top Ten Chevy Volt Design Features

5.) Aerodynamics

The designers at GM really did the best they could to maintain the visual language of the original Volt concept — especially given the concept was never actually meant to be aerodynamic (Wired's shock at this fact yesterday was met with laughter in the press room) — delivering a more sleek, aerodynamic product at the end. Hundreds of hours in the wind tunnel have provided all kinds of nifty details intended to trick the wind and deliver the mileage. Our favorite is the adaptation of the Kamm-back, a trick of body work which simulates a teardrop tail without the extended tear drop shape. The ridge running along the corners of the rear bumper act to create a clean break with the air as it passes over the Volt, reducing turbulence and thus, drag.

4.) The Plug-in Port / Side Mirror Combo

As the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, there needs to be a convenient place to locate said plug. On the Volt, the port for making it the world's biggest Glade scent machine rests behind a door at the base of the A-pillar. The neat design element is how the side mirror is tied to the mirror stalk with a strip of stainless steel wrapping around from the window trim. The mirror also integrates a barely visible turn signal, so there's a lot going on in a small space. But, despite the busy feature levels, good design ties it all together.

3.) Glass Rear Hatch

Given the rake of the rear hatch on the Volt, something had to be done to make sure drivers could see what was going on back there. GM decided to follow the trail the Honda Insight blazed and make the bottom of the rear hatch glass so the rear spoiler is the only interruption to the driver's visibility. In practice, we're assuming this can be a bit annoying, but we're assuming you get used to it. But whether or not the driver likes the way it gets in the way, the design aesthetic of badges stuck onto the smooth glass makes a definite impression.

2.) Rear Three-Quarter View

OK, so technically, it's probably not a feature, but the rear three quarter view on the Volt is positively excellent. Sporty and pitched forward, it looks ready to run. We're told one of the very few differences between this revealed Volt and the production intent design is the rear spoiler is raised by about 30 mm, so expect it to be even more wedge-shaped in the future.

1.) LEDs, LEDs, LEDs

Everybody knows LEDs use less electricity and last longer in the field than their older counterparts, so what better application than on an "electric" car? Tail lights, turn signals, courtesy lights, backups... all of them LED. It's an all-LED light fest. As Wert would say, an LEDgasm (sorry, he made me do that). We especially like how the tail lights appear to be floating on the glass of the rear hatch.

Head Back To The Top Ten Chevy Volt Design Features List

"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?

• The Chevy Volt Won't Save GM, But The Chevy Cruze Might
• VIDEO: 2011 Chevy Volt Cruises Down The Runway
• Production Chevy Volt Press Photos Revealed, Now Without Engineers!

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.

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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

• An Electric Sled Through Time
• Edmunds Thinks Chevy Volt Design Is "Huge Disappointment," "Completely Unacceptable"
• First Full Picture Of Chevy Volt?
• Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid Revealed Early
• Report: Production Chevy Volt To Appear Alongside Chevy Cruze In Paris
• GM: Chevy Volt Spotted On Transformers 2 Set Is Not Final Production Model
• New Transformers 2 Video Captures Chevy Volt, Corvette Centennial Concept, Fanboy Commentary
• 2010 Chevy Volt: Concept Versus Reality
• Do You Like The 2010 Chevy Volt?
• Chevy Volt Fully Revealed With Corvette Centennial Concept In Transformers 2 Set Video
• Chevy Volt Interior Photo Lifted From Internal GM Presentation, Looks Like an iPod
• GM Reveals Two New Production Shots Of The Chevy Volt, 50 Prototypes On Road By End of Year
• Chevy Volt To Get Occasional Power From Cruze's 1.4-Liter Inline Four-Cylinder
• Chevy Volt To Become Transformer
• GM To Employ Duct Tape, Rush Production Volt To Stage By September
• GM Tosses Out Yet Another Random Price For Chevy Volt
• 2011 Chevy Volt To Be Priced Under $30,000?
• Radio Reporter Sneaks Out First Video Of Chevy Volt Electric Car
• Spending The Day With The Chevy Volt
• Chevy Gives Kids A Hummer With The Volt Electric Car
• Chevy Volt Production Image Breaks
• Yes Virginia, GM Really Is Serious About The Chevy Volt Electric Car
• Losing Voltage: Is GM Trying To Kill Hype On The Electric Volt?
• GM's Personal Jesus: The Chevy Volt Electric Concept Car