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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chevrolet , GM , Pontiac Click above for gallery of production pics of Chevy Volt When the Chevy Volt goes on sale in late 2010, it may be joined shortly thereafter by other GM-branded series hybrids using the eFlex architecture. But after the General's bread-and-butter bow-tie division, which brands make the most sense to get their own Volt? We've already seen a Cadillac with underlying eFlex technology, and GM's luxury arm could charge higher prices to offset the cost of the expensive powertrain. After Cadillac, Saturn might be a good bet considering we've already seen an eFlex-based Saturn-branded FlexStream concept . Susan Docherty, GM's North American vice president of Buick, Pontiac and GMC, thinks GM's driving excitement team is a natural fit for a Volt-like hybrid. Her reason is that the Pontiac brand can attract a younger crowd that readily accepts new technology and cutting-edge design. We're not so sure. If...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chevrolet , GM Click above to enlarge and view production Volt gallery Autoblog reader Michael C has a knack for seeing things we miss. In 2006, he noticed that an image of Bob Lutz lifting the veil on one corner of the yet-to-be-released 2008 Cadillac CTS could be easily manipulated in Photoshop to reveal the car's entire front end . GM recently gave us a similar peek of the production Chevy Volt on a segment that aired on ABC News , and Michael C has once again used Photoshop to give us a very clear view of the production Volt's front end. Yesterday, of course, we got our fill of the production Chevy Volt when video of it on the set of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen hit the web and a spy shot of the car's iPod-like interior surfaced. While screen grabs from that video showed us an overall view of the Volt from a distance, this is the first time we have an idea of what the car looks like from point blank range....
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , GM , Toyota The attention of the hybrid technology universe has been focused firmly on two vehicles: the Chevy Volt and the plug-in Prius . On the surface, these two vehicles are primed to be big-time competitors in the battle for mpg-conscious buyers. Not so, says the king of quote, Maximum Bob Lutz. According to Mr. Lutz, the two vehicles are very technologically different. Toyota also says that a plug-in Prius will be in production in 2009, a full year ahead of the Volt. Lutz hypothesizes that the Prius plug-ins will be available only to select fleets and not in large scale production, and the GM Vice Chairman says that the Volt will be available as part of a large test fleet in late 2009, as well. We agree that the Volt and Prius are technologically different, but we're pretty sure the two vehicles will be competing for the same buyers. After all, Americans are calling for more fuel efficient vehicles and don't care if one's a plug...
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Paris Motor Show , Chevrolet , GM Click either image to enlarge. var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Has_the_production_Chevy_Volt_been_spotted_in_Transformers_2'; Ed sent us the above pic pilfered from the Transformers Live Action Blog and judging by the roofline, headlights and taillights, you're looking at the first picture of the production Chevy Volt. Not proof enough? The image on the right - a zoomed-in crop of the larger image -- shows a metal plate emblazoned with four letters spelling out GM's savior. The Volt it is. Our boys at AutoblogGreen have already called upon the General's minions for a comment, but no response has been delivered to our inbox... yet. [Source: Transformers Live Action Blog ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chevrolet , GM Click above to enlarge General Motors continues to eek out teaser shots of the production Chevy Volt , but it appears that an image of the production interior has slipped through the Empire's net of control. All we have to go on for this image posted on the Motive.com forums is the image itself, which is part of a display panel at what appears to be a sneak preview of the vehicle for god knows who. What we see is a sleek, all-white center console with virtually no buttons. The controls appear to be touch sensitive instead, leaving the face of the console as smooth as a Frigidaire. Good luck installing an aftermarket stereo in this one. Completely flush air vents flank the console, which stands out in contrast to the black dash panel. On top of it all sits the information display, seen here showing the relationship between the "range extending" engine and lithium-ion batteries. What say you? We all know the production...
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Etc. , Green , Chevrolet , GM , Lifestyle Shortly after the Volt Concept was shown, a Volt adherent started a website called GM-Volt.com to show General Motors that it was on to something. After the Volt was approved for production, the site added a feature to allow people to "raise their hands" to show interest in the Volt, much like what was done for the smart fortwo before its arrival on our shores. A little more than a year later, there are almost 34,000 hand raisers in 50 states and 56 countries. While the list is unofficial and doesn't mean that any of these hand raisers are in line ahead of you to purchase a Volt, the site claims that GM is aware of the list and considering making it official in some capacity. California, no surprise, accounts for the greatest interest in the Volt, but even the folks in the dirty dirty -- that's the South -- have put in a strong showing. Alabama's got 86 Volters on the list...
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Filed under: Coupes , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Videos , Chevrolet , GM ABC News recently did a segment on the Chevy Volt , calling it "the automotive equivalent of the moon shot." Most of it you've heard before -- GM's in trouble, if the Volt doesn't work then it means more doom, and "industry experts" don't believe the Volt will come out in time. But there was a glimpse of the production model of the car, including the interior. One intriguing line was, "it will look a lot more like a typical 4-door than the show car concept." The front quarter view you get of the clay model is quite a bit altered from the concept, but still slick. The presenter also calls the interior reminiscent of Apple, but unless he means the fact that there's not a button in sight, it doesn't look much like an Apple. It's got a nice steering wheel, though. Either way, we really hope GM pulls this one off. But frankly, no one knows if that will happen...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Podcasts , Coupes , Hybrids/Alternative , Government/Legal , Green , Chevrolet , GM , Honda , Chery It's late, we know, but we're not a host short like last week! Chris, Sam, and Dan kick it about what's in the Autoblog Garage, the 2010 Camaro unveiling and other stuff that the Camaro overshadowed. What could possibly hold a candle to the Camaro officially rolling into that garage bay? Not much, but we touched on Honda's Prius clone fighter, as well as Malcolm Bricklin's legal action against Chery Motors after the breakup, but really, we spent a lot of time kicking the Camaro ball around, as it did happen to be the most excitement you could find without going racing. Hit us up at podcast at autoblog dot com with any questions/comments/suggestions, and thanks for listening! SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator DOWNLOAD the show now Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Government/Legal , Green , GM Presumptive Republican nominee for President, John McCain has wrapped up his tour and speaking engagement at General Motors, where the Arizona Senator discussed the U.S.'s current fuel situation and the proliferation of electric cars. Addressing the General's assembled workers, McCain said, "I would support tax credits for Americans who choose to buy the Volt and other automobiles that put us on track to energy independence." McCain later specified that the credit should be $5,000 as "an integral part of our ability to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil." McCain has already issued his support for federal funding of research and development of battery-powered cars and made it clear that individual states should have the ability to set their own fuel economy standards. [Source: Reuters Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chevrolet , GM Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevrolet Volt concept. One of the many things General Motors boasted about when it unveiled the Volt concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2007 was its 600-mile range. This was achieved partially by the battery pack, which could sustain a (theoretical) charge allowing the Volt to run for 40 miles without reverting to the gasoline engine/generator, as well as a 12-gallon fuel tank. According to Kicking Tires, GM has shrunk the size of the tank by an unknown quantity and the result is a reduction in range from 600 to 400 miles - or 360 miles without the aid of battery power. The General maintains that since most owners don't travel more than 40 miles in one day, it wasn't necessary to fit the Volt with a larger tank. That reduction in capacity will save some weight, but what will it cost in public perception? The hype surrounding GM's supposed savior and game-changer are based on...
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Green , Chevrolet , GM , Earnings/Financials Sales of General Motors' one time cash cow, full-size trucks, are declining faster than the value of the US dollar, but with a birthday coming, GM still wants something to celebrate. This September, the world's largest automaker will be celebrating its centennial under a financial pall unlike any it has faced since its early days under Billy Durant. The car that GM management hopes will represent a new beginning is the Chevrolet Volt, which has been locked in for production for November 2010 and the shape of the production car has reportedly been finalized. The Volt team is apparently planning to unveil the definitive Volt shape as the star of the big party this September. Early powertrain development mules have been running for several months now and GM insiders claim the lithium ion battery packs are exceeding performance expectations so far. The big question at this point seems to...
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Government/Legal , Green , GM , Earnings/Financials After being asked what the next President of the United States could do to help Detroit's automakers, Rick Wagoner, head honcho at General Motors, responded that his company could use an injection of cash for research and development into new, potentially green technology. Also mentioned were additional incentives for consumers to purchase those vehicles once the automakers actually produce them. Neither of these suggestions should be shocking to anybody paying attention to the Detroit 3's recent financial woes. Much of the admittedly meager R&D budget is already being spent on new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and electric drive systems, including the extremely important lithium ion battery. Federal aid in the form consumer incentives would allow automakers to offer eco-friendly vehicles at potentially profitable prices while still being in the target range of many consumers. In...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Green , Chevrolet , GM Bob Lutz revealed to the Seattle Times that the price point for his company's Chevy Volt series hybrid electric vehicle will be $40,000, or around $10,000 more than originally estimated. Lutz also told the paper that the first-generation of the Volt would generate no profit for General Motors. There's still hope for buyers who were hoping to snag a Volt closer to $30,000, as potential tax incentives on state and federal levels could trim the price substantially. Congress is currently considering proposed legislation for plug-in hybrid tax credits on the order of around $7,000. Still, there's no telling what demand there will be for the Volt, and if it's higher than the supply, we could see markups on GM's high-tech hybrid from dealers who are trying to survive this transition from a market dominated by profitable trucks and SUVs to smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. According to Lutz...
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Filed under: Coupes , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Paris Motor Show , Chevrolet , GM Bob Lutz has come out and said it again: " I would say there's almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that this is going to work. " And that isn't just that the Chevy Volt will work -- it's that it will work on time and as promised. In spite of the difficulties GM has had getting Volt technology up-to-speed within its timeframes, the man upstairs is apparently as confident as ever. Lutz said that engineers have driven the car to and above its 40-mile pure electric range already. Two companies are still trying to win the lithium-ion battery pack contract, although LG Chem says it has a 3rd-gen unit that's ready to go. Another hurdle is the car's internal combustion range extender starting up, which Lutz described as "noisy and still a little rough." And of course, it wouldn't be a Lutz piece without him taking a shot at something. Speaking of Toyota's...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Coupes , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Chevrolet , GM An article in the Atlantic Monthly examines the genesis and gestation of the Chevy Volt, and concludes with an intriguing mix of potential hits and misses. Calling the Volt "the Barack Obama of automobiles-everyone's hope for change," even the Atlantic Monthly knows that this car currently means more to GM and perhaps the U.S. car buying public than anything else. There is a huge amount of emotion behind the Volt, and not all of it is supportive. The article is just as much about GM and how the company operates as it is about the car. The case is put forward that this is less about the viability of the Volt and more about whether GM can finally execute a proper long term follow through. GM has had brilliant ideas before, but its commitment and track record of seeing them through to successful ends isn't so great. GM CEO Rick Wagoner said, " If I've learned anything over the past...
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