Comments on: Captured Chevy Volt photos show updated look

Production versions of the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt, showing a different design than the concept car, are picked up from the GM Web site but then are pulled by GM.

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by jimmyhoops September 9, 2008 11:56 AM PDT: Should have kept to the look of the concept. Now, Chevy is gonna put out another ugly car to add to their line-up. I've never bought an American car and I certainly won't start with this one!; Like this Reply to this comment

by martypadgett September 9, 2008 12:02 PM PDT

How about a linkback for the site that reported it originally?
http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/blogs/marty_blog/2010/2010-chevrolet-volt-first-production-photos/

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by mlamonica September 9, 2008 12:45 PM PDT: I put a link back into the first paragraph (was taken out). There's also a link from the actual photo.; Like this

by theBike45 September 9, 2008 12:10 PM PDT

Anyone who is surpirsed by the differences between the concept car and the production model simply has't been apying attention - this has been known for almost a year now. The popular media once again demonstrates its total inability to cover technology stories. Why don't you folks either spend some money and hire someone who's not an English major or a journalism major and get some
competence. I'm tired of seeing lamebrained articles written by the ignorant, for the ignorant.

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by skillingssucks September 10, 2008 4:07 AM PDT: Trust me when I tell you that you are a complete moron.; Like this


by toyairplane September 9, 2008 12:11 PM PDT: What an ugly car! The concept car really had design that made me want the car; now I just want to puke!; Like this Reply to this comment

by mel_inc September 9, 2008 12:34 PM PDT

The Volt was to be Chevy's one chance to get it out of the mess its currently in! Typical of Detroit thinking, a golden opportunity seems to be lost by reverting back to bleak, boring and blah! Where's the daring vision, take the lead attitude that was the Volt concept car and all the noise around it? This is not what consumers want -- just look at what's coming out of Japan!

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by Super2online September 9, 2008 12:39 PM PDT: It doesn't matter how long the change has been in effect. The point is that the change took what was a really an innovative design and turned it back into Dad's Chevrolet. That's not what turned us on, and is not whats going to sell a boat load of cars!; Like this


by 2manykars September 9, 2008 12:42 PM PDT: You have got to be kidding me! I would have bought something close to the Volt concept but this version is HORRIBLE and I wouldn't be seen driving one. GM deserves to go out of business... just look at all the bland vanilla cars they have been putting out. The Impala is teh perfect example... BLAND!!! With all the extremely talented designers they hve... it appears they're letting bean counters run the company and not car guys. If this is their idea of a big seller... I see no hope for the company!; Like this Reply to this comment


by sheaftosser September 9, 2008 1:32 PM PDT: Cross between an Aztek and a Hyundai. Not good.; Like this Reply to this comment

by bj1126 September 9, 2008 1:37 PM PDT

Leave it to GM to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If we wanted a Prius we would have bought one.... sigh

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by Dalkorian September 9, 2008 5:12 PM PDT: At this time you are the only one to mention the Prius. The funny part is that was my first thought - oh great, they made the Volt look like a Prius! BARF!; Like this


by ubnyan September 9, 2008 1:57 PM PDT: When the concept car was first introduced the future of GM sales was very promising but seriously, why would they completely redesign/replace a very nice modern and good looking car that everybody was looking forward to see (and buy) with a basic, boring standard model car? The Chevy Volt name had a sucessful fresh modern look, the production car is not something a younger audience would even consider buying. GM should rethink their production volt model otherwise all the previous consumer excitement would die at the dealership.; Like this Reply to this comment

by fugdabug September 9, 2008 2:10 PM PDT

I just in the past few days completed the conversion of a 1989 Toyota Corolla Station-wagon from an IC engine to a 100% Electric Motor driven car with a 72VDC battery system... soon to be upgraded to a larger battery pack with 144VDC... with the 72VDC system it gets 35miles per charge (75Ahr per battery) with the 144VDC (each battery @258Ahr) it should get close to 80miles per charge... now tell me if I can BUILD a homemade system like this WHY can't GM give us a car that will do a minimum of 200miles per charge and a range of 600miles??? Volt, Schmolt... the change will have to be from the ground up!

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by diddleupdrs September 10, 2008 1:01 PM PDT: i'm interested in converting a compact over to all electric how did you do it and how much cost was involved.
diddleupdrs@netzero.net; Like this


by SpinozaQ September 26, 2008 9:02 AM PDT: I'm often shocked that smart engineers like you can't answer that question. You're capable of putting together an all electric car. You know all the details of everything involved. Yet you still don't understand the basics of bringing a car to mass production. Before I cite the obvious reasons why electric cars like this are extremely difficult to build. Ask yourself this. Can you give your all electric car to a non-engineer, and expect it to work with minimal repairs for 5 years? how about 10? likely not. It's a prototype. It also lacks something that a production car _can not_ lack. Safety. Your 1989 corolla, electric or not, will _FAIL_ all current government safety tests and not be allowed to be sold. Safety == Weight. It also probably fills all the cargo space with the batteries and electrical components. Not very useful for the masses. That brings me to the first reason why it's difficult to produce something like the Volt. The batteries _MUST_ on average last 10 years. That's really hard. You know that's really hard!!! Also, 2 seat cars with no cargo space don't sell. ( Honda Insight vs Toyota Prius ) Making a 4 seat, 5 door hatch with a battery to go 40 miles, and an engine to extend the range.. AND having cargo space under the hatch.. AND the battery lasting 10 years... AND being able to be used by Joe Public... AND meeting all 2010 government safety ratings... IS REALLY HARD...

Props for building an electric car yourself though... That's just freaking awesome!!!; Like this


by umata September 9, 2008 2:52 PM PDT: I for one like the new volt styling. But then I didn't like the original concept styling much with it's over sized wheels bulging wheel arches and its too short pill box windscreen, and you just knew that those side windows that extended down into the doors with the see through panels couldn't make it into production. The volt is a world car so it has to suit the tastes of markets other than its domestic market hence the toned down more sedate styling. A major styling feature of the original was those huge wheels but they are also impractical from a cost and aerodynamic point of view.; Like this Reply to this comment


by buggermenot September 9, 2008 3:44 PM PDT: The car was redesigned because it performed poorly in the wind tunnel. The new design does much better so that it can get 40 miles of electric only driving.; Like this Reply to this comment


by colamix September 9, 2008 4:25 PM PDT: This looks like the perfect car, for my GRANDMOTHER! I guess GM have also outsourced their design team in Mexico.; Like this Reply to this comment

by purcell429 September 9, 2008 5:04 PM PDT

Nice, so now in addition to all the car's other shortcomings, it's like a Prius with a giant chrome grill. Nice design team there. So what is all the hype about? Ok, wow, an electric car that gets a 40 mile range. It takes 10 hours to recharge, so you'll have to use that extra motor if you want to drive for more than an hour. And oh yeah: "The Volt is expected to get 50 mpg (US) (4.7 L/100 km) if the battery is discharged". Wow. I'm soooo impressed.

Oh yeah, also: The Volt was targeted to cost around US$30,000. As of April 2008, General Motors Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Robert Lutz was quoted as saying that the realistic unsubsidised price had risen to US$48,000[46][47], that he reckoned that US$40,000 might be possible, without making any profit, and that only government tax incentives could take the price tag nearer to US$30,000. When asked directly about the price later, Lutz indicated that this was a misquote - and said "The answer is that we don?t know."

Also: "GM expects ten years of life out of the batteries."

Hell, if you want a real plug in hybrid, get an Aptera. 40-60 mile Range, but better gas milage:

"An asymptotic decaying exponential is an accurate way to describe the fuel mileage of the Typ-1h. For example driving say, 50 miles, one might calculate a MPG number that's 2 or 3 times higher, say, 1000 MPG. As battery energy is depleted, the frequency of the engine duty cycle is increased. More fuel is used at 75 miles, the MPG might be closer to 400 MPG. Again, we're using battery energy mostly, but turning the engine on more and more. Just over 100 miles we're just over 300 MPG, and just beyond 120 miles, we're around 300 MPG."

http://www.aptera.com/

But really now, GM needs to sit down and take a look at their strategy here. Instead of making a hybrid Aveo or Cobalt, which would probably get 50mpg+ without a sweat, they throw them in Pickup Trucks and Yukons, so now they get 19MPG instead of 14. Wow, i'll sure rush to get one of those. Then, they put all of their eggs in one basket with the Volt, a $40,000 car that will let you drive for 45 minutes a day before you have to use gas. So you get a higher electric bill, and a car that gets 50mpg if you have to go pick up groceries after work. Gimme a car that just gets 75mpg ALL THE TIME. Then i'll be impressed. I'm sure the volt will be great if you use it as a second car, then you can pretend your not using any gas on the way to work in your ugly car. Bravo. Just get a Prius and use the $18,000 you'll save to buy gas. You can drive a Prius 236,571 miles with that money. You will need to replace 2 sets of Volt batteries in the same time.

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by SpinozaQ September 26, 2008 11:00 AM PDT: The Aptera? seriously? It's not even in the same market ball park as the Volt. The Aptera ( if ever produced. ) will _FAIL_ for the same reason the EV1 failed, and the same reason the Honda Insight couldn't sell. _IT ONLY HAS TWO SEATS_ ( and no cargo space. ) That simple reason alone shrinks the appreciable market to nearly Zill. Only you and Ron Paul will buy one. For the rest of America... we can't afford "another" car for 30k. We need "one" car that can fit all our needs. I wish cars were cheaper.... but they aren't.

The Volt _CAN_ be the only car for a small family. It can get to work, it can go on a long vacation. It can hold two kids, and all the luggage. Not surprisingly, that's harder to do then making a super light 2 seat prootype car that gets good gas mileage.

You fail at understanding markets. That's why you think a Hybrid Pickup Truck is weird. The Chevy Silverado Hybrid gets nearly 100% better fuel economy then the non-hybrid version. 12 vs 24mpg.... When you're an American contractor... and you drive over 50,000 miles a year for your small business, and gas costs $4 a gallon.. That's the difference between spending $16,000 a year on gas, or $8,000 a year.... Those trucks will sell because they save real businesses, real money.; Like this


by fivearmshiver September 9, 2008 5:35 PM PDT: I totally agree with the above post, but my comment regards this design, or more aptly put LACK OF DESIGN! What's wrong with you people GM? I'm surprised you didn't also add a continental kit and some ugly fins! I guess I'll have to stay with another solid Subaru, although I wish they'd become more gas efficient too, as 28 mpg doesn't cut it any longer. GM, general malaise? generally malfunctioning?
HEY GM, Americans do want (really we do) to buy some good looking high quality American-made vehicles. Hire some Japanese designer's if you can't figure out! What an ugly car!; Like this Reply to this comment

by raywkirk September 9, 2008 5:38 PM PDT

Why do we buy cars?
1) Get you there
2) Safely
3) Reliably
4) Inexpensively
5) Comfortably
6) Stylishly
And with a hope that it will hold its value.
'Nuff said.
If you want style as your first choice, you are in the wrong swimming pool, pal.

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by skrubol September 10, 2008 7:40 AM PDT: Ok, and which of those does this car satisfy?
1) get you there: as long as 'there' is less than 40 miles away, or else you may as well be driving a regular hybrid.
2) safety: dunno, guessing it won't be anything spectacular.
3) reliability: GM + new technology, somehow I don't see this as being reliable.
4) Inexpensively: Nope.
5) Comfortably: Again, dunno, it's possible, but it ain't gonna ride like a Caddy or Mercedes.
6) Stylishly: Well, they killed that one.
So this car really satisfies nothing on your list. At least it satisfied the item at the bottom of your list before (for those who liked the style.) And not everyone has the same priorities. Somehow I don't see Corvette and Wrangler drivers putting style after reliability and inexpensiveness.; Like this


by grtgrfx September 10, 2008 8:37 AM PDT: Why do manufacturers introduce concept cars? To get buyers into the showroom. To get buyers into the showroom. To get buyers into the showroom. A boring or "same as" car does not get buyers into the showroom, and so they sell fewer cars. GM has never learned this important lesson, which is why the Japanese car makers thrash their American competitors' behinds every year as they've done for several decades. GM does not GET IT.; Like this


by TheDoctor42 September 9, 2008 6:00 PM PDT: The following is pure speculation...
Chevy had a great concept car and committed to delivering it on an aggressive schedule. They did most of their technology testing on a Malibu. As it became apparent that they couldn't get the engineering and certification done in time for their schedule, they decided not to throw away as much engineering as possible. They kept the adaptation of much of the technology to the Malibu frame and needed to keep as much of the Malibu to do it.
That's my guess as to why it looks like a slightly newer version of the Malibu with some dress-up in the form of nifty mirrors and black plastic panels to look like the glass on the original concept.
If it's a problem with space, then why did Chevy try to introduce this on a smaller car? They could have taken advantage with their love affair with the SUV and put this technology on a roomier platform without sacrificing as much style. Still I think it's what I said first. They couldn't meet their deadlines and just kept the crappy Malibu with some new sheet metal to look more like a Prius.; Like this Reply to this comment


by Vegaman_Dan September 9, 2008 9:46 PM PDT: Looks mean a lot. This compromise is enough to make me change my mind in buying this. I wanted the Volt, not the Dead Battery. Hmph.

This looks entreily too much like a Prius. I'm very disappointed.; Like this Reply to this comment


by spmalan September 10, 2008 6:57 AM PDT: The production Volt looks like a Camry with a bow tie logo, how sad! Yes, take off the logo, and it really looks as though it is the next pug-in from Toyota.
Not too surprising, noting the lack of anything daring or original from GM the last few decades. It is sad to me because it was my favorite car company. I learned to drive in a 1953 Chev. coupe. My fist car was a factory turbocharged 1963 Corvair.
And my favorite was my 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlas. But, now I am afraid the company is toast.; Like this Reply to this comment


by grtgrfx September 10, 2008 8:33 AM PDT: I wouldn't want another Accord-like econobox from GM. When it was concept, it was a unique-looking vehicle that would bring attention to the e-car technology...now what do they have to get buyers in the door? I'd rather get a Japanese car that's proven reliable because they've been making them for ten years.

Sorry, Chevrolet. This is a loser design.; Like this Reply to this comment

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