Chevrolet Volt debuts in Toronto

[b3GS]

http://www.yourcarguide.ca/news/article/261543

http://media.yourcarguide.ca/images/97/80/8450dab041889987b3aa3e193406.jpeg


GM Canada unveiled the production versions of it plug-in electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, in Toronto on Thursday.
GM will partner with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on the extended range electric car slated to start production by General Motors in 2010.

[mleblond]

http://media.yourcarguide.ca/images/0e/9c/0205d956475695ec870c2b09f741.jpeg

[cyberscorpi0]

More pics . . .


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[Cudgel]

Wow! I actually think that looks really nice!

[cwp_sedan]

I'm diggin' the look.

[♻①☛]

it has that Civic SI look to it

[Go_Habs_Go]

What the...????

The concept version looked awesome, but I wasn't holding my breath over what the production version would actually look like. But I gotta say, that is IMPRESSIVE.

Wow, could GM actually be pulling off a bit of coup here?!?!! An environmentally friendly car that looks great???! As opposed to what the Prius (bleecchhh!!!) looks like??

KUDOS TO GM!! Hope the car actually works! :chuckle

[Unoriginalusername]

it has that Civic SI look to it

my thoughts exactly

[Wild Weasel]

Wow, could GM actually be pulling off a bit of coup here?!?!! An environmentally friendly car that looks great???! As opposed to what the Prius (bleecchhh!!!) looks like??


The Prius doesn't look goofy because it's poorly designed. It looks goofy because the people who drive them want it to look goofy so everyone knows that they're treehuggers.

There's a sedan version of the Prius that nobody tends to notice, and the Civic Hybrids didn't sell very well at all and many attribute this to the fact that they don't look like goofy hybrids. You'll notice that the new Honda hybrid coming out looks almost exactly the same as the Prius. Not because it's a nice design... but because it's recognizable as a hybrid and nothing else.

All that said... I agree that the Volt looks way better than a Prius while still being distinct enough for everyone to know what it is.

Cool stuff.

Here's hoping the gas in the tank doesn't go bad before you use it...

[bluntman]

Sign me up!

[sauga_kid]

it has that Civic SI look to it


my thoughts exactly

+2, I saw this on the news this morning and that was my very first reaction "Hey, that looks like a Civic SI"...I guess the US car market has to figure out some way to recoupe their loses, this is a good start.

[Unoriginalusername]

does anyone have a link the bob lutz interview on the colbert report? apparently it was funny?

[Wild Weasel]

I saw that. It was hilarious. Cobert asked him if he can charge it up by plugging it into the 12v socket in his Hummer. :chuckle

Lutz really shouldn't have done that interview, but I'm glad he did.

Cobert asked him if the Volt would get him laid, and Lutz pretty much said that it was likely, but only by hairy-legged hippie chicks. :bana

[Thrizzl3]

does anyone have a link the bob lutz interview on the colbert report? apparently it was funny?

this guy is too much
http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=3351

[06Touring3]

don't like the wrap around tails...but otherwise....surprisingly impressed i have to admit...i tried to find more faults but it's nice

[LockOut]

I really like it! And for an electric car, I think it'll do well. If they could get an extended range electric in production, as quoted in the OP, I think it'd sell VERY well.

[Go_Habs_Go]

Cobert asked him if he can charge it up by plugging it into the 12v socket in his Hummer. :chuckle


hahaha you gotta love Colbert!

But I'm really glad to see this car getting a lot of coverage...this could be the future of transportation in North America.

[07Speedfreak]

The rear is fuc*** ridiculous. But rest is nice.

[Cardinal Fang]

Considering the original concept design the actual version they are going to produce is downright disappointing. Take away the "Si" styling cues and this is just a Malibu.

[MSMitch]

The rear is fuc*** ridiculous. But rest is nice.

Kinda looks like they are trying to revive the Pontiac Aztek look in the rear that was SOOOO very popular! :)
Actually, overall, nice looking vehicle.

[MAZDA Kitten]

I love this thing. I like the new Malibu too but hate the tailights so I'm glad they went a different route with the Volt. Also love the fact its a hatchback! wikkid!
I really hope this thing does well

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/tech/images/080916volt.jpg

[kevcol74]

The Prius doesn't look goofy because it's poorly designed. It looks goofy because the people who drive them want it to look goofy so everyone knows that they're treehuggers.

There's a sedan version of the Prius that nobody tends to notice, and the Civic Hybrids didn't sell very well at all and many attribute this to the fact that they don't look like goofy hybrids. You'll notice that the new Honda hybrid coming out looks almost exactly the same as the Prius. Not because it's a nice design... but because it's recognizable as a hybrid and nothing else.

All that said... I agree that the Volt looks way better than a Prius while still being distinct enough for everyone to know what it is.

Cool stuff.

Here's hoping the gas in the tank doesn't go bad before you use it...


Did everyone forget about the predecessor to the Prius... the Honda Insight! The Prius took styling cues from that car, and added a couple more seats. Honda started this whole "ugly treehugger" look, Toyota just jumped on!
Thats Insight was UGLY, but was the first in the right direction for the general public!

[Garu]

It's nice and all, but what will be the price tag on these things? Are they quite affordable? Or another Prius hybrid with MS3 price tag?

[bluntman]

Apparently it is in the upcoming Transformers movie too...the Volt, that is.

[06Touring3]

yeah i heard that too (about transformers)...hopefully doesn't take up a lot of screen time...there's MUCH nicer cars in that movie...

and this will sell well becuase it looks nice....it's NEW!! (people LOVE new shit)...and it's elecctric.....therefore...it's automatically trendy

[Flagrum_3]

If GM dosen't go 'Tits up' by then, seeing as they lost like a kazillion dollars the last year or so, this vehicle will be an awesome 'rebirth' of a company that has failed to see the ways of things....Hoping for many reasons! :)

The Volt is not a 'Hybrid' in the sense that it is unlike other Hybrids such as the Prius...It runs completely on DC, until you run the charge down.They estimate 60-70% of Americans would never run the charge down completely for work travel.

I tend to like the looks, sure it has simularities to the civic but that has to do with aerodynamics more then anything else.

I think it's awesome, would look hot in Black and definitely a good move for GM, and the car industry has a whole.


_3

[Wild Weasel]

It actually runs completely on DC even after the charge goes down. That's really what makes this different from all the existing hybrids.

The gas engine doesn't drive the wheels at all. When the batteries go down, the gas engine kicks in to run a generator to recharge the batteries.

This is better because the engine can run at peak efficiency at all times, storing the energy it is creating rather than wasting excess energy while idling and what not.

[Flagrum_3]

:chuckle
It actually runs completely on DC even after the charge goes down. That's really what makes this different from all the existing hybrids.

The gas engine doesn't drive the wheels at all. When the batteries go down, the gas engine kicks in to run a generator to recharge the batteries.

This is better because the engine can run at peak efficiency at all times, storing the energy it is creating rather than wasting excess energy while idling and what not.

Well time will tell! That is the exact system they use in the new hybrid buses we have at the TTC and so far buses are running out of fuel on the roads at an alarming rate! Apparently Orion put smaller fuel tanks in them assuming I don't know what and that's what you get! :chuckle


_3

[06Touring3]

hahahaha they put smaller fuel tanks....the person who OK'd that idea can't have a job still

[McGuyver_3]

I usually hate everything and anything that the US car manufacturer has to offer but this may actually bring them out of the slums. This is a huge step IMO for GM. But they finaly braught something that might actually work and sell well.

[Unoriginalusername]

also curious how much it costs

[Flagrum_3]

I read $28-$30,000 (US) range, but still not confirmed! ....not cheap but it'll help the environment. :)


_3

[Unoriginalusername]

cool, would never buy one but cool

[iconicrocket]

+1 on the futuristic looking interior.

I hope they keep most of the design for the production version, or is it this the real thing?

[cayuga2305]

Other than the rear end of the car, I really like the look of the overall car.

[mf5781]

I read $28-$30,000 (US) range, but still not confirmed! ....not cheap but it'll help the environment. :)


_3

According to Toronto Star it's about US$30,000 to 40,000. At this price range I doubt how many people will buy it.

Also only those people living in houses with outlets in garage can recharge it. Those live in apartments or have cars parking on streets have problems in recharging it.

[Flagrum_3]

According to Toronto Star it's about US$30,000 to 40,000. At this price range I doubt how many people will buy it.

Also only those people living in houses with outlets in garage can recharge it. Those live in apartments or have cars parking on streets have problems in recharging it.

My quote came directly from a GM spokesperson (On TV), but like I said he also stated it's 'unconfirmed' at the moment.

I agree the charging issue is a problem for alot of people, I for one living in a condo, would not be able to do so. (But that's something that can be remedied), if the industry goes that way in a big way, I can see retrofitting for alot of buildings etc;....would make sense.

_3

[x_o_k_x]

Im loving the design, looks great. Looks like GM could actually pull this off!

[brecker]

I'd save at least $250 in gas per month, so if you consider the payment minus gas - it might work.