2013 Volt Receives Design Tweaks, New Features

[nsap]

2013 brings more color, more tech to Volt.
www.GMInsideNews.com
April 15, 2012
By: Nick Saporito

2012 Volt shown

This weekend General Motors released the majority of their order guides for the 2013 product lineup. While most 2013 models are seeing nothing more than the normal year-to-year stuff, the 2013 Chevrolet Volt is seeing some noteworthy changes, including tweaks to the car’s design and a new EV hold mode.

According to the order guide, the 2013 Volt will now have a body-colored roof and rear liftgate. Since it’s 2010 launch the Volt has exclusively features a black roof top and black on the rear liftgate. Ironically, black roofs are an industry trend amongst sedans, so it seems odd that Chevrolet would now decide to abandon the black roof. Perhaps they feel this will make the Volt look more like a “normal” sedan?

The Volt’s main technical differentiator, its powertrain, is also seeing a slight upgrade. For 2013, Volt will have a new “EV Hold Mode.” The new mode will be in addition to the normal, sport and mountain modes. EV Hold will allow Volt drivers to force the car to go into extended range mode (meaning the gas engine is generating power) to hold the battery pack’s power.

For example, if a Volt owner’s commute includes 20 highway miles and then a lot of inner city driving, the owner can use EV Hold until they reach the city, where the car benefits the most from being in EV mode.

The EV Hold mode has been on the Opel Ampera in Europe since launch.

Rounding out the 2013 Volt changes is the addition of new tech features. Like most new GM products, the Volt is gaining lane departure warning, forward collision alert and MyLink will now be available with Volt’s navigation system.

Expect the 2013 Volt to begin production later this year. Much larger changes are expected for the 2014 Volt.

[megeebee]

Much larger changes are expected for the 2014 Volt.

.... there you go again.

[spd98]

Not too bad for just a year change.

[FireFrost]

I actually never noticed it had a black roof. Huh.

[knack0125]

Glad they are making some slight changes, but i thought by putting the car into "mountain mode" that it did the same thing? Or is that more with after the volt gets to a certain HIGH speed and then a little help to move the wheels? Either way good updates all around. Saw the whole GM area at the NYIAS yesterday and it was amazing. Should of taken more pictures but got the note worthy stuff. Now i'm wondering what cars won't have these special tech things like lane departure and foreward collision alert since its going through everything rapidly.

[XtremeMonteSS]

I think it looks better with a black roof but would be over the top and up to date with the competiton with a tinted Glass or some type of see through roof!
What it really needs for the 2013 and up is to lose some weight and that High price tag too!

[bballr4567]

I'm still not sure what an EV hold button will do if you stay in the EV range.

I'm sad the black and green interior is gone as it looked pretty cool in person. What is up with the perforated and nonperforated leather? Kind if confusing reading the order guide.

[SirSeme]

I think it looks better with a black roof but would be over the top and up to date with the competiton with a tinted Glass or some type of see through roof!
What it really needs for the 2013 and up is to lose some weight and that High price tag too!

I agree with you.

[Envoy4Life]

I really wish they get rid of the stupid black trim on the doors. I believe MonaroSS did a chop without it. It looked a lot better.

[sfbreh]

I'm still not sure what an EV hold button will do if you stay in the EV range.

I think it's supposed to save the battery power til you get to the city.

[bballr4567]

I think it's supposed to save the battery power til you get to the city.

If you have a 40 mile round trip, you just use gas when you don't need to if you engage it though.

[HermPerez]

but I thought by putting the car into "mountain mode" that it did the same thing? .

Mountain mode is not quite the same, it only reserves about 15 miles of electric range. I'm surprised the EPA let them do it.

[zete]

... i thought by putting the car into "mountain mode" that it did the same thing? Or is that more with after the volt gets to a certain HIGH speed and then a little help to move the wheels?
:

Mountain mode will actually charge the battery up to 40% if it's below 40%, so Mountain mode has 2 operating modes: charge sustain if you're over 40% battery remaining and charge UP to 40% if you're below.

Hold mode would just allow you to select "Hold" when you get on the highway for a long trip, say 60kms/40 miles, so that when you get back into an urban setting you'd be able to just drive with electricity. If your total commute is less than 60kms/40 miles in a day Hold mode will do nothing for you but use gas, which is pointless if your daily commute falls within the battery range.

I'm still not sure what an EV hold button will do if you stay in the EV range.

It won't do anything. It's purpose is only for longer commutes where you're doing an 60 mile daily commute 20 of which is highway you can use 40 miles for the city portion and on the highway use Hold so that the gas generator is pumping electrons to the wheels.

It's actually just a way of providing even better fuel economy numbers and allowing for quiet, electron-based driving in city. Some people really want this and have been faking it out by using "Mountain Mode". This just gives the Volt an actual setting that forces the engine into Charge Sustaining mode.

I think it's supposed to save the battery power til you get to the city.

Yup.

For the 80% of us that drive 60kms/40 miles or less daily, it's immaterial. But would be useful for when do longer, occasional travels.

I'm sad the black and green interior is gone as it looked pretty cool in person. What is up with the perforated and nonperforated leather? Kind if confusing reading the order guide.

I won't miss the green interior. I saw it and I thought it won't age well. The addition of suede inserts is a nice touch.

I really wish they get rid of the stupid black trim on the doors. I believe MonaroSS did a chop without it. It looked a lot better.

I like the black roof and black trim. I think it looks especially nice on the red cars. But then I'm probably biased .

[MechEng]

Glad they are making some slight changes, but i thought by putting the car into "mountain mode" that it did the same thing? Or is that more with after the volt gets to a certain HIGH speed and then a little help to move the wheels? Either way good updates all around. Saw the whole GM area at the NYIAS yesterday and it was amazing. Should of taken more pictures but got the note worthy stuff. Now i'm wondering what cars won't have these special tech things like lane departure and foreward collision alert since its going through everything rapidly.

I'm still not sure what an EV hold button will do if you stay in the EV range.

I'm sad the black and green interior is gone as it looked pretty cool in person. What is up with the perforated and nonperforated leather? Kind if confusing reading the order guide.

Mountain mode doesn't do the same thing but can be used to do something similar. Mountain mode kicks over to using the engine earlier to maintain a higher state of charge to climb mountains. If you are in mountain mode with the engine running and switch to normal mode you will have approximately 14 miles of EV range in the battery. Also mountain mode is more aggressive at holding the higher state of charge.

The Hold mode is more flexible. Let's say your EV range is ~40 miles. You can drive 10 EV miles then hit the EV hold mode. The engine will come on to maintain the current battery state of charge. You can drive hundreds of miles like this on gas. Then when you switch back to normal mode you will have 30 all electric miles left.

[MechEng]

After looking at the order guide it looks like they have added a rear centre arm rest. I think that will be nice to fill the gap betwen the two seats.

Did they get rid of the tan leather interior? I hope not it was my favorite.