Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is

HoosierRon · 04-17-2008, 02:01 PM

Clarification of the Chevy Volt mule spy shots

Quote:

Apparently the the spy-shots of a Chevy Volt mule that turned up on-line late last night were not necessarily what they appeared to be. According to GM the photo's in question actually showed a ride and drive mule that is just testing suspension hardware. The gray car we saw earlier doesn't have any of the E-flex powertrain hardware installed. The giveaway would be the absence of a mis-shapen hood on that particular car. The red Malibu you see pictured here is actually one of the powertrain mules that has been circulating the roadways of the Milford proving ground for the last five months. Under that big lump on the drivers side of the hood lies the power electronics module. This vehicle actually has the electric drive motor, the engine/generator combination, power electronic module and a small nickel metal hydride battery pack. The pack is basically being used as a buffer between the engine/generator and motor so that those components can be tested.

drew630 · 04-17-2008, 02:20 PM

Ahh, that explains what the devices on the front of the gray Malibu were for.

tgagneguam · 04-17-2008, 03:10 PM

Daily I'm becoming more convinced that GM is actually serious about the Volt's 2010 launch. I think that that's a good thing. If it delivers as advertised, and even if it carries a $40,000 pricetag, I think it will be a homerun.

KretzJ · 04-17-2008, 03:55 PM

That's FREAKIN' SWEET!

(nod to Peter Griffin)

-John K.

Ambalanche · 04-17-2008, 03:55 PM

Awesome! I'm glad they don't already have the true Volt body on the road yet. Cammo or not, leaves some to the imagination!

Ambalanche · 04-17-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Wow! Look at that hood scoop!! SPORTY!!

GMfan1111 · 04-17-2008, 04:02 PM

Sweet I actually plan on heading out to Milford sometime tomorrow Wish me luck guys

Kennyboy · 04-17-2008, 04:19 PM

That hood scope is so sporty looking......

gardnet1 · 04-17-2008, 05:42 PM

Maybe that's why Lutz said the Volt was so bad in the wind tunnel. haha!

PontiacBixler · 04-17-2008, 06:05 PM

Funny how all it took were some fender flares to make the last gen Malibu look better....
I didn't think it was possible.....

chevydlrmn · 04-17-2008, 07:51 PM

The red Malibu was shown in a video I've seen. I thought it was here or I would have posted it.

drew630 · 04-17-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambalanche

Wow! Look at that hood scoop!! SPORTY!!

It reminds me of the IS-F bump. And thats not a good thing either.

FenwickHockey65 · 04-17-2008, 08:15 PM

So I spent maybe $30 filling up the Malibu today...I will gladly allow GM to install E-Flex and stick those stupid looking fender flares and the absurd hood bulge onto my Malibu in order to save money on gas. I'd even do the testing myself. Yes? No?

zete · 04-17-2008, 08:59 PM

That red Malibu looks like some alien is trying to get out from under the hood.

L88-ZR1-Z06 · 04-17-2008, 11:18 PM

it makes you think... does gm have a bunch of old malibus just sittin around that they didn't sell?

04-17-2008, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
drew630 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pulaski TN Drives: 04 Silverado Z71 Posts: 2,628	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Ahh, that explains what the devices on the front of the gray Malibu were for. __________________ My Current Ride: 2004 Z71 Silverado Family: Father 2007 Solstice, Mother 2003 Envoy XL & Bro 2004 Z71 Silverado

04-17-2008, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
tgagneguam 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,671	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Daily I'm becoming more convinced that GM is actually serious about the Volt's 2010 launch. I think that that's a good thing. If it delivers as advertised, and even if it carries a $40,000 pricetag, I think it will be a homerun.

04-17-2008, 03:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
KretzJ 2.5L Iron Duke Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 16	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is That's FREAKIN' SWEET! (nod to Peter Griffin) -John K.

04-17-2008, 03:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ambalanche 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pensacola, Florida Drives: '07 Corvette Z51 Posts: 1,188	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Awesome! I'm glad they don't already have the true Volt body on the road yet. Cammo or not, leaves some to the imagination! __________________ GM better hope the Volt is a runaway success, because *all* the eggs are in that basket!

04-17-2008, 04:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
GMfan1111 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in a undisclosed location somewhere in the metro detroit area Drives: 2001 Chevy Malibu LS Posts: 1,105	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Sweet I actually plan on heading out to Milford sometime tomorrow Wish me luck guys __________________ The 100 Mpg Prius is Vaporware “The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair” "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools". - Douglas Adams - Current ride: 2001 Chevy Malibu LS (happy 91,000 miles )

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04-17-2008, 04:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kennyboy 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Drives: Caddy CTS Posts: 1,316	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is That hood scope is so sporty looking...... __________________

04-17-2008, 05:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
gardnet1 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Drives: 2008 Ford Escape Limited 2006 Ford Focus ZX4 Posts: 929	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Maybe that's why Lutz said the Volt was so bad in the wind tunnel. haha!

04-17-2008, 06:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
PontiacBixler 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NY Drives: 2005 Pontiac G6 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Posts: 816	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is Funny how all it took were some fender flares to make the last gen Malibu look better.... I didn't think it was possible..... __________________ God, I still can't believe that the GTO is getting yet another chance while the Firebird has to sit out yet again.... How many times is the b@st@rd child going to get at bat before the venerated veteran gets to return to the game???

04-17-2008, 07:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
chevydlrmn 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minneapolis Drives: 2006 CK15753 LQ9 2007 1WL27 LS4 Posts: 767	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is The red Malibu was shown in a video I've seen. I thought it was here or I would have posted it. Last edited by chevydlrmn : 04-17-2008 at 07:53 PM.

04-17-2008, 08:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 4,795	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is So I spent maybe $30 filling up the Malibu today...I will gladly allow GM to install E-Flex and stick those stupid looking fender flares and the absurd hood bulge onto my Malibu in order to save money on gas. I'd even do the testing myself. Yes? No? __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

04-17-2008, 08:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
zete 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NCR, Great White North Posts: 2,831	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is That red Malibu looks like some alien is trying to get out from under the hood.

04-17-2008, 11:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
L88-ZR1-Z06 2.5L Iron Duke Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 16	Re: Gray Malibu is NOT e-flex mule; this red one is it makes you think... does gm have a bunch of old malibus just sittin around that they didn't sell?

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