Volt Revealed!

[chaseabryant]

Originally Posted by GMOwner

Come On Guys?!?!?!

If you think this car is innovative, then I got a bridge (or in today's world a "bridge loan") in Brooklyn to sell you.

OK, objectively speaking, here is what I see at first:

* can only do 40 miles on one charge...
* looks a lot like a Prius (yes, it does)
* did I see $40K price tag?
* doesn't look like the car at the shows
* outstanding interior
* we probably can't buy until 2011

I'm just as much a GM fan as anyone else, but, I really gotta tell you, this car doesn't inspire me to BUY IT!!!!

I see only those people who live really close to a train station (and who take the train to work), grocery store, and any other location one frequents in one's life in a suburb. For everything else, I'd use my regular car.

I can see Hyundai, Renault, Kia, etc. as companies that can drum up a car LIKE this and compete against it for half the price in a couple of years...

If you are a true GM fan, you cannot always see the bright side--you must be true to what you see--and that is what I see...

You do realize that it is the 40 miles in electric mode only right? The car is also equipped with what can basically be described as a generator to re-charge the batteries, giving you outstanding fuel economy when traveling farther than 40 miles...

-Chase

[calgaryhhr]

Now that the world has seen GM's revolutionary design for late 2010/early 2011 I wonder if anyone is concerned about what the competition might produce to compete with this over the next 2 or 3 year.

There still exists a long time frame between now and when the public will be able to get a Volt. If I'm not mistaken, Lutz has recently said the public will not be able to get one before Nov 2010, by any means. That gives Toyota and Honda and all other competition two years to come up with something sleeker and better.

At this point I will point out that the Volt is more than just a sheet metal body with a flashy interior. It's a technological revolution in terms of powertrain. The revolutionary propulsion system might be more difficult to engineer but we don't really know how far along the competition is.

People do have a tendency to buy a vehicle that catches their eye and provides them with, what is percieved to be, the nicest interior or the latest and greatest gadgets.

As much as we have all wanted to see this vehicle, in exterior and interior trim, maybe it would have been better to keep the design under cover until much closer to the release. I wonder if they will continue to update and redesign to provide a fresh and current look for the actual release to customers.

I would be pretty excited to get a car with this type of interior tomorrow but in two years this could be seriously disappointing.

[powervette]

I am very excited GM. Happy birthday from Poland!
P.S Volt is certainly a splendid job but I will stick to Camaro & Corvette

[Ghrankenstein]

I can see Hyundai, Renault, Kia, etc. as companies that can drum up a car LIKE this and compete against it for half the price in a couple of years...

Not to mention Chery, and Toyota...

I'm as inspired by this machine as anyone else at GMI, but the possibility of price-dump imports is somewhere between really scary and and an eventuality. The amount of research and money that went into developing the Volt that the world's less ethical manufacturers will soon have available for free, and that the American consumer will, of course, circumvent paying for, is, well, staggering. I just hope it doesn't turn out that way.

Ghrank

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by saubouin

This looks nothing like the car i saw at the DC Auto Show. As a longtime enthusiast of GM I have never been more disappointed then I am now. Both my father & I have been waiting to get one of these. And I can guarantee you that we will NOT. Yesterday i sold my Buick Roadmaster. My 98 Trans Am is also sold. Now i just need to get rid of my 06 GTO and GMC Sierra and be done with GM forever. They built a "punishment car", exactly what they said they did not want to do. This is got to be GM's biggest let down. Worse then building the Aztek, worse then killing the Impalla & Fiero & Camaro. Just ridiculous. This is the car they were pinning all their hopes on. They used the angular looking VOLT in so many marketing pieces yet they knew long ago it would never look like that. GM you have finally lost my loyalty.

I saw a response of "good riddance". All I can say is DITTO!

[neqqy]

The average consumer does very little research and will be looking at the sticker price. GM is going to have to be just as revolutionary in marketing this vehicle as they were in making it. If they don't get tax credits, the Volt will be nothing more than a collector's piece. The economy as you mentioned is bad with no relief in sight. I am cheering for the success of the Volt, but I had my doubts about it from the start. I thought the money developing it would have been better spent on shuttering brands and factories or spread across the entire fleet to feature match competitors. The car is wonderful. The problem is, will it ever be profitable?

Originally Posted by TriShield

It looks well executed inside and out.

The biggest detriment to this car is going to the be the pricepoint. It's rumored it will be $40k+ and no matter how GM may try to spin it that is going to be a hard pill for the public to swallow. Especially given the economy.

Also, GM absolutely must deliver the promised range on electricity. If it turns out otherwise the car will really be a bust.

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by rme8494

What is up with that gear shifter in the middle below the media player controls?? Do you push it all the way in for park?

What gear shift?? Won't have one..you don't have a shifter per se for an electric only drivetrain.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Astra RL

Its the Apple iCar excellent interior. I want one so bad. I can see this being like an iPod people are willing to pay the price to get it. They even have the iphone battery symbol
Wait do I see battery trip 118 miles in the image I think I do. That could change a lot of things. But, under the battery gauge it says 31 miles I wonder which is correct.

I don't think that's 118 miles, I'm pretty sure you're interpreting wrong. The 31 miles range with 80% battery life is left is the right one. That woul mean 100% should get you a 38.75 mile range.

[Jedi]

Originally Posted by saubouin

This looks nothing like the car i saw at the DC Auto Show. As a longtime enthusiast of GM I have never been more disappointed then I am now. Both my father & I have been waiting to get one of these. And I can guarantee you that we will NOT. Yesterday i sold my Buick Roadmaster. My 98 Trans Am is also sold. Now i just need to get rid of my 06 GTO and GMC Sierra and be done with GM forever. They built a "punishment car", exactly what they said they did not want to do. This is got to be GM's biggest let down. Worse then building the Aztek, worse then killing the Impalla & Fiero & Camaro. Just ridiculous. This is the car they were pinning all their hopes on. They used the angular looking VOLT in so many marketing pieces yet they knew long ago it would never look like that. GM you have finally lost my loyalty.

HaHa! How old are you! Why so negative?

[Mr. Burns]

Interior kicks ass but exterior really sucks. The greenhouse is really ugly and the black under the belt line gives the impression that it's lower, reducing the sportiness.

Exterior design: fail

[GM-Joe]

It actually looks pretty darn good; high 20's or low 30's good.

[SirRaven]

Originally Posted by 2648562

Anyhow, congrats for now GM. It looks good, especially considering cars like the Prius. 40 miles just won't work for a lot of people though.

What 40 miles not enough, that like 2 days of weekday driving for me.

Originally Posted by bobojay

What gear shift?? Won't have one..you don't have a shifter per se for an electric only drivetrain.

AHHH do I have to say it again...

JUST BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION DOESNT MEAN YOU DONT HAVE TO SHIFT

The electric motor/car is not psychic, you still have to tell it if you want to go forward, reverse, spin freely (Neutral) or dont spin at all (park). Now things wont change in a mechanical transmission, but the electricity sent to the electric motor will have to change. There wont be 1,2,3,4 etc, but you will still have PRND (dont need the L though)

[Koasterking]

Wow! This car looks phenominal!

Pinch me, but is this what the production version will look like? Only asking because its too good.

[Beau]

Interior kicks ass but exterior really sucks. The greenhouse is really ugly and the black under the belt line gives the impression that it's lower, reducing the sportiness.

Exterior design: fail

Umm. The LOWER look makes it it look less sporty? WHaaaa?

And I think you fail Burns.

[Buickman]

car is nice enough, better than leaked photos. now if only marketing would remember how upcoming models were kept under wraps til announcement, even cloaked at dealers til the big events. so much for mystery and excitement. by the time this thing hits the streets, the party will be already over. sad...