How the Chevy Volt Became a BMW

[lkimura]

One person's perspective on how BMW is migrating their future cars to Voltec-like technology.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11451...ame-a-bmw.html

[majicbz07]

I really hope Voltec 2.0 will be out by the time the i8 comes out. It really depends on how BMW prices it and what real world numbers it produces.

[Dr. Show-Me]

Wow, a Volt copy at only 3 times the price. BMW, the Ultimate Copy Cat!

[jzchev28]

I hadn't heard about any of this, wow! And here I thought this title was talking about the ELR. lol. When they release this the ELR will finally have a competitor! lol.

[Canuck]

The top brass at BMW got their hands on a Volt and after test-driving it, they concluded that if they were unable to match the superior performance of the Chevy Volt, over time they would be creamed in the market. So what to do? BMW needed access to GM's secret sauce for this revolutionary powertrain.

I predict that as the BMW i8 hits the market in early 2014, either of two things will happen:

1. Now that BMW has validated the Volt design by pulling out all the stops to copy it, it will finally bring the Volt the kind of respect it earned right away by those who have actually driven the car -- whether automotive journalists or, of course, the owners themselves.

2. On the downside potential, will the fact that Frank Weber led the Volt project and then transferred it to BMW, transfer the Volt pox onto BMW's door? In other words, will this new car from BMW mean that the BMW image would turn negative because a key BMW engineer led the Chevy Volt project? Will the people who criticize the Volt today start dumping on BMW to the same degree?

It is sad if GM needs BMW to validate the greatness of the Volt.

[donmateo]

This is an interesting article and I hope they don't butcher the poor car and give it a bad rep.

[BlackGTP]

Interesting story. I bet GM will not make a single reference to the similarity to the BMW in any advertising for a couple of reasons. First is that GM never seems to do that kind of thing. Second, even if GM doesn't submitt a lawsuit for patent infringement, I bet a commercial targeting the BMW similarities will spark some kind of lawsuit from BMW.

How does this even happen? I'd think GM (and other auto makers) would have covenants not to compete, though it seems like there is a lot of cross town jumping going on in the auto industry.

[Canuck]

BLACKGTP, what about the CTS-V commercial touting MRC with the Ferrari? GM is making the type of reference you state they never do.

[vcs2600]

It is sad if GM needs BMW to validate the greatness of the Volt.

Volt was a great idea and was bound to be copied by someone. Better BMW than Kia.

[BlackGTP]

BLACKGTP, what about the CTS-V commercial touting MRC with the Ferrari? GM is making the type of reference you state they never do.

I stand corrected!

[vcs2600]

BLACKGTP, what about the CTS-V commercial touting MRC with the Ferrari? GM is making the type of reference you state they never do.

They avoid direct comparisons and go for the ones that don't make much sense. (Classic example: Lee Iacocca saying the K-car had a bigger trunk than a Mercedes.) No Ferrari buyer is cross-shopping a Cadillac, so it doesn't matter. Claims about direct competitors (BMW & Lexus) will be much more reserved.

[germeezy1]

The Volt's head engineer was championed, and made an offer that he could not refuse by BMW. If I were GM I would have matched whatever they were offering him to work for BMW.

[All Star]

He started losing me a little bit when he theorized we could see a Suburban with Voltec technology.

[70eldo]

He started losing me a little bit when he theorized we could see a Suburban with Voltec technology.

Isn't there already a Tahoe and Escalade Hybrid?

[germeezy1]

Bob Lutz now works for a company called Via Motors which offers Voltec like conversions for full size SUV's so perhaps the idea isn't as far fetched as you believe it is?