Volt leaks

   

Hear that? It's the sound of an underwhelmed army of car geeks, trying to hide their disappointment about the looks of the long-awaited production Chevrolet Volt. 

After nearly a year of carefully husbanding the release of any information on its extended-range electric car, set for release in 2010, General Motors Corp. today accidentally leaked a batch of photos of the Volt. Before today, the only full-figure images available had been some grainy cellphone shots of a Volt being used for the filming of the "Transformers 2" movie.

The original intent had been to release the photos a week from today, in line with a press unveiling in Detroit, according to a source at GM who declined to be named. The 10 pics featured the Volt along with GM execs like Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, chief Volt engineer Andrew Farah and Bob Boniface, head of the Volt's design studio.

"They were posted on a GM site inadvertently," said GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan. "We immediately pulled them back."  But it was too late -- they were papering the Internet in minutes.

And just as quickly, there was a flurry of debate about whether the Volt lived up to expectations.

While the prototype Volt, unveiled at the 2007 Detroit auto show (and pictured second from top), looked like something from "I, Robot" or "Blade Runner," the production model (top) is decidedly less futuristic. Although it keeps the sharp-looking side-view mirrors, much that was new about the prototype has been replaced with the smooth, rounded styling familiar to family sedans on most dealership lots today. Allegedly, the prototype Volt's design scored poorly in ...

... wind-tunnel tests, and a car like this lives and dies on aerodynamics. That might explain the new shape, but try telling that to disappointed fans. 

Internet comment boards quickly filled to capacity with unflattering comparisons to Acura sedans and GM compact cars and comments like:

DO. NOT. WANT. This car went from super cool. To super lame Prius wanna-be.

and

I want to minimalize my carbon impact as much as the next person, but can’t it be done with some style?

The original pics of it was cooler; short back-end, slight edging on the door. I liked it then. Now it just looks like some new Honda. Bo-ring.

Of course, it wasn't all negative. Our own auto critic, Dan Neil, seemed satisfied with the design, and over at fan site GM-Volt.com, the 200-and-counting commenters, many of whom have undoubtedly signed up on the site's unofficial list of 35,000 people waiting to buy the Volt, the joy was palpable.

Amazing! It’s everything the Volt should be. Very aggressive, modern/futuristic, and expensive looking. Really like the confident expression on the “face” of the car. Also it’s got great detailing and really shows off its price.

Considering GM's liberal use of public relations employees' comments in blog post comment spaces, is it possible that the GM-volt.com boards are full of plants? (Well, perhaps not, since they typically identify themselves as such.)

Meanwhile, GM is revealing no further data on the Volt until Tuesday of next week, when the car will be unveiled and execs like Lutz and GM Chairman Rick Wagoner will be there to preach the gospel.

-- Ken Bensinger

Photo of production Volt from Edmunds.com; Photo of Volt prototype from General Motors

Comments

[Chris]

I prefer the new look, as opposed to the prototype look. Yes the prototype look is cooler, but I am now a family man. I need something practical that I can fit a couple of car seats into. Something that I can put groceries or the occasional bigger item (microwave, dollhouse, etc) in. The Prototype looks like it is for the schmoes that want to use it specifically as a status symbol, rather than as a practical car.

What GM really did with the change in body design, intentionally or not, was to make it look more useful to a bigger section of the population.

[Ghared]

I'm glad it doesn't look like the bat mobile. That was really stupid. The new design is better. If anything, I would have prefered it to be smaller. But let's get these cars on the road.

[Gary Merchant]

It looks like the GM designers grafted the older style 4 door Malibu greenhouse on top of the Volt concept's racy 2 door! The groundbreaking tech stuff is amazing, but wrapping it in such a bland shell is sure to limit it's appeal. Obviously, the car won't be cheap! I for one, simply refuse to buy and drive a plain vanilla looking car.... I'm sure they'll be able to sell some of these, but like a previous writer suggested, another manufacturer (Nissan, Honda, Ford) wil come along and make a much better looking version. Thanks GM for leading the way, but no thanks for bringing us another car that visually puts me to sleep!

[chuck karlisle]

I want all of you to drive electric cars or ride bicycles. why?

cause I need all the GAS i can get to put into my corvette, you over there, get back in the electric line.....we did not invite you into the gas line.

thats right, you know your place..

[Estabahn]

this incarnation looks fine...Ugly is the PRIUS...and to all those that bought that POS...WAIT till you have to replace the battery pack...CHA-CHING !the volt has the best battery technology available today.....Man are you kidding
I will buy this car in a heart beat as long as the 40,000 price tag does not stick....

[Andrew]

UGLY. Super-lame looking design. Please, why would any want to go green with looks like that. Looks like a generic lame-ass car. At least Tesla knows whats up.

[Kirk M]

Aesthetics over efficiency and function is hardly just an American reaction and neither is yelling about being green...it's a typical reaction of the typical human being to be correct about it.

For myself, I have to be more practical about it. I don't care if the thing looks like dog turd on wheels as long as it functions efficiently and is actually usable. being up in the mountains of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont I doubt we'll see much use of the Volt around here until it gets to the point it can do some real climbing. However, this kind of car is a couple of decades overdue so I'm glad to see this technology finally arrive here in the States.

[Bill]

Not a bad looking ride, I thaught the whole idea was to reduce the emisions from vehicles and cut our dependency on oil. If this is accomplished I think it will be a big hit for GM. All those who don't like it just keep sending our money overseas.

[rich]

This is rediculous. If your going to invent/reuse/redefine an electric vehicle, give us something that has not been done many times over...hance the Prius, Nissan Altima, Honda Civic, etc. If I want to buy another hybrid/electric car, I'll buy the Prius, with its ability to last much longer...maybe because it's a Toyota. When it comes to cars, America is way behind the curve. Take a look at the offerings from BMW or AUDI or Mercedes, for get all the gadgets and give me a car that will drive and handle great! There is no comparison from US manufacturers. Yet! I thought this would be one of the steps up from Chevrolet...I was sadly mistaken!

[R Wilson]

I don't get it. Are the hybrid makers trying to make it impossible to take road trips? This car looks like it has enough trunk space for a dufflebag. I need more trunk space!

[Frank]

Yes, it looks really, really...KEEN, that's it, really keen!

I'd say even more about how really keen it looks, but the GM shift change bell just rang and I need to get back to work.

[johnjohn]

I can't believe anyone would fall for the "accidental" unveling of the Volt. We all know this is a caculated unveiling plan to generate "buzz"/interest on the internet. Looking at the styling of the car, GM know it needs all the help it can get to gain interest as the styling look just plain dull. As for aerodynamic, anyone can design a n ugly jelly bean that will slice through the wind. The challenge is to design a stylish car and still mantain good aerodynamics. I guess GM engineers failed on the challenge again. Heck, I'd give up 10% of the range for a more stylish ride if I have to.

[Nick Gerace]

YES, I WORK FOR GM!

The internet is a wonderful thing. People can sit on their behinds and lob keystrokes at a picture all day long, but until you spend a few hours in a wind tunnel and understand drag coefficient, you are ignoring physics.

Styles change. Physics don't. As the years go by and function leads design, you will see lots of these trends in styling.

But let's not forget the meat and potatoes of this car's development. It is unlike anything done before, so everythign was new. So new, in fact, that the prototype was offered before the technology to make it work even existed.

This is the first Volt. We have the largest, most labor consuming factors under control. Let this be the beginning of better days for alternative energy vehicles instead of a slam on what the shape of the car needed to be for today.

Yea, they pay me but I still think the car looks way better than the Prius.

[Beaten by Asia]

It's the Honda FCX-Clarity. Looks like somebody (GM) gave up and went overseas to see if somebody smarter could bail them out by letting GM re-badge another maker's car. That must have been a very big check.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/11/honda-fcx-clari.html

[Lee]

I'll wait for a foreign car to make the pluggins look better and run better. For $20-$30K, it has to have the looks, feel, and dependability.

I hate to compare things, but for this price range, i'd rather get in a better quality car (exterior and Interior) and pay the gas.

[Lenny P]

Folks, the question we should be asking is which design is more fuel efficient. Does the production model cut the air easier than the prototype and, if so, by how much? Then we can decide whether the trade offs (if any) between style and functionality.

All cars designed for efficiency will end up looking similar as the they must all ascribe to the same laws of physics.

[John Silver]

I thought the concept car looked stupid; I'm relieved to see the actual styling. Good luck to GM, and may the battery coolant not leak!

[Bob S]

There are only so many different looks that can be achieved if aerodynamics is driving the design. The car looks just fine. They can differentiate from the competition with unique interiors and the ~40 miles electric-only.

[do. not. want.]

Chevy is still making cars? I thought GM had shut them down to concentrate on making vacuum cleaners and waffle irons instead.

[perks]

The original Volt had me all hyped and ready to turn in my hemi-powered Dodge Charger. With that kind of styling AND not burning gas at a rate of 13 mpg, how could I not be excited about this car?

Now...well, I can't say I have the same level of enthusiasm. It looks like the lovechild of a Malibu-Accord mating. Not ugly, but certainly not gripping.

Not that the production version is necessarily a terrible car. I can understand that the abrupt shapes and edges of the concept would wreck the aerodynamics. That's basic physics. But now I'll probably buy one for my wife instead of for myself.

[Pasadena'ed]

I'll forgive what it looks like if it's at a price MOST PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

$40k? If it starts ANYTHING near $30k instead of closer to $20k, this is just another example of GM hammering another nail into their own coffin (as impossible as that sounds).

Honda's got their Insight 4-door hybrid coming out next year and it's rumored to start at $18.5k. Sure, it's not a plug-in hybrid, but does GM think average-joe-'merican has the cash OR credit for a $40k car in the current economic climate?

GM forfeited their relevance in alternative powered cars when they canned their own EV1 and decided to spend the subsequent years maximizing their profits on large trucks and SUVs, which have since pulled their company down further into the red. Now they're trying to erase and make up for that monumentally BAD decision by hurrying this "me too" vehicle, which in many ways is INFERIOR to their EV1, to the market.

The only thing'll that will guarantee GM a foothold in the future is Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine. They need it badly to go back in time so they punch their past selves in the head before they make those same irresponsible and stupid mistakes.

[Irwin]

Typical ignorant comments and domestic car bashing on these boards. How predictable. For those crying for substance over form, Volt is probably the most revolutionary car to come to life in the last 30 years. It is the first step towards an all-electric future in motoring. Yes, Volt has an engine and thus is being billed as a "hybrid". But unlike stop-gap temporary solutions like the Prius, Volt's engine doesn't drive the wheels, it only charges the battery. It will be the first truly mass-produced electric car.

[BF]

Everybody is stupid about some things.
Mine among many is URL.

The Volt is a purpose car. The purpose is to save gasoline by the most efficient methods possible including aerodynamics.

Note that the people who cannot spell do not understand the purpose of the car, either.

[scorebaby]

Yet another case of the actual product being a generic dumbing down of an edgy concept design. It makes me wonder if the design was dictated by a mix of engineering compromises, manufacturing limitations and crashworthiness concerns, or was it influenced by auto execs wanting to play it safe for fear of turning off mainstream consumers. Maybe a mix. It certainly doesn't look like a Prius though, not like the new Honda Insight. It just looks like a run-of-the-mill GM product. YAWN.

[DocM]

Sigh....

Personally I could give a rip what it looks like. With a 40 mile electric range my wife and I will end up using more gas in our lawn mower than in our car - and even there we're considering a battery/electric mower and a roof PV system to charge the car with.