Chevrolet Volt/Cadillac ELR Thread: 2016 EPA Ratings

[YSSMAN]

God, I think it looks just amazing, absolutely beautiful. I really do hope that GM gets a good kick with a car like this, because truth be told, it looks like they did their homework.

Some more non-studio photos:

I like how the exterior is modern, but not in a way that is hitting you over the head with how "green" the car is (I'm looking at YOU Toyota and Honda). It will fit well into the lineup, and most of all, will serve as a great halo car at GM along with the ZR1. Yes, its really weird saying that.

I love the interior too (big surprise, I know). It looks awesome, appears to be pretty high-quality stuff, and I'm sure the iPod-like center console is going to change the game a little bit with other cars and trucks. I love the little details scattered across the interior, from the classic two-tone dash (ala Malibu), to the neat printed door fabric, and it saying "VOLT" where the power button is... Which is like how you turn on a computer monitor.

Oh, and there is this:

Vehicle Type: 5-door, front-wheel-drive sedan
Category: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)
E-REV Competitors: none
Chassis: Independent McPherson struts front, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering
Seating Capacity: Four
Manufacturing location: Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly (subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives)
Top speed (mph): 100
EV range, city (miles): 40 (based on EPA city cycle)

I'm very proud of this car, and I'm very excited to see them whenever they decide to start showing up...

EDIT:



A good look at the interior. Autoblog is saying that you can order the center stack in other colors, including black, gray and even green. NICE.

 

[EA11R]

Stylistically, I must say: I very much like this car. It's got some crazy SVX/Duckbill-Spoiler thing going on, and they've somehow mirrored that into the front quarter-panel indicators in a pointy, curvy way. From that point forward, it's just a rounder, friendlier version of Chevy, retooled just enough for me to accept it on an efficient vehicle. It's a fairly disorganized, discordant mess, really, but it's totally eclectic (sp?) and funky and I absolutely love it. Yes, the concept looked more exciting and infinitely more masculine, but this is better, in my opinion, because it actually is a car, something that moves and works, that we'll actually be able to see.

The interior looks nice, but some tactile feedback from the buttons couldn't hurt. It's like a huge touch screen, and I absolutely despise touch screens for their total lack of tactile response. It's like, you're always checking to make sure you actually pressed a button, then checking if it was the right button.

But, at least it's pretty.

 

[V1P3R]

I can't wait for the people to call in about how their labels rubbed off the center console.

 

[YSSMAN]

The interior looks nice, but some tactile feedback from the buttons couldn't hurt. It's like a huge touch screen, and I absolutely despise touch screens for their total lack of tactile response. It's like, you're always checking to make sure you actually pressed a button, then checking if it was the right button.

I'm a bit worried about the long-term life as well. My iPod mini has given up some of its responsiveness over the years, so I'd be interested to see how long they plan to have these pieces last. Perhaps it will turn out to be longer than a "conventional" dash to begin with?

BTW: Not only is the dash like a giant touch screen, but the screen above it is touch operated as well. Its a TOUCH OVERLOAD!

 

[a6m5]

Is this the new Acura RSX Hybrid?

I like the looks. I think they went (just)little bit too far with the future-look, but I think it's much cooler looking than a Prius.

Touch sensors, I do wish they'd change that. My last, and very minor complaint would be the displays + the controls. It seems way too busy to me. But I've always preferred too much over too little, so I'm OK with them.

I don't know much about electrical cars, but I do like what I'm seeing. 👍

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Wow it looks awesome compared to those shots with execs in front from before, and now the belt line black strip is shiny instead of matte black like those earlier pics, much better. I really like it.

Just one question, how much more would the EV range be without everything in the interior being damned electric?

 

[Omnis]

I'm disappointed in the console controls. I demand buttons for blind-tactile response while I'm driving. Using my iphone on the road is hard enough. Touch functionality is only acceptable if you have to make way for screen space. The entire dash isn't a screen, so I don't know why they chose not to use standard buttons. Probably would've been cheaper too. Also, lol at the marketing guy for making the excuse that its lack of space is due to sportiness.

I don't see where you're supposed to plug the car in, though. I hope it's well insulated and weatherproofed... wouldn't want any kind of corrosion down the line. And speaking of plugging-in, that method is lost on people like me who live in condos and never have their cars parked near an outlet. How does the in-car generator work anyway?

edit: Oh, and get rid of those nasty black window under-sills (unless they're function solar panels or something).

 

[Joey D]

You plug it in behind the fuel door looking thing on the back passenger side.

 

[Tornado]

Stylistically, I must say: I very much like this car. It's got some crazy SVX/Duckbill-Spoiler thing going on

Thank you. I though I was going crazy.

 

[homeforsummer]

Haven't actually been in this thread yet so knew very little about the Volt! It's certainly a nice looking thing, but I wouldn't go so far as to say this...

God, I think it looks just amazing, absolutely beautiful.

It's a handsome thing for sure, but beautiful is probably taking it a little too far! It's modern, sharp and interesting, but there are too many lines leading to nowhere and the wheels are too small (understandably of course, and at least it's not marketing-led in that respect...) for it to be a genuinely good looking car.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'd say "beautiful" fits in well enough, but as we've all said time and time again, styling is subjective. Remember, I've got a stretched-out Corolla in my driveway, so my taste in style my be a bit askew. I just really like the look, its more progressive than the Malibu was a year or so ago, and in the end it should make the car appealing enough for sale on the global market. Well, unless Opel/Vauxhall/Holden think they deserve their own version. Then there is the long-rumored Cadillac model... Which will likely be rather good-looking as well.

 

[Joey D]

Looks like GM is planning on sprinkling the technology throughout it's subsects.

Spawn of Volt: More details on more variants
GM is not going to let the Volt or its E-Flex powertrain get lonely. The first Volt -- the one due in late 2010 -- hasn't been finished yet, yet is so popular that GM is publicly theorizing about how far it can spread the technology through the empire. Ideas include a smaller car with a smaller battery pack that could go 20 miles on pure electric, and be much cheaper. A proper wagon, just "a little bit bigger," could also make the cut.

And those variants don't all need to be Chevrolets. Other GM brands will certainly be blessed with Volt technology, if not an outright case of brand engineering. Cadillac is one of the wolves thought to be circling the Volt's henhouse, and using Volt systems in a Caddy might allow GM to make a profit on such a car without tax breaks. If there were a more economical Volt with a shorter electric range, Saturn would seem to be a prime candidate.

It looks like the sole E-Flex powertrain option not planned is an electric-only car, one without a range-extending gasoline engine. GM feels that people would find it too risky to have no backup. But back to that first car, the plain vanilla Chevy Volt that's still two years away from showrooms – a Volt team member doesn't appear to have forgotten the prime directive: "You always have to do the first car right and well." Amen.

 

[YSSMAN]

Seems logical, at the very least. The Cadillac-badged Volt seems like a no brainer, although I'm pretty certain they're shove a E-Flex system under the BLS once that goes RWD. Probably. Otherwise, they'll just heavily redress a Volt, which to be honest, will still sell plenty fine.

The idea of sticking it in a smaller car, however, is interesting. That makes me wonder if they'd give that to Saturn or Pontiac, to increase the "sportyness" somehow. The wagon idea seems like a good one too, but given that this one is already a hatchback, it shouldn't be too much of a stretch...

 

[Jim Prower]

gee...now I want one with a Cobalt SS drivetrain.

It looks great...too bad it's a hybrid, and also too bad the Liberals are probably gonna ignore it and stick with Toyota, but it looks great. Style-wise, it Reminds me somewhat of a CR-X with four doors.

((How much does GM need to pay Al Gore to make an endorsement?))

 

[Philly]

It still looks great in those un-doctored up shots. That's saying something. Most cars don't really seem all that striking under car show lights and out of the studio.

It'll be interesting to see how well this car does with the liberals. I guess I'll have to wait until summer 2011 to see how many are out and about at home.

 

[YSSMAN]

Apparently There is a Bit of Confusion Over How the Volt Operates

In short, while the concept car allowed the gasoline engine to re-power the battery while moving, the production car will only use the gasoline engine to maintain a specific charge on the Volt (ie, it can only be fully-charged using an electrical outlet).

...interesting...

So, here is a different question: How will this differ from the system that will inevitably be used by Chrysler, Toyota, and presumably Ford as well?

 

[Omnis]

Apparently There is a Bit of Confusion Over How the Volt Operates

In short, while the concept car allowed the gasoline engine to re-power the battery while moving, the production car will only use the gasoline engine to maintain a specific charge on the Volt (ie, it can only be fully-charged using an electrical outlet).

...interesting...

So, here is a different question: How will this differ from the system that will inevitably be used by Chrysler, Toyota, and presumably Ford as well?

That's what I was confused about as well. That's why I posted my comment about GM stupidly not considering people who live in apartments/condos. You'd think that they'd be smart enough to realize that the apartment/condo demographic would be one of the most eager to save gas. How many houses with garages are in big cities, anyway?

 

[YSSMAN]

Depends on where you are I think. Most of the houses in our downtown area will have at least a small garage, but that doesn't always mean that there is a power outlet feeding juice to the yard. That being said, most houses that I'm at have some kind of outlet outside, so that may be what GM is hoping for.

Problem is, are they thinking that we're going to have "Watchmen-style" electric outlets all over the streets? That offices and apartment complexes are going to convert their stuff outside the building to facilitate these people's needs?

I guess I'd look at it this way: Most people don't drive more than 40 miles in a day, and if they have a way to get access to some kind of electrical outlet, they will.

Who wants to bet that the theft of power cords goes up in the near future?

 

[ND4SPD]

Heh. Instead of jumper cables, Volt owners will be carrying extension cords....

 

[V1P3R]

I'm gonna come up with this now, so it's common when the above happens...

Volt'D

 

[Omnis]

Depends on where you are I think. Most of the houses in our downtown area will have at least a small garage, but that doesn't always mean that there is a power outlet feeding juice to the yard. That being said, most houses that I'm at have some kind of outlet outside, so that may be what GM is hoping for.

Problem is, are they thinking that we're going to have "Watchmen-style" electric outlets all over the streets? That offices and apartment complexes are going to convert their stuff outside the building to facilitate these people's needs?

I guess I'd look at it this way: Most people don't drive more than 40 miles in a day, and if they have a way to get access to some kind of electrical outlet, they will.

Who wants to bet that the theft of power cords goes up in the near future?

Power cords? Don't you mean theft of electricity?

 

[Keef]

I suppose it'll be difficult for some people to find a plug during the night. I would expect the Volt to be simply a commuter car for the vast majority of owners so that might become an issue. But while I don't know about Manhattan, most of the residents in Dayton live in houses with electrical outlets in the garage. Especially those homeowners who can afford a $40,000 Volt. There are very few homes in Dayton (say, high-end apartments and condos) where a $40,000-car owner would not have access to their own garage's electricity. Since it's doubtful they won't own a Volt at all, there's not much reason to retrofit low income apartments with Volt Hookups, or whatever. Also, anybody who drives one to Florida and runs out of power is an idiot.

 

[YSSMAN]

Power cords? Don't you mean theft of electricity?

Its going to be messy, thats for sure. Especially if everyone and their sister gets in it for most of the automakers. The way our government is going, I wouldn't be surprised to see them hand out "free electricity" soon enough...

 

[Philly]

Maybe Chrysler will offer free electricity with their new EVs...

 

[buickgnx88]

They should throw in a free 100' extension cord for sure.

 

[Joey D]

Wouldn't it just be easier to have a retractable power cord attached to the car? There would be no theft unless you cut it.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm not sure how GM will do it, but you can bet that it will have to be some kind of heavy-duty cord that will cost a bazillion dollars if you have to replace it. It seems like most of the Volt concept stuff hooked up from the wall, not of the car, and I believe even Toyota is using a similar concept with the PHV Prius.

 

[Joey D]

I haven't seen anywhere but will the car be 110V or will it run on 220V? 110V seems like it would be pretty light weight all things considered.

 

[YSSMAN]

Yeah, I have no idea. GM hasn't been overly solid on all of the details throughout. But, they did try to clear up this operational charge question:

Edmunds Inside Line stirred up kind of a hornets nest yesterday when they reported the Chevy Volt won't use the engine to recharge the battery, spurring a similar story from us. Both of us were told by GM PR we were correct in making that assertion. Turns out the PR team was having the same problems both us and Inside Line were having in understanding how the Volt's engine/battery/motor system will work. GM's VP for Global Program Management, John Lauckner, rebuffing the initial claims, stated, in no uncertain terms, the engine can recharge the battery, but recharging the battery is not its objective. Whatever that means. All we know is engines are most efficient when operated at a steady state — tons of tricks can be implemented to optimize performance at a constant RPM, and that's the plan for the Volt.

As with any steady-state output, sometimes there will be surpluses. Those surpluses of electricity not used by the electric motor, as might occur during light loads, will be dumped into the battery so that energy isn't wasted. But recharging the battery is not the objective of running the engine. In addition to extra electricity from the engine/generator, energy reclaimed from regenerative braking will also be stored in the battery. Over an extended period of these surpluses being added to the battery, it's possible for the engine to switch off and the car to return to all-EV mode for an unspecified distance.

So, let's be clear here — contrary to the second set claims of GM PR on the Volt's engine — it can in fact recharge the batteries. You could almost say GM was for this claim before it was against it — and is now for it again. Stinkin' buncha flip-floppers.

 

[niky]

Makes sense... the engine is there to provide continuous power during cruising... but obviously, if recharging is the only motive, the engine would take too long to recharge the batteries, and would use too much power.

C'mon... GM was pretty clear when it called the Volt a "depleting charge" hybrid... right?