Was GM smart to "mainstream" the Chevrolet Volt's appearance?
Chris Paukert
Assuming that this is indeed the production Chevrolet Volt, it's a long ways off from the concept car that GM whetted our appetite with. Depending on where you sit, that could be a good thing or a major disappointment. Do you think that the production Volt is too conservative? Did Chevy do the right thing by giving the design more familial, mainstream appeal, or did it water-down a potential game-changer?
Concept:
Production:
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Ducati Minor
Yes. In this era of homogenization in design, risking a radical and bold aesthetic can alienate a new technology turn. The final product is still a departure from the Bowtie norm and sticks out. The concept was simply too radical to appear functional or fitting in our motorized society. What is there is still fresh without appearing exotic. I think it'll work.
FUCKGODDAMNSHIT
i'm NOt gonna buy this piece of shit generic design of f... detroit idiots! I would be first to buy the concept design, but not the kia/hunday/shit! imagine iphone looking like some shit nokia, jesus fff chrit i;m pissed oFf!!!!!!
Anonymous
Production car looks like shit!! I was thinking of purchasing it, but now whatever GM did 2 it; FORGET IT !!! I'm buying Japanese, "just like everyone else does!!"
Ducati Minor
Obviously a B.S. poster.
Mena
They didn't have much choice as the original design was as aerodynamic as a brick. The windows could not be duplicated on the production model either. And there was hardly any headroom. They had to make it sleeker or the mileage targets would not have been met.
All of the people here with the silly comments without considering production methods wouldn't buy one anyways. It's already been established that most people here consider the automotive "sweet spot" to be less than $20k. So any car over that is going to get boo's and hisses.
BillS
I'm sad. I like the Volt. But now it doesn't look nearly dramatic enough. I will say though that sometimes pix don't do it. Maybe it will look right in the flesh.
Gorak
I loved the original concept. That looks like every other sedan out there. I would have happily bought the original concept version right now when I first saw it. Now, its a why bother. it looks mediocre now. What a shame that they "dumbed it down"
Scott Lewis
Honda know all too well that a hybrid must stand out. That's why the Prius beats all the Honda hybrids. I understand the Volt Concept was was very radical, but the redesign is too tame. It does need to be distinct looking. Many people that buys these cars are making a statement. Hard to do that with a car that will get lost in a shopping mall parking lot.
Anonymous
It has been an extreme disappointment to see the very attractive concept ideas fade away into a very unfuturistic design. I thought GM was on a winning line that could pull me away from the well established Honda and Toyota hybrids. I presently drive a 2007 Honda hybrid it being the most affordable car in its class on the Canadian side. I am anxiously awaiting a plug-in hybrid. The trial plug-in Prius has been cruising around our town since this summer. It looks like the Japanese may come out way ahead in design and function from present indications if the Volt stays like its most recent photos. Personally I think that the hybrids should stand out from the norm like the Prius has and not just be another Malibu coming down the road at you!Hoping very much for change for many reasons including maybe saving thousands of auto manufacturing jobs on this side of the planet.
jgATL
GM screwed it up. I don't agree with Mena. Look how close GM came with the concept Camaro to production. Unfortunately, much like Honda did with the Insight, GM "Priused" the Volt. It's a shame because this was a true icon car for GM and now it looks like the Prius, Honda Insight or any other one of the Prius knock offs coming out. I seriously thought about getting one until I saw the reveal, and will now wait until Tesla comes out with their sedan. GM could have saved a lot of money and just Volted the Malibu. Oh wait, they did Volt the Malibu.
If they wouldn't have shredded all the EV-1s, they could have used that body again for the Volt.
D
What do you mean you don't agree with Mena?
The concept Camaro and production Camaro are not designed for maximum fuel efficiency. That's why their designs can be so similar. The nature of a hybrid electric car is maximum mpg. A Camaro is a sports car not a fuel efficient car. If you don't care about lowering the coeffiency of drag, then you can design a car however you like.
I'm not a professional car designer but hybrid electric cars are designed for maximum fuel efficiency so that's why the shape of all the cars are strikingly similar.
M Gillam
Obviously, some aspects of the concept needed to be changed to meet production requirements, but the production version looks sadly like a Cobalt with a mid-generation freshening. Ugly might at least be interesting, but this version doesnt even have the guts to be ugly. It's just plain vanilla yawn enducing rental car styling at its worst.
estewart
The new Volt design is a good answer to the efficincy problems of the first design.... yet, will be more comfortable inside. More room.
It's like it's more on the order of a used bar of soap... smooth... which an electric car needs to best be... regardless of appearance.
I believe it will look preddy well... from a normal viewing angle, that is... and in person.
These low camera shots are good ones for drunks to see... that is, corresponding to their usual prone position... but don't much relate to standing adults.
When you buy a car, is that what you do? Hunker down to a child's eye level to have a look at it?
Anonymous
At first I was very disappointed with GM on the Volt production design. However, it is clear that the show car version could not survive into volume production. How would you enter and exit that design? The proportions of the body versus the green house are cool for show or small volume, but foolishly impractical for any mainstream use, particularly for older, less flexible people who do not enjoy bending in half to enter a vehicle. Although the concept looks un-aerodynamic, this is not necessarily the case as one cannot always tell simply by looking. True, the production design is a safe, cautious one, but in these economic times, it makes more sense to me than the huge risk of something unproven. GM may not hit a homerun, but it cannot afford a strikeout after all the publicity this received.
Barconious
Grow a set GM! This is yet another example of why you are doomed. I understand that some concessions need to be made for functionality and aerodynamics, but the car looks like 4 other cars on the road, and those are boring! You have the chance to have the first plug in hybrid, and to really set the standard, but seem intent on blowing it. Ya'll havent done much right in a long time, the Corvette aside.
G Washburn
When are we consumers going to quit buying cars that are as aerodynamic as bricks? About 70% of the energy used to move a vehicle at highways speeds is just pushing air. The auto manufacturers perpetuate designs that are not efficient and we keep buying.
Extremely aerodynamic cars can be and have been built. The know-how is there, we're not waiting for a technological break through. The multiple problems caused by our vehicles inefficiencies (pollution, dependence on foreign oil, global warming, economic issues, etc) can be EASILY be solved (to various degrees) if we just let go of needing to have our cars look like what we're used to.
It's time to give up our pre-conceived notions of what a car is supposed to look like. We may think an aerodynamic car looks odd at first, but our tastes would quickly change and soon they would look "right" to us.
The Volt could probably go 100 miles on electric only if it was aerodynamic.
Here's my plug for Aptera, they have the right idea. I hope they make an impact. See www.aptera.com
Lee Mayes
Yes, I think GM is right on target with the production car. It will definitely put more Volts into the average garage with the redo. It is very comparable with Honda's new Insight styling. I believe either or both of these cars could be the next "Model T", if they can keep the price affordable and deliver on the fuel savings.
Anonymous
Who cares what it looks like?Looks wouldn't be one of the first 10 things I consider before buying a car.How about price,reliability,warranty,maintenance cost,battery cost/warranty,how it drives,how quiet and comfortable,interior room,etc.
Bigsprinter
I would say they're wise... GM's never been that strong at creating striking yet non-controversial designs... and they sure don't need the Volt, which is hyperbolically being pinned as the future (or end) of GM, they don't need another Aztek.
Steven Harns
Hybrids should look avant garde and futuristic to separate them from mainstream combustion engined vehicles. Maybe GM knew this going in but had to change the plan due to an impending cash crunch. The concept Volt had too many compromises in egress, sightlines and overall utility. The 'production' version shares more with the current Chevrolet corporate brand look which some would argue either pro or con. GM needs to produce a landmark vehicle with the Volt and the two iterations fall short of expectations. A growing cottage industry is emerging to challenge traditional car companies as consumers are looking for immediate alternatives to fuel costs which continue to be erratic. Fuel cell technology is a compromise. The solution to simply plug in might be another short term fix until truely advanced technology can be readied for mass production and a greener Earth.
Anonymous
To me it's a bait and switch disappointment. Think of what the competition already has and is planning then release a design that will be dated in a couple of years. This is an opportunity for change both in technology and visual expression. Why hire creative designers who never get to flex their talent. GM presents a compromised design with all the back patting executives that shows "business as usual". By the way, how is that business working for you GM?
Anonymous
I do not believe all of the hype this car is being given. You think that all this time it was some kind of god send to us humans. This car coming out in 2010 with a milage range of 40 miles. You Got To Be Kidding. My work is 37 miles one way. If that is all that GM can do, they might as well turn off the lights as they have just given the Japanese the green light to the US market.
Anonymous
Sorry about the looks. If you live in a state like TN where electricity is cheap, and you don't drive more than approx. 15 miles each way (or 30 miles 1 way if your company has a 115v outlet you can use) this car will cut your expenses drastically ( about 2x better than a Honda Civic Hybrid on $2.00/ gallon gasoline).
I have the first in town reserverd and will buy it if the price doesn't get too high. Sorry to tell you most people rate styling as the number 1 reason they buy a car - GM has know that for 30 years but keeps forgetting!
For me, I would pay about $30,000 for the concept look. My limit on the :production look will be about $25,000. Yes, I like good looks and am willing to pay a reasonable amount for it.
I would also buy it if it looked like a 1985 Yugo GV (if you don't know what they look like, Google it) if the price was about $15,000.
My prediction is they will hit the market about the time the world economy is still low, oil will be cheap, they will overprice the car, and they won't sell. Then GM won't be smart enough to sit on the technology 'till oil rises again (it will). In the mean time GM is likely to sell the technology to some Japanese company for quick cash infusion. The long term thinking Japanese will be ready the next time oil spikes and the short term thinking GM will be left with the current "hot potato".
Most American companies are JUST LIKE GM, they have poor/no long term strategy - only worried for short term (like quarterly) financial results.
Anonymous
I think the original was one of the few things that they could have done to get out of trouble.
If they keep going the way they are......well we all know what is going to happen.
I will keep to my Toyota for a little while...
Anonymous
Hard to evaluate the whole car based on this one photo. It's partially obscured by the annoying guy and is tilted at an odd angle. Need to see more pics to really give an informed opinion.
BlowChunks
Personally, I think the new Volt looks a heckuva lot better than the concept. Who other than a nostalgic hot rodder is going to drive a chop top as a daily driver? I give kudos to Chevy for making a car that actually looks good. This is easily the best looking Chevy in their entire lineup. Inside and out.
J-KAI
Keep buying foreign cars you idiots.
You say your American and drive around in a fing Toyota or Honda.
How do you think the auto makers got in this crazy mess.
Cause ever since the 80s, foreign countries used cheap (slave) labor to make cheaper cars and Americans bought them not thinking twice of how it would impact our economy and lives.
Now look where we are...if the Big 3 go down in Detroit you will see every state get hurt.
I live in Detroit and remember when your car would be keyed in the 80s if you drove a foreign car...maybe we should bring that back.
medea
There probably won't be people willing to pay a much higher price for eco-friendly cars right off the bat - but that's because people are pretty reticent to spend their money on anything they feel they don't need, especially these days.
celulita
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