Thanks Chevy for the Volt...

[sundayx Veteran]

What the f*** happened?

[Hurmoth]

That's major changes from the Concept.

Still isn't bad looking, just doesn't look as much like a sports car as it once upon a time did. Looks like they decided to go more family oriented than two person sports car.

[matt4pack]

Do you not realize that the concept Volt was created without the aerodynamics of the body as a consideration in the design? The concept was as aerodynamic as a brick and when your trying to get 40 miles on pure electric you can't have that. If you honestly believed that the final version would look like the concept then you have only yourself to blame because very rarely does a production car look like its original concept stage design where all the practical considerations aren't being factored in.

[markwolfe Veteran]

The very narrow window space in the concept car looks like a distorted caricature of a car. Thin strip of glass above a very wide (tall) body.

The doors had to be modified to be transparent at the top to compensate for what I imagine would otherwise be an obstruction to vision. Clear plastic? Scratches and fog/hazing from UV exposure. Glass? No way. Expensive, certainly.

While the concept looks more aggressive with its squarer front fascia, the more flowing rounded production model is likely more aerodynamic and gets rid of the problematic transparent door sections.

Less of a "WTF?" moment than a more practical build.

[sundayx Veteran]

Dude you do realize that the appeal of the Volt was probably the styling alone. Now that it's become a Chevy-esque Civic this thread might as well be merged with the "ugliest car" thread.

Camero concept is pretty much par with the production. Another thing though, they completely restyled the Volt, took some elements on the concept and slabbed it on an ordinary frame.

Just my opinion anyways.

[Southern Patriot]

That's major changes from the Concept.

Still isn't bad looking, just doesn't look as much like a sports car as it once upon a time did. Looks like they decided to go more family oriented than two person sports car.

If you look closely at the concept, it's not a 2 person sports car, it's a 4 door sedan.

Better picture of the concept car:

[matt4pack]

Well I always knew that those glass doors or whatever that is never had a chance of being in the production car.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Well I always knew that those glass doors or whatever that is never had a chance of being in the production car.

Apparently sundayx didn't. :p The styling needed to be much more aerodynamic to get the range that people would want demand, too.

[TruckWEB]

The concept Volt now looks like a Malibu Volt production car.... So I would say it's a drastic change.

But everybody was in love with the concept car, even pledging to buy one when it's out (both for look and economic reasons). But now, with the final look, I wonder if it will sell as much. It's going to be a $40K Malibu....

[markwolfe Veteran]

I agree that the concept's look was nice and aggressive, but at a larger expense and with reduced mileage per charge due to poorer aerodynamics.

And cost and traveling distance are more important than "uber cool" looks, imo.

[Reacon]

I agree that the concept's look was nice and aggressive, but at a larger expense and with reduced mileage per charge due to poorer aerodynamics.

And cost and traveling distance are more important than "uber cool" looks, imo.

It depends on how much money you have and your amount of concern for the environment. Look at most of the celebrities out there, driving their ub3r c00l hummer limos that get 1 mpg just because they can.

Plus, I like the new design, more than the brick-ish concept. The concept certainly looks "futuristic", but that's on purpose to get people hyped about it.

[Hurmoth]

If you look closely at the concept, it's not a 2 person sports car, it's a 4 door sedan.

<snipped>

The original design was only two doors, I hadn't seen the actual concept car, so my apologies :)

The reasons for the change: "The Volt ... had to be redesigned from the ground up to accommodate the hybrid gasoline-electric propulsion system, as well as for aerodynamic reasons, pedestrian safety and other concerns, GM President Rick Wagoner said as the Volt made its much-anticipated debut."

I suspect they heard a lot of complaints about it only getting 40 miles to the single charge, so they added in a flex fuel system which would allow it to act a standard hybrid vehicle after the 40 miles are up. This is an incredible decision because it actually makes this car more practical.

[sundayx Veteran]

Apparently sundayx didn't. :p The styling needed to be much more aerodynamic to get the range that people would want demand, too.

I did. I know the difference between a concept and a production model, and as everyone know, there are many things in concepts that do not go into production. The moulded glass is not my concern, nor the slit windows that does not give any visibility.

I just want to say is, by giving us an absolutely stunning EV concept that supposedly revolutionizes the auto-industry, then giving us a production model that is of no promise, I'm just deeply heart-broken. You know the brick like form is not an aerodynamic concern, they could at least followed a justifyable form from the concept. The Camaro is boxy, the Mustang is boxy, but the fact is they are beautiful and offer good performance.

Anyways simply put, IMO the concept is beautiful and the production Volt is fubar.

[shockz]

I actually like the newer version better... I hear the new cobalt (won't be named that) is going to take on a similar apperance.

[Hurmoth]

I actually like the newer version better... I hear the new cobalt (won't be named that) is going to take on a similar apperance.

Me too. (Y)

[Southern Patriot]

The Camaro is boxy, the Mustang is boxy, but the fact is they are beautiful and offer good performance.

The Camaro and the Mustang are not concerned with fuel or energy efficiency either. Part of what makes a hybrid car efficient is that they are (usually) very aerodynamic as well. Want an electric sports car? Buy a Tesla.

[MR_Candyman]

So you're saying they completely ruined the only selling point of this car? You're also saying they added their ridiculous flex fuel system (face it the mileage on those engines are terrible), also adding weight, which would have the same effect on the electric running distance the old shape had.

Way to go you idiots. I keep hoping the american car industry will pull itself up, but things like this reafirm to me it won't.

[markwolfe Veteran]

What did you imagine to be the "only selling point"? Was it the look? Or was it the electric? The glass on the doors?

The Volt is still 100% electric for short commutes (more than I drive back and forth to work). It has the capability to burn gas to give you a longer range. Both sound like solid sell points. It has E85 "flex" capability. You can use ethanol gas, or regular (if you are opposed to E85).

I guess the choice of criticism would be "short range electric only", or "adding extra weight to allow extended driving over the rated 40 miles". Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[MR_Candyman]

What did you imagine to be the "only selling point"? Was it the look? Or was it the electric? The glass on the doors?

The Volt is still 100% electric for short commutes (more than I drive back and forth to work). It has the capability to burn gas to give you a longer range. Both sound like solid sell points. It has E85 "flex" capability. You can use ethanol gas, or regular (if you are opposed to E85).

I guess the choice of criticism would be "short range electric only", or "adding extra weight to allow extended driving over the rated 40 miles". Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

The look was the only real selling point to the volt. The flex fuel engines are VERY inefficient for both ethanol gas and regular gas. Why not just stick in a regular gas engine? It'll get better mileage than the flex. Not to mention the fact the engine seals aren't holding up very well for people who switch between ethanol and regular gas...

[shihchiun]

It still looks better than the Prius, IMO.

[TruckWEB]

It still looks better than the Prius, IMO.

It's not in the same league. The Volt is closer to the Toyota Camry in size.

[spenser.d]

I like the design too. I think this is a huge step toward environment friendly vehicles.

-Spenser

[sn00pie]

Ahh, Chevy, while Honda preps its next generation Civic, they're still copying the current gen. :p

[afusion]

haha wow does that look like an Acura!

Still a nice car though wish it success :yes:

[TruckWEB]

Ahh, Chevy, while Honda preps its next generation Civic, they're still copying the current gen. :p

What? The current gen Civic Hybrid is 100% electric (for about 40 miles) with the gas engine only there to recharge the battery?

Did not know that.... :rolleyes: