BREAKING: First glimpse of the production Chevy Volt!
by Sam Abuelsamid on Dec 10th 2007 at 3:00PM 
Click to enlarge the teaser shot of the production Chevy Volt
The Chevy Volt concept was undoubtedly the star of the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, with most people who saw it clamoring for it to be built. However, it didn't take long for Bob Lutz and other GM officials to make it clear that a production version would have to change. At the LA Auto Show last month, Lutz reiterated that the production version would be different but still recognizable as a Volt. Now in the runup to the Volt's first birthday, GM is giving the world its first glimpse of the production Volt. From this first shot, it looks like the Volt will be keeping it's low roofline proportions, but the main portion of the now-standard Chevy grille is now blanked off and flush to optimize the aerodynamics. Cooling air will now enter through the intake below the bumper. Head on over to AutoblogGreen for the full story by clicking here.
[Source: General Motors, via AutoblogGreen]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Thomas 3:13PM (12/10/2007)
That's total BS! Looks more "artist rendering" than "production."
I'd be willing to be GM never releases this thing at all! This car is being engineered by their marketing department.
You guys are such tools!
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nissanfreak87 3:32PM (12/10/2007)
I'm betting it's a skewed photo of the car, and why be so negative man? GM could get some good rep out of this car, and I doubt they're stupid enough to not bring it out
Andrew 3:49PM (12/10/2007)
Either way, very uninspiring.
Lemmiwinks 4:30PM (12/10/2007)
easy there killer
J.Crew 5:24PM (12/10/2007)
Looks like Thomas has some issues to be resolved when reading up on the auto industry. GM has done this every year leading up to the NAIAS for every vehicle. They give a sneak peek at what they are going to put on display. This one seems to get more attention than others because of its purpose and technology is leading edge. It will capture the GREEN title when this technology is launched ahead of all others including Toyota who sat on its thumb regarding Li-ion batteries.
I also can't wait to see the new Malibu win Car of the Year... or maybe it will be the new CTS? Either way, good job GM!
Thomas 5:58PM (12/10/2007)
I think you miss my point, J Crew. I'm just sick of Autoblog reporting on marketing material. This site is just becoming a repository for auto PR material. The vast majority of the images shown at this site are given to them by auto marketing departments, and they know it. Yet they report on them like the got some big scoop. It's ridiculous. You really think , for example, that Subaru can't keep their new Forrester under wraps? No, they're building buzz. This site no longer has any credibility. Every other post is a paid advertisement.
MasterCKO 6:39PM (12/10/2007)
actually, it looks more like photoshop'ed photograph to me, but hey whatever.
J.Crew 6:59PM (12/10/2007)
Well I think these guys do a great job collecting the most up to date info in one spot across the auto industry. I guess I thought you were slamming GM by the tone of the post as did others on here. The auto companies would be smart to use this site and others like it in that manner. It is legitimizing the blog world as they read our posts for direct feedback on what they are currently doing. I would say far better than keep their heads shoved up their you-know-what like they used to...
naggs 7:05PM (12/10/2007)
he missed your point?!?
from what i can tell, your only point was to call everyone who thinks this car will see production a tool.
so what will that make you in the highly likly event that it reaches production in '10?
Thomas 1:15AM (12/11/2007)
"It is legitimizing the blog world as they read our posts for direct feedback on what they are currently doing."
I have to disagree. I think the fact that these guys aren't journalists, coupled with the fact that they feel so damned important now that the auto industry pays some attention to them is corrupting what Blogs once were: a place where average people could communicate with each others about rumors and gossip and make snarky comments. ;-) Now we have to deal with Marketing material posing as news and PR people posing as "average people."
And BTW... are you one of Autoblog's "bloggers" or one of their corporate contributors?
Thomas 1:19AM (12/11/2007)
If this thing won't reach production before 2012, and it will not include lithium ion batteries. That is assuming that GM exists 5 years from now.
Typesbad 8:58PM (12/11/2007)
Thomas, your first comment was way over the top and your attempts to defend it put you in way over your head.
Autoblog clearly has a variety of sources and that most definately includes the PR departments of most of the manufacturers. They present it to us, as news of interest.
Look at the top. It says "Breaking" That implies very new, or "this just in" It doesn't imply "Scoop" or "Exclusive". In fact, they label it quite correctly as a "teaser" photo.
Is there anyone here who didn't think this came out of Chevy's PR Dept?
Sometimes Autoblocg presents these with their own brand of cynicism, other times less so, but it doesn't matter, because we all read the comments and any cynicism vacuum is quickly filled. by ourselves. Snark is always welcome. Fames and personal insults - not so much.
P.S. Volt more likely as a 2012 than in 2010? (which would make it a 2011) Yeah probably. Lithium batt? Since i personally do not work in GM research, I have no idea.
TriShield 3:16PM (12/10/2007)
Not so fast, GM has released production sketches to the media before and they are almost always what the actual car will look like.
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tankd0g 3:42PM (12/10/2007)
You mean like the Camero?
Whitie 6:23PM (12/10/2007)
Yes, GM teased us with the 2007 Auto Show rendition, which gave us hope that a green car could also be sexy. Seriously, though, that 'enthusiast' would consider an electric car anyway? Have some hope, though - you can run this car through a design blender and it will still be more inspiring than a Prius.
Frylock350 9:56AM (12/11/2007)
Whitie, electric motors generate max torque instantly at 0rpm and are capable of producing far more power then IC motors. I welcome the day when I can buy a 400 kilowatt Camaro.
PassingAlong 3:17PM (12/10/2007)
This is news?
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naggs 7:23PM (12/10/2007)
how is it not news that an automaker has released teaser pics for a car that will be in production in 2010?
this would be news even if it was a minivan!
the fact that it is the first of an entirely new kind of car makes it a huge deal
you would seriously rather autoblog not report this kind of thing?
MasterCKO 8:22PM (12/10/2007)
wow naggs, I said almost exactly the same thing down at the bottom of the comments. Here here!
Dustin 3:18PM (12/10/2007)
i'm not clamoring.
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