General Motors, which has been blasted for having too many fuel-thirsty trucks and SUVs in the past, has recognized that the Chevy Volt has some serious momentum, and the Detroit automaker is redoubling its efforts to make the series hybrid a reality on time. Bob Lutz told us that the Volt would begin production by the end of decade, and despite Rick Wagoner preparing us for a missed deadline, Maximum Bob is reiterating his original 2010 deadline. Lutz points out that 400 advanced fuel scientists, 200 dedicated engineers and 40 designers are pumping heart and soul into the project, and we get the feeling failure is not an option. With skyrocketing fuel prices continuing to gradually increase and real consumer demand for a high mileage production vehicle growing, we're looking forward to Bob being right.
[Source: GM Fast Lane Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
schhim @ Jan 8th 2008 8:11AM
So it's 2010 or bust. Dollars to donuts that whatever is produced by then will not look nor work like the Volt that is promised today. By then we'll be driving 3rd gen hybrids from Toyota and Honda.
skins21 @ Jan 8th 2008 3:29PM
hybrids arent worth the extra cash, w/e the hell this thing comes out at least you can get something with no need ro ever buy gas
jJack @ Jan 8th 2008 9:40AM
Just because GM has been sleepy for 25 years and has allowed Toyota and Honda the impression they are smarter, that is the farthest thing from the true. Now that the domestics are really competing, we will see who can comes out with the best technology. I'm sure Toyota who is going downhill at present, who most of the general don't know, are very worried about the competitiveness of the domestics.
JM @ Jan 8th 2008 12:21PM
It seems that 2 high-level execs have differing points of view on the launch date - Bob saying 2010, Wagoner saying it might miss 2010. The question is, what are the engineers saying? It's always difficult if you're the technical guy who is developing something, but then your manager is the one who is dictating when the project gets completed.
They don't even have a working prototype yet that demonstrates this serial hybrid, range extender technology - hopefully I'm wrong, but can anyone provide us a link?
By 2010, I wonder what the competitors are offering - plugin prius running on lithium batteries? hybrid clean diesel technology? it seems that these will come to market even before 2010 arrives.
Polly Prissy Pants @ Jan 8th 2008 12:43PM
All Bob said was that right now they were holding tight to their 2010 deadline. All Wagoner said was that they're not making guarantee's. I don't see how they're saying anything different. So when will we see the Volt? Who knows, deadlines change every day. Ultimately this is a blog post that really means nothing. They could announce tomorrow that the Volt won't sell until 2018 and both would be able to defend their statements to this point.
Seminole @ Jan 8th 2008 8:21AM
You guys are running out of bumper sticker room.
calebe @ Jan 8th 2008 8:25AM
not until the whole back of the car is full, like a college student with 300 band stickers all over the back of the car.
FThorn @ Jan 8th 2008 8:31AM
Or a libarts grad's dem catchphrases.
Uh oh @ Jan 8th 2008 8:25AM
I hope this isn't another Vega, X car, pushed to market to soon project.
John R @ Jan 8th 2008 8:29AM
wasn't the "2010 MAYBE!" sticker on the right side?
Josiah @ Jan 8th 2008 9:02AM
2010 as in a 2010 model (actually out mid-2009) or 2010 as in it'll be a 2011 model..
hmmm
Nucbuddy @ Jan 8th 2008 2:56PM
My (strong) hunch is that it is intended to be a 2011, out in 2010.
Mondo @ Jan 8th 2008 9:05AM
I've got the solution:
"Wonder Twin powers activate! Form of: Chevy Volt!"
Done and done.
Todd @ Jan 8th 2008 9:14AM
Until Bob "Bait and Switch" Lutz steps down I have zero confidence in the Volt ever being made. His carrot and stick tactics will continue indefinitely...
"Oh you are passing tougher emissions tests? Then no rear wheel drive. Oh 90% of those surveyed want the Volt? Then stop tougher emissions for our high margin products."
I have still never forgiven him for the whole shady EV-1 collusion with Big Oil disaster.
jJack @ Jan 8th 2008 9:37AM
Their was never a collusion between GM and big oil over the EV-1. You live in LaLa land.
Pete @ Jan 8th 2008 9:52AM
Todd is an idiot.
Shipey @ Jan 8th 2008 10:06AM
Was Lutz even with GM during the EV1 program? I kinda don't think so.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 12:22PM
The only collusion on the EV1 was with CARB. The automakers (all of them) wanted CARBs 10% ZEV mandate killed and it they managed to do so. And so with the requirement for ZEVs gone, the EV1 vanished immediately.
I do agree that Lutz's threats are silly. When he threatens to withhold cars he perceives as "treats", it just makes him look stupid.
mike @ Jan 8th 2008 9:19AM
This car will not be here by 2010. Here's why.
Look Camaro will be here in 2009, spy shot of that cars were out years ago. It takes about two years to test the car in REAL WORLD driving, that's why we get all those spyshots. Volt is much more complex, it will need even more testing.
As we speak GM doesn't have the car or the batery. A123 or whatever their name is said they are still working on it.
So how do you expect to have a car ready in 2 years if
#1 the cars has not been build yet
#2 engine is not ready to be produced
#3 It has not even been tested in realworld conditions.
jJack @ Jan 8th 2008 9:35AM
GM is testing the battery from A123Sytem as we speak. It also has another battery from it's Korean counterpart.