Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Green, Chevrolet, Rendered Speculation
Rendered Speculation II: Production Chevy Volt, closer but no cigar
Click image to enlarge
So let's talk renderings of what the production Chevrolet Volt might look like since they seem to be popping up a few places now. We know for a fact that it will look different from the concept that debuted in January 2007 at the Detroit Auto Show. Will it look like the image above or more like the one we showed you earlier today from another site? From what we know it will almost certainly be closer to this red car, although probably not exactly the same. As we learned last fall, the concept was not particularly aerodynamically efficient nor did it meet the requirements necessary to meet pedestrian safety standards. Since low drag is paramount in order to maximize the amount of kinetic energy recaptured during regenerative braking, the nose has to be much more rounded when viewed from above and the windshield needs more rake. The rendering above comes much closer on both counts and is also closer to what was seen on the wind tunnel model earlier this spring.
Gallery: Chevy Volt Concept
[Sources: GM-Volt, AutoblogGreen]
Elements of the teaser image that was released earlier this year seem to have been almost directly translated to this rendering including the front lights and grille. Unlike the concept these will be flush mounted ensuring that there are no scoops to trap air at the front of the car. The TTAC rendering has the headlights set further back and retains air openings below them, in the Chevy twin-port grille as well in the hood. That entire area will likely be cosmetic only with all air flow going through the opening below the bumper.
Along the sides the production Volt will again lose much of its contouring in the interest of drag reduction. The flared out wheel wells will almost certainly look more like what is shown in the red car. The transparent sections at the top of the doors of the concept will be a victim of cost reduction and manufacturing complexity. With the battery representing such a huge proportion of the cost of the Volt, extravagances such these can't be afforded. One final note about this red car is the scallops on the front doors. This is an element of Opel/Saturn's new design language. It exists on the new Opel Insignia as well as the Flextreme and GTC concepts.
GM has been making a concerted effort in recent years to distinguish the look of all of its brands. To put this element on the Volt would be anathema to that idea especially since GM is planning E-Flex based vehicles for other brands besides Chevrolet. In fact GM Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster wrote earlier this week that the first European E-Flex vehicles would launch one year after the Volt with Opel/Vauxhall branding with the Chevy Volt following a few months later. As such they will want to distinguish the two cars and that Opel look will not appear on the Chevy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
D-GOD 5:09PM (8/08/2008)
Stunning!
I thought this was the Corsica Replacement, maybe Bobbie Lutz can bring back the sporty Beretta too!
Much better than that 10 year old EV1
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1.8 TEE-HEE 5:10PM (8/08/2008)
ok, now this thing is really starting to look like those fake, cobbled together illustrations of cars that you see on cheap auto care products(you know, part fox bodied mustang, part 94 ford countour)
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quazi 5:10PM (8/08/2008)
Looks like a Chevy Malibu. :(
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John 8:09PM (8/08/2008)
Nobody here knows how the Volt will really look like, but the vultures can wait to decimate it.
Dave 8:16AM (8/09/2008)
Only the grill area looks like the Malibu.
Vultures is right because some clown is making up a picture to start a debate. I don't think this picture looks terrible but its just not my style.
The other one going around as a concept should be the car and I will probably purchase one if it is.
D-GOD 5:10PM (8/08/2008)
If this is accurate, they should rename it the Chevrolet Compromise.
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John 9:30AM (8/09/2008)
Nobody here knows how the Volt will really look like, but the vultures can not wait to decimate it.
Sorry for the repost. Forgot to type the not in "can not".
Todd 5:12PM (8/08/2008)
Please send the above to the award winning satirical web site "You Suck At Photoshop"
http://www.mydamnchannel.com/Big_Fat_Brain/You_Suck_at_Photoshop/YouSuckatPhotoshop9_602.aspx#
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Hip Pop 5:15PM (8/08/2008)
looks like an ACURA TL
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Dave 8:20AM (8/09/2008)
You are right, it does look like an Acura which to me is not my style.
Red 5:29PM (8/08/2008)
That rear end is off, but the front end looks spot on from the teaser in the GM special. I would say that's pretty much dead-on. And I agree, it does look like an Acura TL. That's actually not a bad thing though.
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Torrent 5:30PM (8/08/2008)
Oh hell no. If anything, it's the Cruze.
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Joce03 8:18PM (8/08/2008)
With Audi TT rims.
nadnarb 5:50PM (8/08/2008)
By the way when did you guys start taking design cues from Need For Speed.
I think it needs a bigger bumper.
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Fuzzball 5:53PM (8/08/2008)
That looks pretty fugly. I really dig the Volt and Opel Flextreme concepts and got me interested in a domestic car for once in a decade. I have to agree with quazi and Hip Pop on what this render reminds me of.
If that render is what the Volt really is going to be, count me out. I'd much rather drive a Honda Insight at this rate.
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xxxxxxx 5:53PM (8/08/2008)
Looks more like
"U SUCK AT PHOTOSHOP" 2nd edition
Please Autoblog be more serious!
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Dinosaurus 5:55PM (8/08/2008)
This is actually a photoshop job done by someone else of an screen capture of my work-in-progress 3D Volt model that I've been documenting on the Volt forums here...
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=997
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Artie Lange 6:09PM (8/08/2008)
No, no, no. Build the concept. Is Honda the only maker to learn a lesson from the Prius? People want their hybrids to look uique. They want people to know they are driving a hybrid. Its the reason the Prius sold well, and the Honda Civic hybrid didn't. The concept's design is stunning.
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LCN 6:18PM (8/08/2008)
The Prius is aerodynamic though, which is very important in a high efficiency vehicle. The concept Volt, if you read the post, is not. Its up to GM to find a balance.
emmjay28 6:12PM (8/08/2008)
Close, but still not it. I've seen the production Volt and the front is much closer to an Acura TL, very sharp. The back is nothing like this rendering.
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