GM: "human error" behind leak of 2011 Chevy Volt pics
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt
The hubbub from yesterday afternoon's "leak" of images showing the production 2011 Chevy Volt has died down, and The Detroit News asked General Motors what we were all wondering: what the hell happened? Chevy PR dude Terry Rhadigan claims "human error" was behind the accidental release of production Volt images on GM's own media website and one external media site. According to GM, the images were only published briefly before being removed from both sites. All it took were moments, however, for Marty Padgett to publish the pics on his website, thecarconnection.com. That's where Autoblog first found them, though we were still able to download higher res versions from GM's own media site by doing a simple search for 'volt'. Padgett seems to think the accidental release of the pics was really an intentional move by GM to generate buzz for the car before its official debut early next week during the automaker's centennial celebrations. Their release may have been intentional, or not. No one can know for sure and, quite honestly, we don't really care.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
In2uition 10:48PM (9/08/2008)
It would be nice if those guys move out of the way.....
Still looks interesting, but I would like to see full profile pics and live shots.
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PaulPaul 10:17AM (9/09/2008)
would be nice if we could get a full size picture of that chick in your avatar...
howard 1:09PM (9/09/2008)
Picture are nice but what i as an interested buyer would rather see the performance reports on the VOLT like the ones published by the TESLA Company! If the VOLT can't equal or better the TESLA on miles per charge, recharge time, top speed etc, etc, then GM better go back to the drawing board and delay the production of the VOLT!
SimbaDogg 1:40PM (9/09/2008)
i second the request for the girl in your avatar...
by the way, human error my ass
GOT 6:12AM (9/10/2008)
I think the executives ruining the photos are supposed to make us feel good or be threatening. Either way they are speaking louder than the actual car. Which causes me to wonder, what is wrong with the car (besides it being a lack-beauty-derivative)???
Marq 12:24AM (9/09/2008)
The concept vs this production vehicle is almost as terrible as a woman describing herself as looking as great as Halle Berry then Margaret Thatcher showing up to your house.
Seriously, GM...wtf?! Even if aerodynamics meant the car needed to look like this... I'd sacrifice 5mpg to get a version that looks more like the concept.
GM...thanks for pouring ice water on my excitement. Jackasses.
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Tourian 10:21AM (9/09/2008)
"I'd sacrifice 5mpg"...for looks?
Granted I don't think the car looks like the protoype either, but I still think its a good looking car. But the major concept of this vehicle is mpg. To give up such a huge chunk for just style makes me think you've missed the point entirely.
c 10:43AM (9/09/2008)
The original concept looked like it might intimidate a challenger, this thing looks like it MIGHT intimidate a....? Maybe not.
When concept was released, I thought to myself "I may take one of these over a camaro" now , not so much. This is not going to make the leaner's come on over to the hybrid side, although people that are in the market for a hybrid will be interested in this "thing".
VP 10:46AM (9/09/2008)
Do you even get the point of this car? If you want styling buy a Ferrari. Compared to a Prius, this does look like a Ferrari and last i checked the Prius is still selling like hotcakes.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:14AM (9/09/2008)
The other had such a small greenhouse it couldn't even fit normal people. I know it is partially an efficiency issue, but it's probably also a safety issue. You have to be able to see out of it.
Cellien 11:26AM (9/09/2008)
I love the look of the car. It still looks like [i]a[/i] concept car, though much different than the initial design. Looks like a cross between the original concept and a Yaris. I freakin' love it, all the haters that want it to look like an impractical sports car totally miss the point I think and still haven't realized that that maybe they aren't the target consumer.
Todd 10:07AM (9/09/2008)
Images where meant to function as extortion tools, sent to Congress with the unspoken threat: "Give us 50 billion cash as a bail out or we'll never build sell the Volt" ?
Now that we know a production Volt exists, can we taxpayers take possession of the patents as collateral for giving them 50 billion?
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Shipey 10:12AM (9/09/2008)
Is the concept of low-interest loans really so hard to grasp?
Never had a student loan for college, eh?
CaptainSmalls 12:15PM (9/09/2008)
I thought the timing was very suspicious as well. Curious that on the eve of asking for bail-out money, a slue of production-ready looking static pictures are shown with prominent execs are "leaked." I'd be more convienced if test videos of running mules were released.
Gstill 11:04AM (9/09/2008)
The concept had a roadster-like look to it. This version looks like it could be a Cavalier or the new Cruze.
I think the second-gen will be nicer.
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warriorprophet 10:18AM (9/09/2008)
So why did my electric shrunken Camaro turn into some kind of fugly Fusion wanna be?
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mike 10:35AM (9/09/2008)
Because your shrunken electric Camaro had concept car ergonomics, not usable production dimenensions. Not to mention the probably horrific aerodynamics of the square front end.
Oh, and also, it was a CONCEPT.
Thomas 10:19AM (9/09/2008)
Their market department has FINALLY learned how to build buzz, but we'll have to wait to see if their engineering department can finally build quality, innovative, products.
One thing we have to contemplate... we're looking at a $45,000 car. If this thing is supposed to be GM's savior, put me down as skeptical.
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DKB_SATX 11:36AM (9/09/2008)
The only reasons they'd actually release it at a $40k+ price would be either if the dollar tanks to 50% of its CURRENT value, or if they want to kill the project by saying "Oh, look, no one bought it." Lutz can say all he wants about what the first few cars will COST to make, but if they want to make a success of this car it has to be competitively priced with similar vehicles.
I'm sure a few multimillionaire greenies in Hollywood would buy it for $40k, but no normal person would compare it to a $24k Prius and say "Wow, with the tremendous fuel savings, the $16k will pay for itself in only 20 years!!
Unless GM wants to kill it, they'll take a loss on each of the first few thousand cars to build a market for it. If the interior is good and it performs and drives well, they could probably sell it for $30k on the "needs no gas for the first 40 miles/day" aspect" against a $24k Prius and move quite a few cars. At $40k it's a failure before it starts.
Impala SS (V8) all options: $33k MSRP (before discount)
Malibu LTZ (V6) all options: $29k MSRP
Hell, the Corvette starts at $47k!
Dylan 10:19AM (9/09/2008)
"Human Error" eh.... the fact that the production version looks nothing like the concept but is infact just another itteration of the prius/insight body style, won't be out till 2011 and costs twice what the recently released insght will I'm sure had noithing to do with it. Nope, they're not worried nobodies going to care or laugh at them in two years when they try to sell it to a price bracket of people who are used to cars like the 3 series.
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