Live Webcast: General Motors product and technology update at 8AM Eastern
by Sam Abuelsamid on Aug 11th 2009 at 7:22AM 
Follow the jump to watch Fritz Henderson's GM product and tech update at 8AM Eastern
General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson will make a presentation this morning at 8:00 AM EDT from the GM Tech Center in Warren MI. One month after exiting bankruptcy, Henderson will update the media on GM's progress so far, as well as make some product announcements, which were previewed yesteday during a similar presentation to social media users as part of a deftly-executed viral campaign. Among the announcements expected today is Chevy Volt-related news that formally explains the cryptic "230" hint discussed last week. Bloomberg reports this morning that the number represents the Volt's EPA city fuel economy rating-- as in 230 mpg. We'll be on hand in Warren for the briefing, and you can watch the announcement live yourselves via webcast at 8AM Eastern after the jump.
[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe K. 7:31AM (8/11/2009)
230 mpg city EPA rating for the Volt.
Reply
Thunderdome 7:45AM (8/11/2009)
That's my guess as well. mpgs.
Although, they also started selling cars on ebay today, so maybe the 230 is the reserve price? or shipping cost?
...or their feedback rating.
Reply
Luis 7:46AM (8/11/2009)
If that's the MPG rating for the Volt in the city then holy smokes. This certainly will change everything.
Of course, shouldn't the Leaf coming out next year have a little infinite symbol?
Reply
UCJR 7:54AM (8/11/2009)
There are media reports that the '230' campaign is indeed representing the city MPG rating of the Volt. The highway MPG probably will be around 50MPG, but the combined MPG depends solely on your personal driving schedule.
Reply
laser 7:57AM (8/11/2009)
GM will have a real problem if they can't sell the Volt for less than 40K. Who cares if it gets 230 mpg in the city if it is so expensive. I'll keep my paid off car that delivers 35 mpg regularly and burn through 40k in gas in about 50 years. I could see some value in the Volt at 25k, but at 40k this is just a way for GM to bang on its chest claiming it is the largest dwarf on the planet.
Reply
Tikki 9:03AM (8/11/2009)
Im so tried of hearing this, get over it, its a first run of very new technology, do you honestly expect them to make it cheap, how can they its new. Lets look at other areas of technology, hummmm, the iphone, when it came out it was 600$ now its 99$. So get over it! It will get cheaper year over year.
Matt 10:55AM (8/11/2009)
Yeah, I'm pretty sick of hearing this too. Technology is expensive. Development is expensive. The general consensus, based on various quotes by Masao Inoue, Prius chief engineer, Toyota Motor Corp, is that the Prius business line recouped its initial investment and became profitable five years after the first-generation vehicle debuted. There's also rampant speculation fueled by Jim Press' quotes that the R&D was mostly funded by the Japanese government (who in turn, years later, now license that technology to other competing companies like Nissan, likely raking in truckloads of cash).
The Volt will be expensive, and it'll likely be subsidized by the government ($7500) and maybe something additional by GM. Who knows. How bout you give the product a chance to debut before you nay-say it or box it into an impossible price point? There are plenty of optioned-out Priuses that easily hit the $35k mark. I'd gladly stand in line to pay $5k more for something that doesn't look like a pregnant dustbuster. It's nice to see hybrid designs (Fusion, Volt) actually look like something I'd want to have in my driveway.
Luis 8:08AM (8/11/2009)
Oooh... CTS Coupe V will come out!
Reply
Carlos 8:22AM (8/11/2009)
I'll believe it when I see it. I'd rather understate the mpg then overstate it and be woefully disappointed.
Reply
Kitko 8:27AM (8/11/2009)
230 MPG when dealing with electric cars is like rating a Saturn V rocket in EPA terms. 3 tons of fuel every second would work out at, say, 1 inch per gallon....
Reply
216 8:33AM (8/11/2009)
well its official, 230 mpg is what GM needed to be #1, and its what they needed to shut up all the haters out there
Good job General, good job
Reply
Neil41487 8:51AM (8/11/2009)
They're #1 at what? At making a concept car that gets high mpg's?
Oh my revolutionary! Like Carlos said before, when I see it, ill believe it.
Andrew T 9:01AM (8/11/2009)
Im confused. I thought the ATS was going to be shown :( Did i misunderstand something?
Reply
Andrew T 9:12AM (8/11/2009)
Whoops. Read this from the Chevy Volt gets 230mpg article.
"After the webcast ends, we'll going over to the design dome for a preview of the new large XTS and small ATS models from Cadillac. The latter will slot in below the CTS and be aimed directly at the BMW 3-series with rear- and all-wheel drive. The XTS is expected to be based on a stretched Epsilon II platform."
tom_hayden 9:43AM (8/11/2009)
If 230 MPG applies to city driving, it does not follow that VOLT will only get 50 on the highway. On a full battery charge you go 40 miles, then the motor turns on. If the motor driven volt gets 30mpg, and you drive another 30 miles, then you just got 70mpg! If you go another 300 miles then you just got (40+300)/10 gallons=34mpg. 34mpg for a long trip isn't so hot sounding to me. So you need to drive 100miles on the highway to get 50mpg(assuming 30mpg in backup mode)
Reply
creigs9 10:25AM (8/11/2009)
Forget 230 miles per gallon, I'm diggin Fritz's blazer/polo shirt combo with the kahki pants. I'm sold on GM now.
Reply
larry a 1:18PM (8/11/2009)
LOL
bajabusta 5:56PM (8/15/2009)
Sam, you really got Frank going!! Great post, and I am stoked as to the future product.
Reply