Quick Ride: Chevrolet Volt IVER prototype (w/VIDEO)

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Volt pre-production IVER prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

While visiting General Motors' product technology showcase this week, we had the opportunity to take a tour through the pre-production operations area where the integration vehicle engineering release prototypes (IVER) Volts are coming together, and then later we went for a ride in one with chief engineer Frank Weber. GM started building these integration prototypes in late May and is currently finishing them at the rate of 10 per week. By the time the whole fleet is done later this summer, 80 Volts will be running through a battery of tests to evaluate all aspects of the car. There are currently about 20 IVERs running at Milford, Warren and elsewhere.

After the tour we went over to the Milford Proving Grounds and Weber brought out the newest Volt to take journalists for quick rides around the loop on "Black Lake", the vehicle dynamics area. Unfortunately, only Weber was allowed to pilot the Volt and since it arrived with a full charge, we didn't get an opportunity to experience the charge sustaining mode. Read on after the jump for more about how the Volt feels from the passenger seat and to watch a short video of our experience.

Gallery: Quck Ride: Pre-production Chevy Volt

Continue reading Quick Ride: Chevrolet Volt IVER prototype (w/VIDEO)

Quick Ride: Chevrolet Volt IVER prototype (w/VIDEO) originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt chief engineer takes drive in first pre-production prototype [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Volt Integration prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

The technicians and engineers at General Motors' Pre-Production operations center at the Warren, MI Tech Center have been hard at work for the last several weeks finishing up the first of about 75 integration prototypes of the Chevy Volt. They worked so hard, in fact, that the first car was completed a week ahead of schedule. These are the first actual running prototypes and include pretty much all of the production-intent hardware in a production body shell. As is typical of these integration prototypes, items like the light clusters aren't quite done yet. The intended bulbs are included in a flat black plastic cluster with the proper arrangement but the covers and internal sculpting are missing.

Chief engineer Andrew Farah took IVER #1 (that's Integration Vehicle Engineering Release #1) out for a brief drive after it was completed and checked out and, according to the video after the jump, everything worked smoothly. While the car looks pretty much like the Volt that was unveiled last September, if you look carefully you will notice one difference. From the original concept to the styling buck we have seen for the last nine months, the charge port was always hidden under the trim piece just ahead of the driver's side mirror. There is now a flap looking much like a gas cover just below that on the fender. The charge port sits behind that flap. According to Volt spokesman David Darovitz, this is the production intent configuration. Dave, we're ready for our test drive anytime, you have our number. Check out the video with Andrew Farah after the jump.

Gallery: First Chevy Volt integration prototype

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevy Volt chief engineer takes drive in first pre-production prototype [w/VIDEO]

Chevy Volt chief engineer takes drive in first pre-production prototype [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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