Last pre-production Volt comes off the assembly line

The saga of the Chevrolet Volt's run from concept to production reality has taken yet another step as the 80th and final pre-production car has just rolled down GM's assembly line in Warren, Michigan. Just like all the other Volt engineering mules built up to this point, this car is headed for a hard life at the Milford Proving Grounds, where it will be put through its paces time and time again in an effort to ensure the final result is as good and durable as possible.

Up next for these 80 pre-production Volts is a series of stages that includes crash testing and extreme-weather climate testing. Sometime during the first quarter of 2010, The General will begin building validation versions of the Volt that will allow the automaker to finalize production details and the process that will be used to assemble the cars on the lines at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. If all goes according to plan, the first 2011 Chevy Volts will be rolling into dealer lots just about one year from now.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, GM-Volt.com]