Opel Ampera: Chevy Volt for the Euro market coming to Geneva

GM’s European Opel division has announced that it will unveil a new electric-car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show called the Opel Ampera. The Ampera is basically Opel’s version of the Chevrolet Volt. The electric-car is a five-door four-seater like the Volt and will feature GM’s new Voltec technology recently introduced in the Cadillac Converj Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

The Voltec system will allow the Opel Ampera to travel up to 37 miles on battery power alone. The battery is a lithium-ion pack that can be charged via a standard 230v outlet. After the battery is depleted a small combustion engine will provide additional miles.

Opel says that the Ampera will cater to the daily driving schedule of most European customers. It said that 80 percent of German drivers travel less than 31 miles daily. Find out more in March.

Chevy gets shutter happy with 2011 Volt

2011 Chevy Volt

Look! It's a Chevy Volt in someone's driveway. While this scene isn't likely to occur in reality until some time in late 2010, General Motors apparently wants you to start dreaming about it now. We're dreaming about buying the home in the background of the image above, but for the sake of this post let's focus on the high-profile series hybrid parked in the drive. GM just released a bunch of new high-res images that show the Volt interacting with the world that exists beyond the photo studio. The extended-range electric vehicle looks like a high-tech, futuristic and, most importantly, real sedan when seen staged against the backdrop of suburbia, in front of a coastal village and hanging out under some palm trees. Check out the Volt's new glamour shots in the gallery of high-res images below and let us know if one will be in your driveway come 2011.

2011 Chevy Volt

GM Requested Paramount Include Chevy Volt In Transformers Sequel "At Last Minute"

Roberto Orci, head writer of Transformers 2 claimed in a web chat on fan-site TFW2005 that the Chevy Volt was not in the original script, but rather was foisted upon them at the last minute.

Roberto Orci, head writer on Transformers:Revenge Of The Fallen, the sequel to the blockbuster of two summers ago, claimed in a web chat on fan-site TFW2005 that the Chevy Volt was not in the original script, but rather was foisted upon them at the last minute.

When asked the question:

Was the Chevy Volt TF kind of shoved into the film by GM and not really in the script?

Orci responds:

Yes. Had to figure it out last minute.

This confirms other reports we'd heard from movie insiders who've told us the Volt was a last minute requested addition by the General. Apparently, the GM team was adamant the Volt be included and wouldn't take no for an answer. Keep in mind this is different than what Michael Bay did in the first movie — personally selecting all the vehicles to appear in the film. (Hat tip to Jack!)

[GM Requested Paramount Include Chevy Volt In Transformers Sequel "At Last Minute" via TFW2005]

Battery Pack Announcement Brings Chevrolet Volt, Cadillac Converj Closer to Reality

With the Volt nearing production, GM answers the burning question of battery sourcing and gives a hint at how it can turn a profit on the program.

In March of 2007, shortly after the Volt made its debut at the Detroit auto show, GM appointed Frank Weber to the position of vehicle line executive for the Volt. In doing so, it started the process of bringing the concept to production. Thing is, GM promised a production Volt in 2010, giving Weber just over three years to do a job that typically would take twice that time—and that’s for a conventional car. And since the Volt is an electric vehicle with a gasoline engine used only as a generator to recharge the batteries, all the mechanical and electronic technology would have to be developed from scratch. To this end, GM set out on an unprecedented parallel development path with teams working on the car and the powertrain simultaneously, both trusting that the other would come through.

Fast-forward two years to the 2009 Detroit auto show, and Weber says he is still on track with the Volt program. In an exclusive interview with CARandDRIVER.com, Weber talked about GM’s biggest Volt news, the announcement that GM will build Volt battery packs in-house. Weber says, "We don’t want anybody between us and the cell." To this end, GM is building a factory where it will produce the T-shaped battery packs for the Volt. The individual cells will be supplied by an outside company (they are a commodity item that can be sourced from a variety of suppliers), but GM will have final authority over the thermal, structural, and electrical control considerations.

Chevy Volt program is not being delayed ... yet!

You can never be certain about the information you get from fourth-hand, unconfirmed sources. General Motors will be releasing its third quarter financial results this morning, and it will be ugly for sure. Rick Wagoner will also be announcing more cuts that will likely include layoffs among engineering staff. GM is expected to cancel or delay almost all future product plans in an attempt to staunch its current cash burn rate. One of those aforementioned fourth-hand sources told another website last night that the Chevy Volt is among the programs on the chopping block. AutoblogGreen contacted GM's Volt spokesman Rob Peterson, who stated that "there's no truth in that statement whatsoever" regarding the story that appeared on Jalopnik. Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan also said "I'm not going to respond to specific speculation. The Volt remains a top priority for our Company and there are no changes to the timing of the program." So for now, at least, the Volt is safe.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - Live Reveal

Chevrolet Volt to sound like the Spaceship Enterprise

Who would’ve thought that one of the hybrid cars’ advantage, the low engine sound, will turn into an actual threat to pedestrians? And we can confirm that, because some time ago we drove the Toyota Prius and almost hit a dog who had no idea we were right behind him. However, recently, groups looking to protect the visually impaired have introduced legislation that will require electric vehicles to have a sound. In order to be compliant with there regulations, Frank Weber, General Motors E-Flex vehicle line executive, announced that the Volt will sound like “when on Spaceship Enterprise you hear the doors close, or use the transporter.” He added that the sound will be “highly technical”, “highly pleasing, almost imperceptible” and will “have no relation at all to a combustion engine” and will be “highly pleasing, almost imperceptible.” The Volt will also feature “a pedestrian-friendly alert” activated by the driver.

Source: Inside Line

The Big Present: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

GM reveals more Volt production details as vehicle's unveiling highlights centennial bash

RENAISSANCE CENTER, DETROIT -- After serving up live feeds from General Motors' operations around the world, a celebration designed to show the company's strength and diversity, Rick Wagoner, Bob Lutz and Fritz Henderson brought out the big present: the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.