The New Chevrolet Volt

New era in automotive transportation

The Chevrolet Volt heralds a new era in the electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 60 km, the Chevrolet Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional kilometers, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.

The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged into a standard household 230v outlet for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. GM estimates that it will cost less than one euro at night for a full charge that will deliver up to 60 km of electric driving.

Charged up for performance

On the road, the Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 hp/110 kW, 370 Nm of instant torque, and a top speed of 161 km/h. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, makes the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

GM estimates that the Chevrolet Volt will cost about two euro cents per km to drive while under battery power, compared to 12 euro cents per km using gasoline priced at €1.50 per liter. For an average driver who drives 60 km per day (or 22,000 km per year), this amounts to cost savings of €2,200 annually. Using night-time electricity rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven kilometer in a Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.

The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced.

Chevrolet Volt: What is an E-REV?

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a front-wheel-drive, four-passenger Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) that uses electricity as its primary power source and gasoline as its secondary power source to propel the vehicle.

An E-REV like the Chevrolet Volt represents a significant departure from conventional hybrids. In a E-REV, the wheels are turned by an electric drive unit, whereas in conventional hybrids the wheels are turned by an electric motor, a gasoline engine, or both. For short trips, E-REVs will run on battery power alone.

For longer trips, additional electricity can be supplied by an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. The battery and propulsion systems are sized so that when sufficient energy is available from the battery, the engine (or fuel cell) is not required for operation. During this electric only phase of driving, the battery, motor, and power electronics are designed to deliver full performance, acceleration, top speed, hill climbing on electric power alone.

How Chevrolet Volt works

Energy is stored on board in a 16-kWh, "T"-shaped lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack powers the electric drive unit, which is capable of meeting full vehicle speed and acceleration performance while driving the car electrically for up to 60 kilometers (based on MVEG city cycle) without using a drop of gas. For longer trips, the Chevrolet Volt's on-board range-extending engine is used to drive an electric generator when the battery's energy has been depleted. The range extender, which can be powered by gas/E85 Ethanol, is able to generate additional electricity to power the car for hundreds of miles.

Chevrolet Volt: Fast Facts

• The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a front-wheel-drive, four-passenger Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) that uses electricity as its primary energy source and gasoline as its secondary energy source to propel the vehicle. Energy is stored on board in a 16-kWh, "T"-shaped lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack powers the electric drive unit, which is capable of meeting full vehicle speed and acceleration performance while driving the car electrically for up to 60 kilometers (based on MVEG city cycle) without a drop of gas. For longer trips, the Volt's on-board range-extending engine is used to drive an electric generator when the battery's energy has been depleted. The range extender, which can be powered by gas/E85 Ethanol, is able to generate additional electricity to power the car for hundreds of miles.
• The Chevy Volt will use no gasoline and produce no emissions for up to 60 kilometers of daily driving, helping to save approximately 1,900 liters of gasoline a year (compared to a similar sized vehicle that averages 7.8 l/100 km).
• GM estimates that drivers who travel 100 kilometers a day (more than 33,500 kilometers miles per year) could save about 2,100 liters of gasoline annually (compared to a similar size vehicle that averages 7.8 l/100 km).
• The Chevrolet Volt operates differently from all other propulsion systems. An electric drive unit (electric motor) drives the wheels at all times and at all speeds. The Volt's range-extending engine serves only to create electricity to power the vehicle beyond 60 kilometers.
• Depending on the drive cycle, an E-REV like the Chevrolet Volt will eliminate most initial engine starts and substantially reduce associated vehicle emissions.
• Thanks to instantaneous torque, the Chevy Volt will be a fun-to-drive car with quick acceleration.
• At current prices per kilowatt hour, GM estimates that an electrically driven kilometer in a Chevrolet Volt will cost about one-sixth compared to a conventional gasoline vehicle. It is estimated that it will cost about 0.02 euro per kilometer to drive electrically vs. 0.12 euro using gasoline at current prices.
• Most Chevy Volts are likely to be charged off-peak in the evening or overnight when consumption is lower, potentially further reducing the cost of recharging.
• Charging the Chevrolet Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.
• At a cost of about 1 euro a day for a full charge that will deliver up to 60 kilometers of electric driving, for most owners the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a daily cup of your favorite branded coffee.
• The beautiful aerodynamic design of the Chevrolet Volt production car helps to improve both fuel economy and driving performance.

GM's Board of Directors approved the production of the Chevrolet Volt. The targeted launch date is late 2010 as a 2011 model.

Opel Ampera Concept - Auto Shows

At the 2009 Geneva auto show, GM will unveil its plans to go global with the highly-hyped Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. Wearing Opel duds, the newest addition to the platform is the Ampera concept, which shares the same Voltec—formerly know as E-Flex—electric propulsion system as the Volt and Cadillac Converj concept that debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

We speculate the Opel will be powered by the same 16-kWh, T-shaped battery pack powering a 120-kW (161-hp) electric motor, as the Volt. Likewise, the Ampera is capable of running solely on lithium-ion battery power for up to about 40 miles and will continue to drive longer distances on electricity generated by a small four-cylinder gasoline engine. Charging will be handled through a standard 220-volt outlet and we could assume charging time will be about three hours based on Volt and Converj specs.

Keep Reading: Opel Ampera Concept - Auto Shows

Dealer-Installed Performance Option for Pontiac Solstice GXP, the Saturn Sky Red Line, and Chevy HHR SS - Car News

GM Performance is now offering a dealer-installed performance option for the 2.0-liter, direct-injection turbo four-cylinder found in the Pontiac Solstice GXP, the Saturn Sky Red Line, and the Chevy HHR SS. It increases horsepower from 260 to 290 and torque from 260 pound-feet to 340 for the manual-transmission Solstice and Sky (325 for automatic models and 315 for the HHR). The kit will cost $650 (not including installation) and consists of an ECU reflash to up the boost and a new manifold-air-pressure sensor. A version for the Cobalt SS with the same engine is expected in a few months.

Keep Reading: Dealer-Installed Performance Option for Pontiac Solstice GXP, the Saturn Sky Red Line, and Chevy HHR SS - Car News

2010 / 2012 Chevrolet Spark - Auto Shows

The new Chevrolet Spark is inching closer to reality. Despite an official launch that is some time off—we expect to drive it at an international press launch in November 2009—Chevrolet has now taken the cover off the production version. It will appear at March’s Geneva auto show.

European customers will get the Spark in early 2010, while the U.S. will have to wait until the fourth quarter of 2011, according to GM North America president Troy Clarke. It will be positioned below the Aveo, which—like the Spark—was developed by GM Daewoo in South Korea.

This next Spark will replace the current, second-generation model—also known as the Matiz and Joy—which is a favorite in European cities with its 137.6-inch length and 58.9-inch width. The new model will have almost the same dimensions, we are told by a Chevrolet spokesman in Europe.

Keep Reading: 2010 / 2012 Chevrolet Spark - Auto Shows

2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Three

We've taken a look at the 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS sedan and had a rollicking good time doing it, but who should buy such a car-shaped rocket ship?

Why you should buy the 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS:
You like the idea of hitting the drag strip and taking down cars costing twice as much. You want to be Paul Walker but you've got a pair of kids and a job and a wife and need a car that doesn't get whispered about at PTA meetings. Despite being a grown up, you hear the siren song of cheap drag racing and can't afford a money pit racer. You're a sixteen-year-old speed freak and able to fool your parents into thinking its just a boring old Cobalt.

Why you shouldn't buy this car:
You think cars with 82-way power seats, pop-up navigation systems and hand-stitched leathery bits are the last word in high-performance. Greasy bits like a high-tech turbocharged 2.0-liter direct injection four-cylinder, Brembo brakes and limited-slip differential hold no interest for you if the outside looks like a vanilla ice cream sundae. You need people to notice the car you pull up to the tanning salon in. Resale value is important to you. You're Congressman Richard Shelby and think every car built under a domestic nameplate isn't worth the shadow it casts.

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: Yes
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: Yes
Euro Snobs: No
Working Stiffs: Yes
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: Yes
Very Serious Businessmen: No
Sheiklets: No

Also Consider:
• Subaru WRX
• Volkswagen GLI
• Nissan Sentra SE-R
• Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
• Mazdaspeed3
• Ritalin

Vitals:
• Manufacturer: Chevrolet
• Model year: 2008
• Base Price: $22,995.
• Price as Tested: $24,840
• Engine type: 2.0-liter Turbo I4
• Horsepower: 260 HP @ 5300 rpm
• Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
• Transmission: 5 Speed Manual Transmission
• Curb Weight: 3,001 lbs
• LxWxH: 180.3" x 67.9" x 57.1"
• Wheelbase: 103.3"
• Tires: 225/40 R18
• 0 - 60 mph: 5.7 Seconds
• Top Speed: 160 MPH
• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 22/30 MPG
• NHTSA crash test rating: 4*/5*

2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Sedan, Part Two

Yesterday, we told you the 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS was a walloping good time. But how does it stack up when you’re not going fast? Let's find out.

Exterior Design: ***
The 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS, even in four-door form, makes us smile for some reason. To know how easy it is to take a plain vanilla econobox and turn it into a car with a much more handsome proportion, providing just a hint of the performance that lies underneath, without resorting to a SEMAgasmic display of leftover go-faster-looking parts, is quite an achievement. Certainly it's still a small car with a tall cabin and dodgy-looking lighting elements, but when lipstick's applied, it kinda makes ya want to pucker up a bit for the little pig.

Interior Design: ***
The two-tone, Alcantara sport buckets in the front and rear are magnificent. Grippy, firm, supportive – fantastic. It’d take something badged “Recaro” to be better. General space is good all around for the segment, even for the back seat passengers. The patented Jalopnik Knock Test revealed a bit of rattle in the dash here and there, mainly from the painted trim; in normal driving situations though, the car is solid as a rock. We would have appreciated a center console or armrest, but such is not the case. The dash layout is simple to the point, the three-spoke steering wheel is thick and feels good in hand. The cabin is mercifully pretense-free, without superfluous gaudy lighting and silly gadgetry. Get in, be comfy, go fast.

Acceleration: ****
Select Sport Mode, come to a complete stop, drop it into first, peg the throttle and the revs stick to 5,100 RPM. Dump the clutch smartly and your take offs look like stage starts at the WRC. Keep the accelerator stuck to the floor and, without lifting, stab the clutch, grab the next gear and lift off the clutch. Aside from inciting a manic grin you'll pull down 0-to-60 MPH runs in 5.7 seconds. That's not just remarkable; it's down right silly. Make sure you do this on a straight line, otherwise, woe and torque steer be upon thee.

Braking: ****
One word: Magnificent. No, wait, two words: heart-stopping

Ride: **
On the freeway the car is smooth and composed, abrupt lane transfers are as confident as the heaviest German luxo-barge. If you slow down and hit the surface streets, the suspension is so tightly sprung you can feel the road grain. If you hit any of the rough stuff you'll probably be in need of a new set of kidneys. This isn't a car for Grandma.

Handling: ***
Surprisingly competent considering the beam axle in the back. If you drive like a sane person, even at the limit of adhesion, the Cobalt will reward with flat cornering and predictable understeer. However, if you hit a corner at speed, stab the monstrously powerful brakes, yank the tiller and goose the gas you're going to be pushing way into the grass.

Gearbox: ***
A notchy five-speed manual transmission with evenly spaced gears and strong synchros. Combined with no-lift-shift the gearbox makes you feel like a superhero. That being said, it is still a cable-shifted box, and no matter how hard any company tries to improve it, there will always be certain sense of remoteness.

Audio: ****
This Cobalt SS convinced us that we want a USB port in our next car. Plug a USB stick, an iPod, or an MP3 player loaded with your favorite goodies into the dash mounted slot and immediately the system detects its presence, then goes about playing whatever you've got stashed on there, no fussing, no struggle. We got particular enjoyment from a remastered copy of War of the Worlds played during some nighttime mayhem.

Toys: *
Does the boost gauge count? Other than that there aren't a whole lot of toys on the Cobalt SS.

Value: ***
If you're after a hugely entertaining compact, front-drive four-door with the tendency towards mischief and malice, this is the car for you. The problem is, at $24,095, the Cobalt SS is only $900 cheaper than a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX; a car that’s faster, has much better handling and is eminently more practical.

Overall: ***
As you drive it, you know at some point you're going to slip up and give the car a chance to throw a tantrum. The Cobalt SS is akin to a Tasmanian Devil in a cat carrier; destructively dangerous energy pent up in a container barely able to restrain its manic intensity, you know you're going to get mauled eventually, but you can't help but poke your finger through the cage.

New Corvette Z06-Based Anteros Heading To LA Auto Show

Although we first saw n2a Motors' Anteros back at SEMA two years ago along with the 789 retro-rod. Well, the custom coachbuilder's got a brand new bag of C6-modified tricks up its sleeve. The custom carmaker's bringing the latest version of the Anteros to the LA Auto Show later this month. This new Anteros hotness is built on the 2009 Chevy Corvette, and as usual, it's got a carbon-composite body that again looks more at home in Cambiano, Italy than Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The new design looks to feature a ZR1-style side scoop design, but unfortunately, due to a lack of rear shots, we've no idea whether the rear gets the same googly-eyed taillights as the last model. n2a's bringing both a coupe and a convertible version of the Anteros, with the black convertible built using a stock 2009 Corvette donor car. The drop-top features the 430 HP, 424 lb-ft of torque LS3 V8 under the hood. The silver coupe, pictured above and below, goes a bit farther up the performance stream, thanks to the donor body — a 2009 Corvette Z06, modified with Lingenfelter’s 630 HP performance package. All base models include a carbon composite body, hand-stitched leather interior, three-piece aluminum wheels, and a custom cat-back exhaust system. The best part? Chevrolet’s 100,000 mile powertrain warranty remains completely intact and the Anteros can be serviced at any GM dealership. Pricing for the turnkey Anteros coupe starts at $149,500 and the Anteros convertible starts at $154,500. Want to go for the high-powered version? Anteros coupes built on the Z06 platform start at $176,500. Performance packages ranging from 525-1000+ horsepower are available for an additional cost. Full press release below.

SANTA ANA, California, November 10, 2008 – n2a Motors, Inc. announced today that it will debut its latest model, the Anteros, at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 21st.

Continuing a tradition of unique styling and impressive performance, the Anteros is built on the new 2009 Corvette platform and features a body reminiscent of iconic Italian designs. Built from modern lightweight carbon fiber, the Anteros is available with a variety of performance and appearance options. n2a Motors is taking orders for January 2009 deliveries.

n2a Motors will be displaying the first production convertible and coupe versions of the Anteros in their exhibit. The black convertible is built using a stock 2009 Corvette donor car, featuring the 430 hp/424 lb.-ft. torque LS3 V8 engine that gets 16 MPG city and 26 MPG highway. The silver coupe is based on a 2009 Corvette Z06 and is modified with Lingenfelter’s 630 horsepower performance package. All base models include a carbon composite body, hand-stitched leather interior, three-piece aluminum wheels, and a custom cat back exhaust. Chevrolet’s 100,000 mile powertrain warranty remains completely intact and the Anteros can be serviced at any GM dealership.

Each Anteros takes approximately 12 weeks to build from the time of order. n2a Motors starts by removing the donor Corvette’s body panels and installing the new carbon-composite Anteros body, a process that takes nearly 800 hours for n2a’s coachbuilding craftsmen to complete. The interior is entirely new with re-contoured leather seats, leather dash, Italian carpeting, and leather-wrapped interior panels, while the wheels and exhaust are removed and replaced with n2a’s custom-made components. The turnkey Anteros Coupe starts at $149,500 and the Anteros Convertible starts at $154,500. Anteros Coupes built on the Z06 platform start at $176,500. Performance packages ranging from 525-1000+ horsepower are available for an additional cost.

The Anteros is the follow-up to n2a Motors’ 789 model that debuted to critical acclaim at the New York International Auto Show in March 2008. Inspired by the designs of the 1957, 58, and 59 Chevrolets, the 789 was hailed as “merely the coolest car…on the planet” by the New York Times. The 789 is also built on the C6 Corvette platform and utilizes a carbon composite body. Coupe 789 models start at $139,500 and the convertible base model is $144,500. A convertible 789 will also be on display at the LA Auto Show.

The LA Auto Show is held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 21-30, 2008. n2a Motors can be found at the LA Auto Show in booth number K-620 in the Kentia Hall.