The Volt was unveiled—to wide public acclaim—as a concept car at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and the first examples will reach dealers in November or December 2010. Only 10,000 or so will be built for the 2011 model year, and perhaps 60,000 a year thereafter. It uses some of the same mechanical elements as the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, but only the Volt has a lithium-ion battery pack located in the tunnel between the front seats and extending under the rear seat. It drives entirely like a “normal car,” although without any transmission shifting noises, and like most electric cars, its acceleration from a stop is brisk and continuous.
As a brand-new model, the Volt comes only in a single body style, and the few option choices aren’t yet final. No sunroof is available, and the only exterior option will be a choice of silver paint or polished chrome on the five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Inside, a navigation system can be integrated into the dashboard stack, and two-tone leather upholstery can be specified rather than the standard cloth. Heated seats will also be offered. The car comes with the necessary charging cord to plug it into a standard wall outlet, and recharging the pack will take roughly five hours.
Chevrolet Volt Interior
