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The black plastic on the outside are pre-production panels, meaning those are not ready for prime time and need work. Same for the tail lights etc.
GMVolt.com video link.....
Autoblog video link (same ride, different views of the interior.....
Autoblog account
Story by GMVolt.com's Lyle (GMVolt.com not being a GM site)
GMVolt.com video link.....
Autoblog video link (same ride, different views of the interior.....
Autoblog account
We can make a few preliminary comments on the car though. Since we weren't allowed to drive, I decided to hop in the back seat. The Volt is considered a compact, but in spite of the sloping roof-line, it still felt surprisingly roomy. Both leg and headroom were more than adequate for this journ's long-torsoed 5'10" frame. While most small cars are outfitted with three rear seatbelts, the reality is that none are actually wide enough for more than two adults. Thus, the four seat configuration mandated by the center tunnel mounted battery is not a problem for most practical purposes.
Behind the seats there is plenty of room for cargo under the tall rear deck, and storage cubbies and cup-holders molded into the console covering the battery will prove handy for rear passengers. When Weber took off around the loop, the Volt accelerated with authority even with four adults on board. The relatively low profile and concentrated battery mass down low meant body roll felt minimized around corners. From the back seat at least, the two LCD screens appeared to be relatively resistant to glare. Hopefully we'll soon have a chance to get behind the wheel ourselves and experience the charge sustaining mode, as well. Stay tuned.
Behind the seats there is plenty of room for cargo under the tall rear deck, and storage cubbies and cup-holders molded into the console covering the battery will prove handy for rear passengers. When Weber took off around the loop, the Volt accelerated with authority even with four adults on board. The relatively low profile and concentrated battery mass down low meant body roll felt minimized around corners. From the back seat at least, the two LCD screens appeared to be relatively resistant to glare. Hopefully we'll soon have a chance to get behind the wheel ourselves and experience the charge sustaining mode, as well. Stay tuned.
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I was afforded the shotgun position and had two additional riders in the back seat including Sam Abuelsamid from Autoblog.
The experience of actually sitting in a bonafide running fully functional and operational Chevrolet Volt was an absolute pinnacle of the incredible long 2-1/2 year journey I’ve been on since this site began in January 2007.
To all those thousands of naysayers who said it couldn’t or wouldn’t been done, I guess you were wrong.
Below you can enjoy my high-def video of the experience.
First of all the car was sharp and sleek, and the interior was dazzling. The LCD displays were bright and high definition. There was plenty of room on the passenger side, and Frank Weber at about 6′4″ seemed to fit into the driver side without difficulty. The two journalists in the back were comfortable as well. As Sam put it “The Volt is considered a compact, but in spite of the sloping roof-line, it still felt surprisingly roomy. Both leg and headroom were more than adequate for this journ’s long-torsoed 5′10″ frame.â€
Acceleration was startling. The car took off like a rocket even with all four of us in it.
Amazing as well was the absolute silence. Clearly the final design and soundproofing has had remarkable results compared to the mules. This was simply the quietest electric car I’ve ever been in.
It was smooth and nimble and did not feel weighted down.
It took quick turns with certainty.
Frank even said there was a bit of a delay programmed into the instant torque so that the final production cars would be even quicker, and would have better ride and handling. Hard to believe.
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I was afforded the shotgun position and had two additional riders in the back seat including Sam Abuelsamid from Autoblog.
The experience of actually sitting in a bonafide running fully functional and operational Chevrolet Volt was an absolute pinnacle of the incredible long 2-1/2 year journey I’ve been on since this site began in January 2007.
To all those thousands of naysayers who said it couldn’t or wouldn’t been done, I guess you were wrong.
Below you can enjoy my high-def video of the experience.
First of all the car was sharp and sleek, and the interior was dazzling. The LCD displays were bright and high definition. There was plenty of room on the passenger side, and Frank Weber at about 6′4″ seemed to fit into the driver side without difficulty. The two journalists in the back were comfortable as well. As Sam put it “The Volt is considered a compact, but in spite of the sloping roof-line, it still felt surprisingly roomy. Both leg and headroom were more than adequate for this journ’s long-torsoed 5′10″ frame.â€
Acceleration was startling. The car took off like a rocket even with all four of us in it.
Amazing as well was the absolute silence. Clearly the final design and soundproofing has had remarkable results compared to the mules. This was simply the quietest electric car I’ve ever been in.
It was smooth and nimble and did not feel weighted down.
It took quick turns with certainty.
Frank even said there was a bit of a delay programmed into the instant torque so that the final production cars would be even quicker, and would have better ride and handling. Hard to believe.
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