We finally get a look at the final production version of the Chevy Volt plug in Hybrid (it still uses gas) car. The Volt made its first appearance in 2007 at the North American International Auto Show.
The production version has been revised from the 2007 concept car and it now looks like a mash up between the late 90's Mitsubishi Eclipse, a Toyota Prius and the 08' Honda Accord coupe. With the exception of using a modified version of the current Chevy grille, the Volt resembles an import.
Not quite an electric car and not exactly a hybrid, the car can run on an electric charge for 40 miles before either requiring a charge or switching to gasoline (or E85 if you prefer). Instead of calling it a plug-in Hybrid, GM prefers the term, extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). As far as charging the Volt you can plug it in to a standard household 120v outlet or a 240v outlet. You should be able to charge the battery in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet.
The Volt delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 mph. Reports estimate that the Volt’s total driving range is 640 miles.
As far as the tech in the console, Chevy has some forward leaning features.
- Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display
- Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display
- Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls
- Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage
- Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming
Take a look at the official Chevy Volt site here: 2011 Chevy Volt
