GM Releases Pics of Production Volt; 33,000 Raise Hands as Possible Volt Buyers

GM Releases Pics of Production Volt; 33,000 Raise Hands as Possible Volt Buyers

UPDATES WITH DESIGN CHANGES

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

In an apparent move designed to maintain public interest in the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors today released two -- and only two -- photos of the production-ready plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Until now, the public has been seeing photos of the Volt concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show last year. But with the photos of the production-ready front corner (right) and rear, we're getting glimpses of the car as it will appear in dealers' showrooms.

The photos indicate that the General has been smoothing out the concept's angular exterior in an attempt to make the production vehicle more aerodynamical while simultaneously adhering to its original design.

We're pleased GM decided to keep headlights and fog lights that emit cool-blue light. The color bespeaks the electric heart of the Volt, a car GM says will be able to go the first 40 miles after a charge on battery power alone.

The next 400 miles before a recharge is needed require gasoline to power an onboard generator that supplies electricity to the Volt's electric motor.

The rear shot (left) gives us our first look at the Volt's production-ready badge. Below are photos of the concept's front corner and rear for comparison purposes.

Air Detests Corners

The Volt's design team claims it has added six or seven miles to the car's electricity-only range by improving the vehicle's aerodynamics.

"Air does not like to go around sharp corners. It creates turbulence and drag," Bob Boniface, GM's director of design for the Volt, said today in announcing changes to the concept's design.

The concept originally had a blunt front end with a sharp crease on the corner. The production version now has a very rounded look.

The production car's grill texture is largely sealed up. The design now sends the air down the side of the car and not through the engine compartment.

A curving crease down the back corner of the concept has been smoothed. Both there and on the spoiler, Boniface said, "You want an aerodynamic 'trip' device so air leaves the car very quickly and cleanly." For the spoiler, GM added a 5-millimeter "trip" device (think lip), he said.

The concept's sideview mirror started with a patch mount, where the structure holding the mirror sticks out horizontally from the door. For the production version, that was changed to a post mount. The mirror now sits on a post lifting from the vehicle's side.

The changes to the mirror and spoiler each cut drag by 5 counts, he said.

For every 10 drag-counts reduction by the aerodynamic design, the design team added 0.55 miles of highway range on the vehicle's electric charge. In total, the team cut the concept's drag counts by 120, thereby adding six or seven miles to the car's range on the charge.

33,000 Potential Buyers

Earlier this week, Lyle Dennis, a New York neurologist who created the customer sign-up page on his GM-Volt Web site in May, announced that since then 33,000 people had signed up on the symbolic waiting list.

Dennis created the page to show GM that the Volt would be in high demand. He's now on a crusade to pressure GM "to build enough cars for us." The automaker has said that it intends to produce the Volt in small numbers initially.

Even though the Volt concept has been getting lots of attention since its debut, the automaker's board of directors only approved funding for the Volt two months ago.

Dennis said people now are asking questions regarding the waiting list, such as one's place in line. "Handraisers," as the auto industry calls people interested in a vehicle enough to request additional information or sign-up for purchase, provide their name, address, "enthusiasm level" and the price they are willing to pay. They then are given their place in line.

Of the 33,000 who have signed up, up to 8,000 have provided such detail. The average amount they are welling to pay averaged $31,171. The greatest interest is from California, Florida, Texas, Michigan and New York.

"Top level GM officials are aware of this list and have mentioned the possibility of working with it. It is not official and nothing is guaranteed, but it can't hurt to try. I will keep at it," Dennis told his site visitors.

The Volt is scheduled to enter production in 2010.

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.