German Car Zone

With all due respect and while you're entitled to your own opinion I feel this perspective is quite unreasonable. You couldn't possibly expect GM to deliver a car that promises the efficiency gains necessary to make a truly revolutionary automobile with the aerodynamics of the concept. In short they were terrible, and reasonably so with a design that probably had the drag coefficient of a brick. Aside from that more times often than not concepts look hardly like the production successors.

I feel great about this car and I'm so incredibly happy to see GM, an American auto giant plagued with legacy costs and an assortment of issues step out to the forefront of the industry with a product like this that's sure to revolutionize the landscape of not only the industry, but the market in terms of what you and I and everyone else drives. All for a brighter and cleaner earth using alternative propulsion technologies and fuels. People can crack on the American automakers all they want and the journalists write all the doomsday prophecies for the future of the Ameircan auto industry, all the while the men and women at these great companies push themselves to develop and build great products that meet the needs and demands of a changing landscape. Cars like the Volt are just the start of the American auto industries revolution.

It's not that the final product is at fault - it's that Chevy has been hyping the Volt up the wazoo, wearing it on its sleeve at every opportunity. If you saw the "gas station" ad that ran during the Olympics you know what I mean.

The problem is that the Volt's buzz-building campaign has set up expectations for a different kind of vehicle*–*You don't see Honda or Toyota playing that spin game. When Honda shows a concept, it's pretty much what you're going to get, less some bells and whistles. Toyota will go out on a farther limb, but ultimately will deliver a product that is in the spirit of the doner concept. Chevy, on the other hand, has used to Volt concept to tease something they can't do under the umbrella of the electric car - so I think my gut reaction to the final product is entirely fair.

As I said, it's your opinion.

Secondly both Toyota and Honda aren't nearly as risky as some of their non-Japanese competitors, GM one of them. It's not the Volts styling that created the hype, it's the technology and the promise of an emissions free vehicle for you, I and everyone else can buy at a reasonable price. Some of the kinks are still being ironed out and in time will continue to be. But this is an awesome start.

A 300/Charger type car? The Volt was never anything like that in concept or anything. Not sure where that came from. You must have been thinking about another concept.

Anyway, I like this a lot. I like the theme inside too. IMO this is exactly what this car needs to compete with similar Honda and Toyota models. The high-tech/greenie image is what will sell this car, and IMO it looks better than any Honda or Toyota hybrid. I'm sure the center console will come in other colors.

Another American car I can be proud of, so far. Now we've got to see if it lives up to the hype once in the hands of consumers.


M

Thank god it's just a production ready concept cause to me it looks like a sea lion. I hope they will iron out the oddness in the design by the time the car is fully ready for production.

ha ha .. coming from a guy that the thinks the panamera looks great be fair hassan. It looks great for its purpose.

I really like it. Hopefully when it shows up at dealers it will be ready for prime time. Now it is Toyota's turn in January at Detroit to show the new Prius.

M

That roof is definitely not production though. Then again, maybe...

M

I think it is the best looking hybrid out there. Hopefully it has the substance to back the looks and does not end up like the PT Cruiser.

Nothing is 100% on the car, it's like 1.5 year away from launch and some of the eye candy like the side mirrors and the all white dash won't make it to production.