VH_Supra26
05-29-2009, 08:43 AM
by Alex Kaufmann
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2011_chevrolet_volt_main630_05-0128-630x360.jpg
Click to view gallery (http://www.motorauthority.com/gallery/2010-chevrolet-volt-production-model/2010-chevrolet-volt-001.html)
Until now, only shells and test mules built on Cruze and Malibu platforms have existed
You may think you've already seen the 2011 Chevrolet Volt inside and out (online at least) but in truth you've only seen mock-ups. The first real, complete pre-production Volts are currently under construction.
They're being build as part of the final phase of testing before their release, and are expected to come out of assembly within two weeks, reports Wired. Production will carry on at a full-volume output of 10 per week, with about 80 cars expected to be on the road by fall.
Because these are the first vehicles to integrate both the Volt platform and the Volt powertrain, they are being referred to as 'integration vehicles'.
“The purpose for the integration vehicle builds is two-fold,” said GM's Rob Peterson. “First, they validate our production design, vehicle safety and performance capabilities. Just as important, the build activity provides valuable insight into the final vehicle assembly process to ensure a high-level of build quality and manufacturing efficiency when production begins in November 2010.”
Now the safety - read crash - testing can begin, meaning we're likely to begin catching murmurs of the battery cell's durability.
With production still about 18 months away, however, and GM headed into what most of the world expects to be a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on June 1, the Volt's production milestones seem at once more relevant and completely fanciful, and with a $32,500 base price (after rebate) it's going to have a tough fight ahead of it even if production goes smoothly.
GM has previously said that its financial issues won't affect development of the Volt, however, so don't count the car out yet.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/gm-currently-building-first-full-pre-production-volt-prototypes.html
http://www.motorauthority.com/content/thumbs/2/0/2011_chevrolet_volt_main630_05-0128-630x360.jpg
Click to view gallery (http://www.motorauthority.com/gallery/2010-chevrolet-volt-production-model/2010-chevrolet-volt-001.html)
Until now, only shells and test mules built on Cruze and Malibu platforms have existed
You may think you've already seen the 2011 Chevrolet Volt inside and out (online at least) but in truth you've only seen mock-ups. The first real, complete pre-production Volts are currently under construction.
They're being build as part of the final phase of testing before their release, and are expected to come out of assembly within two weeks, reports Wired. Production will carry on at a full-volume output of 10 per week, with about 80 cars expected to be on the road by fall.
Because these are the first vehicles to integrate both the Volt platform and the Volt powertrain, they are being referred to as 'integration vehicles'.
“The purpose for the integration vehicle builds is two-fold,” said GM's Rob Peterson. “First, they validate our production design, vehicle safety and performance capabilities. Just as important, the build activity provides valuable insight into the final vehicle assembly process to ensure a high-level of build quality and manufacturing efficiency when production begins in November 2010.”
Now the safety - read crash - testing can begin, meaning we're likely to begin catching murmurs of the battery cell's durability.
With production still about 18 months away, however, and GM headed into what most of the world expects to be a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on June 1, the Volt's production milestones seem at once more relevant and completely fanciful, and with a $32,500 base price (after rebate) it's going to have a tough fight ahead of it even if production goes smoothly.
GM has previously said that its financial issues won't affect development of the Volt, however, so don't count the car out yet.
All Content Copyright 2006-2008 Motor Authority
http://www.motorauthority.com/gm-currently-building-first-full-pre-production-volt-prototypes.html