The second-gen Chevrolet Volt has been officially teased on Twitter ahead of its Detroit show debut in January. Garang face, isn’t it? Just like the original Volt, the front grilles are covered to improve aerodynamics – although you can see small openings at the bottom of each intake.
Great things are expected of the new Volt – a higher electric range, a lighter Voltec powertrain and a new interior. A 13 kg-lighter and more efficient battery pack, developed with LG Chem, should yield a 20% jump in storage capacity. The number of cells have been cut from 288 to 192, and they’re positioned lower in the pack for a better centre of gravity.
The four-cylinder petrol engine now displaces 1.5 litres instead of 1.4 litres, and features direct injection, a 12.5 compression ratio, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump.
GM has always called it the range extender (meaning it is just used to charge the batteries) but according to some reports, in very specific situations, the original Volt’s petrol engine can mechanically assist the electric motor at high speeds.
Although the likelihood of this happening is very low (80% of all trips are completed without the range extender starting up, Chevy says), in the strictest sense, this makes the first-gen Volt a plug-in hybrid and not a range-extended electric vehicle.
Does it dampen our excitement for the full unveiling of the sequel, though? Not one bit.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Speaking of range extender, what happened to the Exora REEV project?
Anyway, I think the front lights look very much like Civic. Tame and no-sexy (refer to fiat ad post). I believe range extenders have the potential to grow despite being less popular than traditional hybrids (honda IMA, toyota HSD) and pure EV (tesla, renault-nissan, etc). Any chance that this Volt is going to be sold here? The brand power is weak tho.
a Honda?
The new Volt looks like an Astra to me.Maybe because they’re both from General Motors (GM).Though it’s not really a bad thing and it has the convienience of a range
extender model.They should make an Astra Eletric Vehicle (EV) for the mass market as well.Any chance the Volt being sold here?Range Extender Eleteric Vehicle (REEV) are growing in market share despite being less popular compare to conventinal hybrid vehicles such as Audi A6 Hybrid and Prius etc and EV cars.
“GM has always called it the range extender (meaning it is just used to charge the batteries)” I work on Volts, this is not true. The Volt has NEVER used the engine to charge the battery. The only thing that will charge the battery while driving is the regenerative braking. The engine (range extender) only spins motor-generator 1 which then powers motor-generator 2 which ultimately drives the wheels. You have to plug them in to charge them.