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7:35-8:00 am // Chevrolet Launches Improved Volt, Unveils Bolt Concept EV

Monday, January 12, 2015

Chevrolet Launches Improved Volt, Unveils Bolt Concept EV

DETROIT – Chevrolet staged the worldwide premiere of its greatly bolstered 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra made it a double worldwide premiere by unveiling the Chevrolet Bolt full-EV concept vehicle at the 2015 North American International Auto Show here today.

The new Volt boasts an electric-only range that has been extended to 50 mpg, a 20-percent improvement in zero-to-30 mph acceleration time to 2.6 seconds, and the first application in North America of GM’s 1.5-liter EcoTec engine.

Barra said that the new Volt is more than 200 pounds lighter than its predecessor. “It also gets leaner, and lower,” she said, “with a more expressive exterior design. In every way, [the car] improves on the Volt formula of a no-compromise electric vehicle.

The Volt’s new, efficient propulsion system will offer a General Motors-estimated total driving range of more than 400 miles and with regular charging, owners are expected to travel more than 1,000 miles on average between gas fill-ups, Barra said.

The car also features an all-new interior with seating for five and improvements in vehicle functions from charging the battery and checking the charge status to the intuitiveness of instrument-panel controls.

“We believe our engineering prowess combined with data from thousands of customers allows us to deliver the most capable plug-in vehicle in the industry,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America.

“According to independent surveyors, Volt owners are the most satisfied in the industry and they were our compass for developing the next-generation model,” said Batey.  

In fact, at its press conference at NAIAS on Monday morning, GM had on hand more than 50 actual owners of the existing Volt. Batey noted that more than two-thirds of Volt owners are new to Chevrolet. He cited third-party reports that Volt owners are the most satisfied in the industry.

Barra said that the new Bolt concept comprised a significant statement on the company’s commitment to electrification because it is designed to offer more than 200 miles of range and start at prices around $30,000.

“The Bolt EV concept is a game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity,” Barra said. “Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers.”

Leveraging the electrification prowess established by Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV concept is designed to offer long-range performance in all 50 states and many global markets.