2011 Chevrolet Volt: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt makes its debut as General Motors' first plug-in gas/electric vehicle. It is slated to see limited production, with launches in California and Michigan in late 2010. Full availability is slated for calendar 2011. GM calls this four-passenger, 4-door hatchback an "extended-range electric vehicle" in that it does not work like most hybrids. With many hybrids, their gasoline engines and battery-powered electric motors can provide power to the drive wheels. With Volt, the wheels are always driven by electricity, provided either by an onboard battery or a gasoline engine. The car plugs in to a household outlet and charges overnight. Chevy claims a range of 40 miles solely on a fully charged battery and more than 600 miles when the gasoline engine is used. At this point, it is not known what the gas motor will be, but expect it to be a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that will also be capable of running on E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Available safety features likely will include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Among the available features include a remote-charging and vehicle-control program that owners can download and run from Blackberry and Apple iPhone cell phones. Other features likely will include a wireless cell-phone link and a navigation system. We have not yet tested the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.