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Melbourne 2009: GM releases new shots of Holden Volt

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:08:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Holden Volt Although it won’t actually be present at the event, GM has released three new images of the Holden Volt to coincide with the start of the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show. Like the Opel Ampera that will be shown off at the Geneva Motor Show next week, the Holden is a rebadged version of the range-extended electric Chevy Volt. This lightly remodeled car is very important for the Australian market as the automaker tries to shed its fuel-thirsty reputation and switches to smaller, more efficient packages. The Voltec powertrain that makes the Volt tick isn’t likely to see any changes on its trip Down Under, and, as we can see from the image gallery below, there aren’t any real changes to the Volt’s sheetmetal either. This fact shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone since The General worked to hard to make the overall shape of the original Volt as slippery as possible in the first place. See the full press release after the break. Gallery: Melbourne Motor Show: Holden Volt [Source: General Motors] Continue reading Melbourne 2009: GM releases new shots of Holden Volt Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Pacific Region , Holden Melbourne 2009: GM releases new shots of Holden Volt originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Melbourne 2009: GM releases new shots of Holden Volt

GM consulant: Volt may have a halo, but it will not be GM’s savior

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:59:00 +0000

Click above for a high res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt At auto shows and gatherings with friends, I’m often asked what I think will happen with GM and if the Chevy Volt will ever really come out. My answer is that while Volts on the sales floor won’t guarantee that GM survives, if GM survives, they most certainly will build and sell the Volt. I certainly don’t know if this is true, but it’s the best I can do with the information I’ve seen and read. It appears that I’m not alone. Rob Kleinbaum, who worked at GM for nine years before taking on a consulting role for 15, wrote a white paper in January called “Retooling GM’s Culture” ( PDF ). In it, Kleinbaum writes: The mainstay belief is that all will turn out well if only they [GM leaders] have the chance to implement their plans, starting with the much heralded Volt. Then they will consider turning their attention to considering these types of “secondary” issues [labor contracts, cost issues, etc.] . Kleinbaum also spoke with HybridCars about his white paper and said that the Volt program is “set up to fail.” The car itself might work as advertised, but, “The way they set it up as saving everything. There’s tremendous risk that it won’t meet expectations. Even if the Volt meets all its targets, GM will not survive unless the entire product line is well executed…GM has shown it can execute world-class products; they just cannot execute a broad portfolio of them.” I guess my answer to the GM/Volt question just got a bit more detailed. Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt [Source: HybridCars ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , GM , Green Daily GM consulant: Volt may have a halo, but it will not be GM’s savior originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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GM consulant: Volt may have a halo, but it will not be GM’s savior

Fiat 500 Convertible revealed!

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:04:00 +0000

After a brief tease , the convertible version of the retro-cute Fiat 500 has been revealed before its official upcoming Geneva Motor Show debut. Taking a cue from the Cinquecento of yore , the canvas top slides back to open up a view of the sky yet leaves the outer portion of the roof intact, helping maintain body rigidity. Although the design does appear to limit rearward visibility somewhat, the boot gets to maintain its top-up storage capacity. When it reaches showroom floors in Europe this Spring, buyers will have the same engine choice as the hardtop; a turbo diesel or two tiny gas sippers. It will also keep the ” start&stop ” system that helps it get 40-some mpg in the city. It is not known for sure if the 500C will make it to America but if it does (and the roof doesn’t leak), it is likely to garner a huge following. Full press release after the break. [Source: Fiat ] Continue reading Fiat 500 Convertible revealed! Auto Blog: MPG , Fiat , Europe/EU Fiat 500 Convertible revealed! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:53:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet , Chicago Auto Show In order for the Chevy Volt to achieve both a 40-mile electric range and the 10 year/150,000 mile battery durability target, every aspect of the car must be optimized to minimize parasitic losses. We’ve already seen the car’s shape change allowing it to slice through the air with less resistance. Now, partners like Goodyear and Bose are stepping up to the plate to help. How much can tires do? Goodyear’s new Assurance Fuel Max tires are claimed to contribute an extra mile of driving range compared to similar performing tires. Goodyear cites a new tCar Blog Greencompound that helps reduce rolling resistance. Even in green cars, modern car owners like to be entertained on the way to wherever they are going. Bose has developed a sound system for the Volt that has more efficient amplifiers and speakers. Digital signal processing circuitry aims to provide concert hall sound while consuming half the energy. Undoubtedly over the next 18 months,we’ll be hearing plenty more about new sub-systems that are designed to reduce the load on the battery pack but this is a good beginning. [Source: GM] Continue reading Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:53:00 +0000

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Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency

DC Auto Show: GM announces plan for Volt introduction, San Francisco, D.C. early adopter cities

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:10:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Chevrolet , GM , Green Daily , Washington DC Auto Show GM’s Ed Peper At the Washington Auto Show this morning, GM outlined its plan for getting America ready for the Chevy Volt. GM has been looking at which cities are the most prepared for and has people who are the most interested in a plug-in vehicle, and singled out San Francisco and Washington, D.C. as two locations where the General is focusing its roll-out efforts. Working with local governments, electric utilities, regulators and other players, GM is setting the stage with a holistic approach: finding ways to provide incentives to purchase the Volt, creating workplace charging infrastructure, HOV-lane access possibility, potentially changing building codes to allow vehicle charging stations to be built, and more. GM will replicate these efforts in other parts of the country. As all this is happening on the outside, GM North America president Ed Peper said that Volt development is continuing uninterrupted and GM is still on track to introduce the car late next year. More details after the jump. Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal, also announced that The Volt won the Green Car Journal’s Green Car Vision Award. Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt Continue reading DC Auto Show: GM announces plan for Volt introduction, San Francisco, D.C. early adopter cities DC Auto Show: GM announces plan for Volt introduction, San Francisco, D.C. early adopter cities originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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BREAKING: Detroit 2009 – GM building Volt battery packs with LG Chem cells

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:19:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , GM , Detroit Auto Show After showing off its latest cars and concepts yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show , General Motors reserved its second press conference today for battery news. As has been rumored for months, South Korea’s LG Chem has been selected to supply the lithium-ion cells that will power the Chevy Volt. However, LG Chem and its U.S. subsidiary will not be supplying full packs to GM. Instead, GM has decided to keep the pack production in-house along with the battery management systems and all the power electronics. The automaker will be building a pack assembly facility here in Michigan, with LG Chem only supplying the cells. GM is currently working on finalizing the site selection and working with local and state officials on the approvals. The site of the factory is expected to be announced soon with site preparation starting early this year. Tooling of the factory should be completed by early 2010 with production starting soon afterward. GM also announced a new partnership with the University of Michigan to create the Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains (ABCD). ABCD will focus on researching batteries and integration issues with a specific focus on vehicle applications. Press release after the jump. [Source: General Motors] Continue reading BREAKING: Detroit 2009 – GM building Volt battery packs with LG Chem cells BREAKING: Detroit 2009 – GM building Volt battery packs with LG Chem cells originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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BREAKING: Detroit 2009 – GM building Volt battery packs with LG Chem cells