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Something About The Volt Sounds Familiar...

Discussion in 'Chevrolet Volt' started by Prianista, Aug 16, 2008.

  1. Prianista

    Prianista Member

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    From an interview with the Volt's chief engineer:

    "The early concept, a low-riding, sleek silver hatchback, was uncomfortable to sit in and not very functional, Farah said.
    The new five-door hatchback version more resembles a normal car, a little larger than a Honda Civic." [more]
     
    #1 Prianista, Aug 16, 2008
  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Yeah. I read that when the article first came out.

    Couldn't help thinking it would eventually look something like this:

    [​IMG]
     
    #2 Godiva, Aug 16, 2008
  3. CarGuy60

    CarGuy60 New Member

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    Sure hope it has better seats than the Pri
     
    #3 CarGuy60, Aug 16, 2008
  4. bac

    bac Active Member

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    The Volt could do more damage to the hybrid market than any other factor you can imagine. When this GM POS has extensive problems, hybrids in general will get a bad rep.

    GM .... please find another way to make money. Automobiles are clearly not your thing. :)

    ... Brad
     
    #4 bac, Aug 25, 2008
  5. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I know you don't yet have your Prius, so I'm hoping you'll find the seats more to your liking once you've had the car for some time.

    We all have our little quirks and preferences -- I'm not a big fan of the GM seats. All the same, I've had cars with seats that I've liked much better than my current Prius's seats (a VW and a Nissan come to mind). Even so, I've been very pleased with the comfort and "performance" of the seats over some long drives (up to 8 hours at a time).

    I just hope they don't try to duplicate the Prius, because they'll never get it to be as good. Let's hope they come out with a winner of a car that is different.
     
    #5 a priori, Aug 25, 2008
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I'm not as concerned as you on this point. Toyota's been making functional hybrids for ten years now. Honda's been doing it a tad longer. There are marginally successful hybrid versions of the Tahoe, Vue, and others (if by successful you use the parameters "no major recalls").

    If the Volt really is a lump of bad engineering, if the batteries tend to explode, if the appearance is so bad no one wants it, or if the price is so high no one can afford it then I think the blame is squarely and solely on GM. If anything, I think it would make the other manufacturers and models more appealing.
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, Aug 25, 2008
  7. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    In hindsight, the following things should be clear:

    1) The original concept car was nothing more than a studio project available for a PR stunt.

    2) The Volt was presented as a PR stunt. Note that the chief engineer was convinced that he would be wasting his time .....until it became clear that every other GM plan was headed for greater failures.

    3) GM was enjoying the media attention, until the destruction of the GM SUV future took place.....and the PR stunt was the only option left for future survival.

    4) It is sad that GM now has to go overseas to get the best engineer available.
     
    #7 FL_Prius_Driver, Aug 25, 2008
  8. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    5) Whatever they come up with won't be as good as what they already had (EV1).
     
    #8 Godiva, Aug 25, 2008
  9. Dave_PH

    Dave_PH New Member

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    They tried Home Mortgages but that hasn't worked so well.
     
    #9 Dave_PH, Aug 25, 2008
  10. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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    #10 miscrms, Aug 26, 2008
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Better seats? Best to hope it simply gets off the drawing board :p
    When a company pushes hydrogen, AND a non-existant car? THAT's what you call a ticket to bankruptcy.
     
    #11 hill, Aug 27, 2008
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