NAIAS2015 Sneak Peek: 2016 Chevrolet Volt

I'm not sure how I feel... if you buy an electric car, shouldn't it be as efficient as possible?  You start having people control the regenerative brake properties on the steering wheel, and you're adding a distraction.

I agree with Paolino, the regeneration should be maximized and you should not have the option to play with the settings also, I am not wowed with this sneak peak. I really hope it is better than what they have stated.

The regeneration is like a second brake pedal. The reason you want to control it is because you want to be able to control your rate of deceleration.

I sorta do this now with the cruise control, nudging my speed up or down with traffic using my thumb.

Note to self, don't post articles while exhausted without letting someone else read them first....

Design wise, this has a Honda/Acura feel to it so far. 

Design wise, this has a Honda/Acura feel to it so far. 

I see a lot of this:

Design wise, this has a Honda/Acura feel to it so far. 

Great, now I see the Honda Insight in the Volt's design.

 

Design wise, this has a Honda/Acura feel to it so far. 

 

I see a lot of this:

 

 

This is what the MB concept looks like to me. MB with a compliment to Chevy on the F15 Concept.

Design wise, this has a Honda/Acura feel to it so far. 

Yeah, it looks like a Civic/ILX.

I honestly understand people who will look for the cheapest and most dependable or the message that it is the most dependable thing around but Honda just has ZERO appeal to me as an auto maker. Their auto's are boring, too small and just not comfortable. They have built what I always thought would happen. Over priced throw away auto's.

I think GM has done their job well as some of you are comparing this EV hybrid car to normal everyday gasoline cars. That is just what Chevy was targeting.

GM has from the start wanted the Volt to be the EV car that many would consider a normal car in looks and driving. They do not want the Leaf, Prius Science fair look.

To make a EV car look normal is no easy task as the Aero is so important just for range. I forget the exact number but the sharp edge on the rear bumper on the Volt is work several miles of Electric range. Yes just that one sharp edge. Other features also have to remain in play in the design to keep the range up. To make the car look more normal like a regular car can be damaging to the range so if they have succeeded protecting or increasing the range then they did their job based on the comments.

So far it looks downmarket from the current model.

We'll see a bit more clearly tomorrow.  (or late this evening if you stay up late enough)