Chevrolet expects to
produce 16,000 extended-range Volts by the
end of 2011 and 60,000 next year, including
15,000 for European sales.
11-08-16
Good things come to those who wait, and
for those considering a 2012 Chevrolet Volt,
that means a $1,005 price cut over the 2011
model.
The starting price for the 2012 Volt is
$39,995, before the federal tax credit of
$7,500. Pricing includes the $850 freight
charge from Brownstown, Mich.
The lower starting price came through a
shuffling of the standard equipment and
features availability. For example, a
navigation system was made optional, but
OnStar Turn-by-Turn navigation is standard
for three years.
For 2012, there are seven option
packages, compared with three for the 2011
model. A loaded Volt, with leather, back-up
camera, navigation system and an optional
paint color and wheels will run $46,265, or
$38,765 with the full tax credit.
New features for 2012 include:
- Two new interior accents: white and
spiced red.
- Two new paint colors: Summit White and
Blue Topaz Metallic.
- Standard keyless access with passive
locking; the car automatically locks and
unlocks with the key fob in close proximity
of vehicle.
- Standard AM/FM stereo with CD player
and MP3 playback and 7-inch diagonal color
touch-screen display.
In a recent test, I drove a Chevy Volt 34
miles before the car switched from battery
power to the engine. I didn't feel relief
that I could keep driving; it somehow felt
that I'd seen the man behind the curtain and
the magic was over.
The four-seat Volt is a so-called
extended-range electric vehicle. After
battery power is depleted, range is extended
by up to about 340 miles by its 84-hp,
1.4-liter, direct-injection, four-cylinder
engine.
A fully charged Volt is an inspiration of
what seems to be extreme efficiency. The
driving experience is much like the
traditional internal-combustion-engine car
in how it steers, stops and rides. But there
is a chemicalization in the electrification
that an ICE just can't imitate. The Volt on
battery soars and glides. It is quick to
pull away and it easily cruises at highway
speeds — at least for about 40 miles,
depending on terrain, temperature and the
driver's right foot.
And even after the switch to cylinders,
there is significant battery driving at
speeds to about 30 mph and auto stop-start
at lights. So, when creeping along in
commuter traffic, the car is still running
silently, until the engine fires as needed
for cabin functions. The "flow" meter to
chart engine/motor/battery is an enjoyable
distraction.
If all cars were electric, we'd see fewer
stop signs and more yields. I grimaced at
full stops, knowing that it would use
precious energy to get the mass rolling
again. It takes a different mindset to drive
an electric. Consistent actions in steering,
braking and acceleration are key to reducing
consumption and extending range. Like riding
a bicycle, sometimes you have the energy to
take the shortcut over the hill, and other
days you'll take the longer but flatter way
around.
So if you aren't going to use the Volt as
an electric car, don't buy one, Chevrolet
says. There are more efficient,
four-cylinder fuel-economy choices, such as
the Chevy Cruze, which shares a depowered
version of its four-cylinder with the Volt.
It costs about $1.50 to charge the Volt
from empty, a spokesman said. So every week
you don't fill up with gasoline, remember to
mentally subtract $40 (or more) from your
total investment and the asking price won't
seem so huge in a few years.
Charging can be done by a 120-volt
household current, but it's slow. A
Department of Energy program provides 4,400
240-volt chargers free to the first Volt
buyers. That's a $490 savings, but
installation costs are additional.
Standard features include navigation
radio with 60-GB hard disc drive,
DVD-ROM/MP3 playback capability, voice
recognition, six-speaker Bose audio, XM
satellite radio and Bluetooth. A rearview
camera is not offered and should be.
Things of which to be aware? Owners will
learn to "bank" battery power ("mountain
mode") for climbing long hills. The
out-swept windshield pillars can create
blind spots when looking left and right over
the fenders. Access to the back seat is
tight, and there is limited legroom but
plenty of foot room under the seats. The
raised seats do not fold for added cargo
utility.
The Volt is a shuttle to the future.
Whether that promised land will be
hydrogen-powered cars or a 300-mile battery
is yet to be determined — and either is a
ways off. Volt is here now, saving oil and
emissions.
Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at
Mark.Maynard@UnionTrib.com. Find photo
galleries and more news at Facebook.com/MaynardsGarage.
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