NEWS
New Chevy Volt teased
Chevrolet confirms second-gen Volt for Detroit show debut in January, but it's not certain for OzGeneral Motors has revealed it will unveil the 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid at the 2015 Detroit auto show in early January, but Holden is yet to confirm that it will be sold in Australia.
The announcement was accompanied by this first teaser image of the second-generation Volt – a rear-end image that gives little away, other than a new badge and more sculpted tailgate.
"We're not in a position to discuss future product," said GM Holden's senior product communications manager Kate Lonsdale when asked by motoring.com.au about the car's local future.
"We have no announcements to make about Volt at this stage."
The original Volt went on sale in late 2010 in the US, where it has since become North America's top-selling plug-in passenger vehicle, with more than 65,000 sold in almost four years and 69 per cent of sales coming from customers of other brands.
According to Chevrolet, most of those conquest sales have come from the world's top-selling hybrid, Toyota's Prius.
However, in Australia, where it arrived in October 2012, Holden has sold just 223 Volts, including only 42 to July this year – down 44 per cent on the same period in 2013.
Since the Volt's Australian release at a price of $59,990 plus on-road costs, Mitsubishi has released its Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) with a $47,490 starting price, while Nissan has twice slashed the price of its all-electric LEAF hatchback, which now costs $39,990 drive-away.
Meantime, BMW has announced a $63,900 entry price for its i3, which will also be available in range-extending PHEV guise from November for $69,900, while Audi Australia has confirmed its first electrified model, the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid, will cost about the same as the Volt ($59,900) when it arrives here early next year.
GM has always said the four-seat Volt liftback's price – one of the major factors that limits its appeal – will come down as battery technology and cost reduces.
The next Volt is also expected to offer a larger interior with five seats and an increased EV driving range – up from the current model's 87km – partly thanks to a downsized 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine/generator.
Like the model it replaces, the new Volt will be based on the same platform as the next-generation Cruze, meaning GM's all-new modular small-car architecture.
Chevrolet's chief marketing officer Tim Mahoney suggested the new Volt will be more innovative than the original.
"Volt is the perfect example of the ingenuity that drives everything we do at Chevrolet," Mahoney said at the Centre for Automotive Research Management Briefings.
"Volt fully delivers on the promises of Find New Roads [Chevrolet's latest marketing catch-cry] and will continue to provide consumers with the transportation solutions they need and deserve in the future."
According to an infographic released by GM, owners of the current Volt who charge their vehicles regularly "typically drive more than 970 miles [1560km] between fill-ups and visit the gas station less than once a month".
Share this article
Written byMarton Pettendy
See all articlesOur team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Related articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Contact
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Download the carsales app
