Chevrolet is already working on reducing the productions costs of its second-generation Volt to bring its list price in line with more mainstream rivals.
The company will place particular focus on the Austrian-built 1.4-litre petrol engine to keep costs down.
Chevrolet's work could in fact see the current engine be axed from the line-up altogether, in favour of a more sophisticated and frugal version.
Read Autocar's first drive of the Chevrolet Volt
The current Volt will cost $41,000 (£26,000) in the US, although final UK pricing has yet to be revealed. Previous estimates have suggested the car will come in at just under £30,000 - but not by much.
The first production versions of the first-generation Volt are currently being built in Detroit.
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Re: Chevrolet to reduce Volt costs
GM should have seen it from the start, at least I did.
Nicer looking, better built, with proven technology electric and hybrid cars from other manufacturers has been out in the market for much less. It has taken GM way too long with too much hype to bring the Volt to the market, while other car makers have quietly brought out much better eco cars.
To add more injury, Tesla will be introducing their very sexy looking S model (an electric sedan) which is much more luxurous, more technology and better performance starting at $50,000, which seems like a steal compared to the inferior Volt.
Re: Chevrolet to reduce Volt costs
It is the future of green transportation, in the near term anyway. Why do you think almost every manufacturer has an EREV in development?
Really; most automotive websites agree that the tech is game changing; a few have given the Volt car of the year, green car of the year based on the tech. The car is not ideal for everyone, but if you have driving habits like this fellow the fuel savings can be very good indeed...
Chevrolet Volt Driving Log
Because they had off the shelf components that weren't ideal but could work in the compressed development time. The Volt is not just another car, it has quite a bit of computing going on to optimize the system and that takes time to get right. They will sell every Volt they make, even with the high production cost; early adopters expect this and want the car any way. As long as they keep improving the car and lowering the cost I don't see a problem.
Re: Chevrolet to reduce Volt costs
@ Straff,
The hype and expectation that GM created about this car during their bankruptcy period, one was expected to see the future of green transportation. Instead after years of development they come up with a car that does not excel in any major department other than the fact that if you shell out twice more than a similar car you will end up with something thats slightly more fuel efficient.
If they think they couldve improved on the car and its price even before its been really launched why sign this off for production in the first place.
Yes Ive been to this website before, why you taking a poll??!!