Chevrolet To Dump Volt Powerplant In Favor Of A Turbo Four Cylinder?

All we had known for sure about the future of the Chevrolet Volt was that it will be undergoing a powertrain upgrade in about a year’s time.  That is until now.   A source inside the company (who did not wish to be identified) confirmed to InsideEVs that the 83 hp, 1.4L engine that is currently in use as an extended range generator for the Volt will “definitely not” be in the 2014 model year that begins production in the summer of 2013.

It is thought that the 1.4L engine found in the Volt today was never the first choice of engineers who were designing the car, but was mated to the platform strictly out of the availability of the engine.  When debuting the concept Volt, GM had envisioned a specially designed engine to optimize performance for the Volt, but had to abandon any such plan because of a freeze on all research and development in the period where GM was entering bankruptcy, and the Volt was in development.

 

Steve - 6/15/2012 11:52:51 AM

0 Boost

I'm wondering if the Volt can shake its Vista-like reputation as the solution nobody wants.

vdiv - 6/16/2012 12:25:52 AM

+1 Boost

1500+ people a month is not nobody.

TehShibbs - 6/15/2012 6:13:13 PM

0 Boost

This is a good thing, as the turbo 1.4 is more efficient, anyway. Torque is what's needed to generate power.

However, I think it is quite silly that the engine can't generate enough power to CHARGE the hybrid battery while driving.

vdiv - 6/16/2012 12:32:59 AM

+1 Boost

The current 1.4L engine does generate more than enough power to sustain the battery charge, the problem is that it does not do it as efficiently as it could be done. It was a compromise when GM was bankrupt and could not afford to develop another engine.

vdiv - 6/16/2012 12:40:39 AM

+1 Boost

Charging the battery would be inefficient. The engine is capable of doing it but since the Volt is an EV GM decided it would be against the objective. There is a Mountain Mode that will increase the charge up to 40% to create a large enough buffer for long uphills. So far no one has demonstrated a need to use it.

MorePower - 6/15/2012 6:44:47 PM

+1 Boost

This only makes sense for a new, larger Volt. I doubt the issue that is holding back potential Volt buyers is lack of power in the gas engine since the car is heavily marketed as an "electric", extended-range vehicle.

I could see them adding the 2.0ltr to the Cadillac variant of the Volt, if it ever makes it to production, or a larger cuv/minivan type vehicle to compete with the Prius V.

MorePower - 6/15/2012 6:48:38 PM

0 Boost

If anything, switching engines could signal GM is finally getting off their asses and will be making a turbo diesel the "generator" engine.

The only way a 2.0 liter engine swap, with/without electric motor, makes sense is if GM has a secret, ultra efficient powertrain that is near production. I'm talking over 50-60mpg.

Lexus - 6/15/2012 8:56:35 PM

+1 Boost

Wait....wait...., I thought agent double zero 9 here just posted another article saying how the Volt is a Huge Success because it's Outselling the Corvette? IMAO.........!