#NAIAS: The Question NO ONE Wants To Ask — Has The Chevrolet BOLT Overshadowed The All-New Volt?

#NAIAS: The Question NO ONE Wants To Ask — Has The Chevrolet BOLT Overshadowed The All-New Volt?
At the 2015 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), General Motors' Chevrolet division unveiled not one, but two electric vehicles. The first, everyone's already familiar with it. The second, not so much.

This show marked the introduction of the all-new, 2016 Chevrolet Volt and a concept in form of the Chevrolet Bolt. Cute naming, I guess.

(NAIAS) Detroit Auto Show

The Volt is essentially a carryover with some evolutionary upgrades. Now it will get 50 miles on electricity assuming the variables that affect range are perfect. It also has a fully updated look that makes it look akin to a mid 2000s Honda Civic and a revamped interior that will NOT be winning any awards anytime soon. Not including tax incentives, we're thinking the price will hover around the $35,000-40,000 mark.

Now, the more interesting vehicle is the concept dubbed the Bolt. Looking more boxy and as many folks in the press room murmured "like an i3," it is definitely more of a conversation piece. Said to be aiming for a $30,000 price and an all-electric range of 200 miles, it certainly is keeping the green car crowd's attention.

But one thing I haven't seen anyone ask: did the BOLT upstage the all-new Volt?

This is critical because THINK: When will General Motors get the Bolt into production? Is this feasible in one years? Two years? Will we see it only in 2018?

Although the majority of the folks in attendance at the Detroit Auto Show are gearheads and are bias, I have to say that there was absolutely ZERO excitement or interest in the Volt. But, we can't exactly do the calculus to figure out exactly what our readers are thinking. So, what's the deal, Spies?

Did the all-new Bolt overshadow the Volt EVEN IF we have NO idea when it will become real?


**The 2015 Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.


(NAIAS) Detroit Auto Show

















































MDarringerMDarringer - 1/18/2015 7:27:50 PM
+1 Boost
In a word: YES! The Bolt is fun to look at. It looks new and flashy. BMW only wishes the i3 road turd look this good.

As for the Volt, it's 100% better than the Aztek-like first generation, but it looks like a 5 year old Civic. Yes, a huge step in the right direction, but if Chevy can style the Bolt to be so captivating, why could they not have exerted more on the Volt?


CarCrazedinCaliCarCrazedinCali - 1/18/2015 7:44:30 PM
-3 Boost
agreed except I quite like the i3's quirky design and it was a fun to drive EV. The Bolt definitely steals the Volt's thunder.


vdivvdiv - 1/19/2015 9:59:06 AM
+1 Boost
I find the first gen. Volt much more attractive than whatever this second gen. one is. GM may be realizing that the market is growing so they will have to make more than one plugin. As such this new Volt is not for me.


W124E320W124E320 - 1/20/2015 9:43:00 AM
+1 Boost
Completely agree w/Matt. The Bolt is fresh and interesting, the Volt, while still moving in the right direction does look like a 5 yr old Civic. The BMW I3 is turd and over priced. Seems you can stick a BMW logo on a turd and its supposed to be awesome. Talk about ugly...


chewychewy - 1/18/2015 7:33:26 PM
+2 Boost
Four times the range for the same money makes the Volt almost irrelevant in a grand scheme of things. Definitely not much hype for the Volt this time around unlike when it first came out and was more a less the first on the market.


vdivvdiv - 1/19/2015 10:06:28 AM
+1 Boost
Well, it was an obvious diversion that many of us saw immediately:

http://autospies.com/news/NAIAS-REAL-LIFE-Pics-Of-The-All-New-Chevrolet-Bolt-Does-The-Baby-Volt-Have-Enough-Swag-To-Sway-You-84089/

The Bolt however is a concept, it may or may not happen as announced, while the new Volt is real and GM seems serious about the model:

http://autospies.com/news/NAIAS-We-Snap-In-Person-Pictures-Of-The-NextGenVolt-As-GM-Tells-Us-THIS-Is-A-Step-In-The-RIGHT-Direction-84087/


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