Electrics may not have caught on at the pace envisioned by their bullish proponents, but the vehicles are establishing a small but sustained niche in the marketplace. One of our favorite vehicles in this segment, the Chevrolet Volt (which, technically, is a plug-in hybrid) is due for a redesign next year—and now after learning more about the next-gen Volt's powertrain last month, GM has revealed even more details.
So what juicy new info is GM sharing with us? Besides releasing the teaser photo of the car under a sheet on its Facebook page (see above), the company revealed that the next Volt's charging system will be optimized. That might not sound like a big deal, but charging procedures are critical to electric cars, and, it seems, to electric-car owners, as well. We like many things about the Volt, including its design and competent performance (for an EV, er, plug-in hybrid), so GM might be overly modest when it states: "if there's one thing Chevrolet Volt owners like about their car, it's being able to recharge the battery easily."
To build on this satisfaction, General Motors has announced three changes: First, the 2016 Volt can recognize a "home" position through GPS data, utilizing preferred charging times, electricity rates, and recurring departure times pre-set for that location. Second, "more intuitive charge status indicators" can be seen atop the dashboard even from outside the vehicle, and the commencement, or possible delay, of refilling the battery is announced with specific sounds." Finally, the 120-volt charging cord is longer than before (nearly 25 feet), and its storage space above the load floor has been selected after taking in customer suggestions.
- 2014 Tesla Model S 60 Tested: Supercharging a Supercar
- What a Jolt: Next-Gen Base-Model Chevy Volt Could Be Named "Bolt"
- Chevrolet Volt Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, Photos, and More
These changes should make Chevy's legion of happy Volt owners even happier, but we, of course, are far more interested in getting a full look at the 2016 Volt at the upcoming Detroit auto show. Based on the sneak-peek photo showing the 2016 Volt's sleeker headlight and grille—which, based on spy photos of the car testing, underscore a sleeker overall design—people might have more than idiosyncratic charging procedures to get excited over.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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