http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/a...hevrolet-volt/

Looks great for a hybrid. IMO looks better than any other Chevy aside from Vette & Camaro.

 

It looks kinda strange in black. I don't know why.

 

We've also seen it in a nice bold blue.


I hope this is available in more bold colors.

 

I like it in black. looks sleek. I like the rear door glass on the volt better than the Cruze due to the lack of the fixed piece of glass the cruize has in its c-pillar.

 

Sadly, I think it looks too much like the other little hybrids. If I was buying an electric/hybrid car, I'd choose the Volt first, but the styling I think is far less revolutionary than the original concept.

 

You do know the original styling was horrid in the wind tunnel, correct?

There's a reason all these kinda cars look similar.

 

It's a nice looking car for sure

 

Well, in terms of drag coefficients, at the top end you have things like a Hummer H2 which runs about .57, and on the low end there's cars like the GM EV1 with wheel skirts that have a .19 drag coefficient.

There's a lot of great styling combinations inbetween. The current Prius is right around .26. The slab-of-brick current-gen Dodge Charger is right around .33. Other, sleeker designs like the Volkswagen CC complete with underbody cladding are at .28. Mercedes does .24 with its new E-class coupe.

Now, there's more complications than just shape--they also need giant floors for things like battery packs and probably a higher hood to make room for things like inverters. But even then, I thought GM would be the one to apply more aesthetic form to function since this is such a ground-breaking car for them.

It's not bad looking, but it does have a lot of dorky resemblance to its Prius and Civic/Insight counterparts. I'd still pick it over the rest.

 

Why, oh why, can't I get a new Camaro in a blue like that?

 

I think a lot of this is done on purpose. People who buy hybrids want everyone to know they are driving something "special". It's why they smell their own flatulence.

 

It's done because no other shape that accommodates a practical five-seat sedan has a better drag coefficient.

 

Which improves "fuel economy"; which is the entire purpose of these types of vehicles.

 

If that blue were available I'd order one tomorrow. I love that color.

 

And the big bonus is that the hybrid demographic loves the "stand out" shape. Let's be honest, slightly more aggressive styling is not going to make mileage plummet.

Remember the stories about how the hybrid Civic and Accord were slow sellers in part because they didn't stand out from their conventional offerings?

 

If we're really being honest, you and I can both admit that neither of us knows enough about aerodynamics to know whether that's true or not.

Frankly, I think that the Volt looks just enough like the Prius to evoke the "green" image, while still retaining enough style to stand out on its own.