The final version looks very dissapointing. What happened to the concept we saw at the autoshow? Automakers allways do this, they get you psyched up about the car and when the final product rols out it looks like crap. Remember the pt cruiser concept? That car rocked, and kicked a#@. The final version so much of a letdown. The only concept that was even close to the original was the new chrysler 300. Can anybody tell me why the automakers mess up the final versions so much?

Good god! It looks like an Azteck in that rear 3/4 photo.

I remember GM talking about how they had to radically change the outer shell design of the Volt.
They said that the "concept" body was horrible as far as aerodynamics, and it was extremely hard to "push" the car throught the airstream. These pictures actually show a better car than some of the mock up drawings I saw for the "new" design .

I still agree thought, it's like showing me a Porsche and then giving me a Yugo.

I think it looks fine. The original concept that I saw looked like something that midget gangsters would pop out of. Quite horrible looking, actually.

I laugh every time I see a PT Cruiser. Do people actually think that driving a 'milkman truck' is cool?

They are taking this angle because it's going to cost you a whole lot more money to purchase a Volt.

The second Chrysler and GM got in bed with Obama during the campaign last year, I swore I would never buy another car from either of them.

I intend to keep my word.
My cars will be either Ford or foreign, for as long as I live.

And if cr*p and trade passes, I will multiply my carbon load as much as humanly possible.

For 40 grand it better be sporty on par with the Camaro.

2010 Honda Fit Hybrid $15,000 with 55 mpg
Chevy Volt $35,000-$40,000
Toyota Prius - $21,000 with 50 mpg.
The average person concerned about the environment with buy a Honda Fit Hybrid.
Remember the FIT IS GO!!!!!

I don't understand why people always complain about what a concept looks like and the final production car/truck looks like, when have they ever. Maybe a couple of times, but not very often.

The shell is not the "car", it's what's under it and in this case hopefully better tech to start to ween off the middle easts "teet".

The original concept for this car, while cool looking, was a poor choice of a design for aerodynamics. If they kept it there would have been no point in making it electric.

Would you be happy if they made the original concept design, but used a gas engine instead?

As it looks in the pictures, I see very similar lines to the Prius, but I like it more.

And $40k is no different than some early adopters paying $600 for an iPhone. The market will adjust, just give it time. No one is forcing you to buy one.

Personally, I would love to have one, but I think I will wait until version 2. But, I may get it anyway since my commute is only about 10 miles, so not buying gas would be great.

"2010 Honda Fit Hybrid $15,000 with 55 mpg"
"Toyota Prius - $21,000 with 50 mpg."
- Too bad mpg will go down significantly due to ethanol being required in gasoline. Which means more gallons of gas bought and more pollution per mile driven.

"But, I may get it anyway since my commute is only about 10 miles, so not buying gas would be great."
- Too bad electricity prices will skyrocket under cap & trade. So you probably will spend more per mile with electric, than gas. And we still will be dependent on middle east energy since all of the coal fire plants will have to close.

Damn Thomas, how about focusing on some potential positives instead of just the negatives?

Ethanol from corn is a bad move, but when we look at the plants being produced to use cellulose from switchgrass and what not, it does become optimistically viable. I'm not saying we're there yet, but we gotta do something. Right now nuclear, renewables, and cellulosic materials are our best bet.

Most estimates put the new cap and trade cost to be about $170/family/year. I don't think anyone's going to be filing bankruptcy over this.

I get the impression you're a Limbaugh loving Republican who only knows how to complain but can't actually do anything to help solve the problems. Please prove me wrong.

Paul wrote: "Most estimates put the new cap and trade cost to be about $170/family/year. I don't think anyone's going to be filing bankruptcy over this.

I get the impression you're a Limbaugh loving Republican who only knows how to complain but can't actually do anything to help solve the problems. Please prove me wrong."

Another $170/year loss will cripple my mom. She supports Obama, but I'm thinking she won't be happy about that. I hope the estimates are high!

As to the "problems", which ones are you talking about? The fabricated ones, or the real ones? I'm all for getting off of oil asap, but not one that believes we have any significant impact on the warming of the earth (and yes, I'm certainly open to the fact that that may be happening now, as it has cycled from waming to cooling for millenia). The Cap and Trade does nothing but tax Americans for something they have no control over, which is the rest of the world. Do you think China, who is a HUGE polluter, will partake? Dream on! Rainbows and unicorns, baby...

As to the Volt, I like it! Probably won't buy one any time soon, but that's because I'm not in the market for a new car right now. This would be a contender (along with the Fit).

clearly the "sportier" claim doesn't refer to it's styling. it looks more "rental car-like" from the outside than the prius or insight.

Probably because they realize before final production that the design from the show costs more in production.

it looks much better than prius or insight. Prius and Insight looks the same and ugly.

Sporty or not it will undoubtedly be an abysmal failure, as will the "new" GM. 50% of the electorate is politically conservative and most have now and forever washed their hands of Chrysler and GM, costing them a TON of market share just when they can't afford to lose ANY.

GM will need a second bailout in 3-5 years.

Terrible value prop. It's a Malibu with a hybrid powertrain and a $12-$14K price premium. At $3 a gallon and 25 mpg, that would buy 100K miles worth of gas. And that gas is purchased in future dollars, while the powertrain is in current dollars (or financed). So even if the Volt uses zero gas, the break-even point is reached about the time you need to replace the battery pack (or the whole car).

@Rocky,

The Fit doesn't come in a hybrid. Gotta buy an Insight, Civic or Accord hybrids if you want a Honda.

@everyone,

But, otherwise, you're absolutely right. The Volt's sophistication makes it too expensive. The Prius is great because it's a midsized car at $21k -- that's not much more expensive than the base (midsized) Camry. When Toyota starts adding extra batteries, so people can recharge overnight and drive the first 30-40 miles gas free for just a few thousand more, it'll be a bigger, nicer and more efficient car, for tens of thousands less.

Plus, the Volt's probably Vaporware.

@ democratsarefascists

Please buy the Ford. At least most of the money stays here.

This car is fantastic. Far better than the concept.
For those who don't like the Aztek styling, it's purely aero styling, not a statement. That's why it's similar to the Prius/insight.

The front looks too much like an insight. Seriously, the headlights, the grill, the mouth, the fog lights all have the same shape as the insight. Although, I do give GM a thumbs up for the volt's rear.

I object to the handle shown in this list of comments that mentions fascists. If that's going to be acceptable here, this forum is doomed. Please... at least moderate minimally to keep the offensive participants in bounds. Please.

For$40,000 I hope it transforms to Jolt, so I can whip the rear of every foreign car buyer and trash their cars. I get tired of those guys whote say (and post on the Web) that foreign cars are better. Are they Americans?

I AM!!

When I get my own Volt, I hope it transforms into the Autobot Jolt, so I can trash foreign cars and whip the owner's rear. I get tired of guys who say (and post on the Web) that foreign cars are better. Are they Americans? ! am! I have three GM cars and the oldest is 26 years old. I sponser GM because I have family who work there. And their cars last longer. Foreign cars are "disposables"! That is why they sell so many!