Green Chevrolet
In 2007, General Motors released the Chevrolet Volt as a “tech-exotic” concept and, now, after four years, the car has become a mass production vehicle. This green Chevrolet car has evolved a lot since its first appearance at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a four-seat, four door plug-in hybrid hatchback equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack which can deliver 149 horsepower for around 40 miles in the city. When the 40 miles that are powered by the battery pack are exceeded, the gasoline-powered V4 engine starts providing electricity to the motor for 300 extra miles. Because of these figures, many people consider that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is most likely the most fuel-efficiency vehicle and the most advanced hybrid car available nowadays on the market.
The Chevrolet Volt has an amazing exterior design completed by 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic headlights. This green Chevrolet also features automatic climate control, heated mirrors, cruise control, six-way manual front seats, cloth upholstery and remote ignition. Inside, the Chevrolet Volt has a lot of electronic devices with sensitive buttons. The dashboard is more similar to an oversized iPod rather than to an automotive control panel.
The interior is equipped with high quality materials and gadgets that allow this green Chevrolet to be in trend. The gadgets available include an incredible navigation system with touchscreen, Bluetooth, a six-speaker Bose stereo system which has CD and DVD player. There is also available a Premium trim package which features a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, a rear camera and a park assist package and heated front seats. Because of all this features the Volt is spacious and comfortable and gives a new meaning to the phrase “futuristic components”.
Under the hood, the Chevrolet Volt hosts an electric motor and a 1.4 liter V4 internal combustion engine. The second engine uses premium fuel and is activated when the electric motor stops. When the car achieves higher speeds, the V4 engine offers support to the electric engine by powering the wheels directly. This green Chevrolet goes from zero to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds when the electric mode is activated and in 9 seconds when the car uses the second type of engine. You can recharge the battery only at a 120 or 240-volt outlet, but there is also the possibility of allowing the battery to recharge slowly with the help of the regenerative braking system or of the engine generator. When it comes to the fuel economy, this car has an electricity range of maximum 39 miles in a mixed driving. If the car uses only the internal combustion engine, the fuel economy is of around 31.4 mpg.
If we were to appreciate the driving impression of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt we can say that it achieves high speeds quickly and it offers a type of performance specific to electric cars. When the car is driven in the electric mode, the Volt is smooth and quiet as any other electric car and it’s capable of maintaining these features even when the second engine is activated. The only inconvenience is that the car is a little nose-heavy when you try to take a corner, but all in all the Chevrolet Volt drives naturally and better than the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight. When it comes to the safety measures, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt features antilock brakes, front side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and stability control.
If you were impressed by this green Chevrolet you should also know that the price is of around $40,000. In my opinion it’s worth every penny.
Post tags: Tags: automotive articles, Green Chevrolet
