Chevrolet Volt Powertrain : First Drive

[4wheelsonline]

After more than a year of pestering GM, the call finally came to get behind the wheel of a Volt prototype.



The Volt program, the first-generation powertrain mules that were built using previous-generation Malibu body shells with the Voltec (E-Flex) powertrain, the so-called Mali-Volts we first saw about a year ago. Those vehicles originally ran in late 2007, with the engine-generator and electric motor as well as a small hybrid battery to start development of the powertrain control system. Later, the full Volt T-shaped battery pack was installed and in 2008, the second-generation mules were built using the body of the new Chevy Cruze. Unlike the larger mid-size Malibu, the Cruze is based on the same Delta global compact platform as GM's plug-in savior, which is closer in size and weight to the Volt and was used throughout winter testing in 2008-2009.


You can view the video --> First drive of the Chevrolet Volt prototype