Comments on: Volt Birth Watch 147: Heavy Lifting http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vbw-147-heavy-lifting/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:25:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: lewissalem http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vbw-147-heavy-lifting/comment-page-1/#comment-1503644 lewissalem Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:25:24 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=320762#comment-1503644 Ok, I just saw pics of the "Integration Prototype " driving around the Tech Center and the exterior design has been significantly changed (for the worse). The creases are not as crisp, the hood opening is altered, the LED taillights don't appear to be in slim strips anymore, the mirrors have grown two sizes.... More false advertising from The General. GM is incapable of producing their concept vehicles. Ok, I just saw pics of the “Integration Prototype ” driving around the Tech Center and the exterior design has been significantly changed (for the worse). The creases are not as crisp, the hood opening is altered, the LED taillights don’t appear to be in slim strips anymore, the mirrors have grown two sizes…. More false advertising from The General. GM is incapable of producing their concept vehicles.

]]> By: Lorenzo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vbw-147-heavy-lifting/comment-page-1/#comment-1503637 Lorenzo Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:17:54 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=320762#comment-1503637 The Volt isn't the only plug-in possible. Nissan just took fed dollars to build a plug-in, and no doubt Toyota will build a plug in Prius, and Honda a plug-in Insight, **if it's mandated**. The big question is, where will the million buyers come from? The Volt isn’t the only plug-in possible. Nissan just took fed dollars to build a plug-in, and no doubt Toyota will build a plug in Prius, and Honda a plug-in Insight, **if it’s mandated**. The big question is, where will the million buyers come from?

]]> By: KixStart http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vbw-147-heavy-lifting/comment-page-1/#comment-1503592 KixStart Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:15:22 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=320762#comment-1503592 GM's most optimistic plan is for 60K per year through 2014 or so. No way they're doing a million by 2015. And it's unclear that they can sell a mass quantity of $40K compact cars unless fuel prices rise so fast and high that the economy stops, anyway. There will probably be competitors with shorter-range PHEVs and some other alternatives that look more attractive but, as pointed out, it took 8 years to get a million Priuses on the road. Weak competitor hybrid sales suggest no one else has been able to dial in the required levels of price, value, comfort, reputation and performance. GM’s most optimistic plan is for 60K per year through 2014 or so. No way they’re doing a million by 2015.

And it’s unclear that they can sell a mass quantity of $40K compact cars unless fuel prices rise so fast and high that the economy stops, anyway.

There will probably be competitors with shorter-range PHEVs and some other alternatives that look more attractive but, as pointed out, it took 8 years to get a million Priuses on the road. Weak competitor hybrid sales suggest no one else has been able to dial in the required levels of price, value, comfort, reputation and performance.

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