What's Wrong With This Picture: Volt Lumina Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Patent drawings of what appears to be a compact/subcompact MPV bearing the Chevy Volt’s grille have surfaced at GMInsidenews, setting off much speculation as to what it all means. And boy is there room to speculate. Initial impressions are of a Chevy Orlando/ Buick Granite with a Volt-alike grille, but upon closer inspection the line drawings appear to show a smaller vehicle. After all, Orlando is supposed to offer a seven passenger option, and it’s hard to imagine sitting aft of those rear doors. And yet the Volt drivetrain was built around GM’s Delta II platform, which underpins both the Orlando and Granite (in concept); why would GM downsize its expensive EREV to the Aveo’s Gamma II platform before building out Delta II variants?

Other speculation: this is simply a five-door Volt, which is being developed specifically to address the Volt’s lack of five-place seating. Or maybe it’s an EV-only hatchback aimed at a more Leaf-like price point than the Volt’s $40k-ish. One thing is certain: GM is already moving towards a lineup that’s heavy on compact crossover/MPVs like this one. Unless this replaces a planned Buick-branded, plug-in Gamma II-based MPV, there’s overlap breaking out all over. Besides, isn’t it starting to look like GM is turning Volt into a new brand? For a former branding addict, straight out of a government bankruptcy rehab, this is a dangerous sign…



Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 3 comments
  • Philadlj Philadlj on Apr 20, 2010

    As far as 5-doors go, here's your choice so far from GM: Small: Aveo5 Medium: Terrain, Equinox, SRX, CTS wagon Large: Traverse, Enclave, Acadia In 2-3 years: Small: Spark, Aveo5, Orlando, Granite, Rendezvous*, Volt5* Medium: Terrain, Equinox, SRX, CTS wagon, Regal wagon* Large: Traverse, Enclave, Acadia, Lambdalade* That's a lotta hatchbacks!

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Apr 20, 2010

    Like a hole in the head, we need that.

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
Next