Hot Two-seater Variant Is Just What the Chevrolet Bolt Needs

Stop thinking about roadsters. To the best of our knowledge, General Motors has no plans to enter the burgeoning electric sports car market, and we pray it wouldn’t be a front-drive model if it did.

No, the two-seater Chevrolet Bolt we speak of remains pretty much unchanged when viewed from the outside. Inside, however, there’s plenty of space to stretch out behind the front seats, as those are the only seats you’ll find.

As discovered by Bozi Tatarevic, who claims he isn’t a private investigator, and published by Jalopnik, documents filed by GM to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show there will indeed be a two-seater Bolt. Stripped of its rear bench and associated rear safety equipment, the model joins other fleet-friendly vehicles in the automaker’s lineup. Deliveries begin later this year.

While the automaker confirms the creation of a commercial Bolt variant, there’s no information available about the model’s price, or whether there’s any changes to the powertrain. It’s hard imagining GM would tinker with the model’s battery for such an application, though. Expect roughly 238 miles of range. According to ChevyBolt.org, the Bolt variant comes with poverty-spec 16-inch steel wheels, though buyers can order the Comfort and Convenience Package and Driver Confidence Package should they desire a more civilized experience behind the wheel.

The cargo edition Bolt’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating spans the range between 4,001 and 5,000 pounds, but it likely won’t hold much more tonnage than its five-passenger sibling. A handful of pounds, maybe — replacing the missing seat’s weight.

Besides creating a new market for Bolt sales, the move gives small companies, franchisees, and startups that sometimes transport smaller amounts of goods as part of their operation an easy way to greenwash their business. Imaging the PR boost for a caterer or “nerds on wheels” company with this in its fleet. (Tesla, which doesn’t offer commercial vehicles of its own, surely won’t like the boosted Bolt delivery numbers.)

Since going on sale in December 2016 and expanding its reach across the U.S. last summer, some 26,477 Bolts have rolled off dealer lots in the United States. Now, if only GM would listen to this author’s idea for a dual-motor, El Camino-style Bolt variant.

[Image: General Motors]