Chevrolet just released some teaser images of its much-ballyhooed Volt plug-in hybrid. The bad news: it appears as if it will look very little like the punchy little Volt concept, which virtually stole the 2007 Detroit auto show. The good news: it should still look pretty cool, at least as far as we can tell from the two pictures, which show an illuminated front quarter as well as part of the tailgate.
Gone are the squinting headlamps and three-dimensional grille of the concept in favor of Ford-like, sideways L-shaped assemblies that include an HID bulb, lots of LED action, and a “halo ring” à la 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The upper grille is now a stylized and patterned surface rather than a hungry air pocket. The concept’s outboard lower air intakes are also drastically different from those shown in the new images, but we think they got way more interesting this time around.
The frontal image also shows a lower opening that will feed and cool the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which will include massive batteries capable of propelling the car up to 40 miles by themselves. A small gasoline engine will serve as a generator to extend the car’s range up to 400 miles, but it won’t be involved at all in actual propulsion.
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