The Chevrolet Volt is here, at last.
A vehicle with cars-of-the-future trend-setting potential can now be bought by Americans.
(Well, more likely, leased – and, at $350 a month for 3 years, with $2500 down, wouldn’t you?)
Amazingly, though, I’m here too, on the launch of a car I’ve been following (thanks to Chevrolet UK press office’s receptiveness) since the very first days of technical presentations in Frankfurt seminar halls.
It sounded something remarkable back then. Now, with it becoming reality, it’s an event I already know I’ll remember, just for ‘being there’.
‘There’ is here in Detroit, to where I flew a few hours ago. During the flight, I genned up once again on the Volt’s technicalities; an electric car with what’s basically an onboard generator for when the batteries go flat. Ensuring you keep on going, rather than hunt for a plug and wait.
I also did the groundwork towards understanding how the trick planetary gearset works, too, and paired down plenty of other details to check out on the Volt.
Ample more time to absorb all this upon landing, mind: US immigrations checks are thorough, and certainly take time when two jumbos land simultaneously. This bit was, itself, revealing, though.
Through immigrations, see, you have to explain why you’re here, what you’ll be doing in the US. Know what? Each and every US official I explained my visit to replied with unbridled enthusiasm for the Volt.
It’s quite something – there’s genuine on-the-ground awareness of this car (including its technicalities), and that’s reinforced by the real passion this snapshot of Americans seem to have for it.
They realise it’s something special, know it’s a potential groundbreaker, and really, really want journos like us to go back and say likewise. It’s great to experience.
Tomorrow, we’ll find out what the car they’ve putting so much faith in is actually like.
Bring it on!
