Monday, January 12, 2015YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Chevrolet kicked off the 2015 North American International Auto Show media days with a bang -- or rather, a buzz with the revamped electric battery of the Volt.
At the auto show's first press event, Chevy announced that the new battery in the 2016 Volt -- available in the second half of 2015 -- has a 50-mile range, a jump from 38 miles in the current model. Moreover, the battery is 100 pounds lighter.
The new engine -- powered by both gasoline and the battery -- will have a range of approximately 420 miles, 70 more than the first iteration that has been used since the Volt was introduced. The second-generation Volt will get an estimated 41 mpg, up from 35 in the first generation of the car, in an effort for Chevrolet to meet a government requirement that all manufacturers have a fleet average of 54.5 mpg by 2025.
Following the presentation, Chevrolet introduced the new Bolt, an all-electric concept with a range of 200 miles. The Bolt will have a $30,000 price tag when it is released.
“The Bolt concept is a game-changing electric vehicle designed for attainability, not exclusivity,” said General Motors CEO Mary Barra in a press release. “Chevrolet believes electrification is a pillar of future transportation and needs to be affordable for a wider segment of customers.”
The Bolt features a 10-inch touchscreen on the center console, “generous headroom and legroom,” and an app that will allow smartphones to be used as a key, the press release said.
“The Bolt concept’s interior is intended as a sanctuary, with materials and technologies that reinforce the airy ambience and help contribute to the vehicle’s overall efficiency,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design in a prepared statement. “It also incorporates technology in a subtler and simpler manner, for a more soothing driving experience – particularly in busy, urban environments.”
Later this morning, Ford focused on performance as it showed off three redesigned cars, all boasting performance upgrades over their earlier versions.
The F-150 Raptor, a sport version of its standard pickup truck line, shed 500 pounds through a redesign, thanks mostly to the addition of an aluminum body. The truck also features a new suspension system and a Smart Terrain Management system that helps the motor adapt to driving conditions both on the street or off-road.
“Raptor is the ultimate high performance off-road pickup. This is what you get when Ford's passion for performance vehicles is combined with our obsession for making the world's best trucks,” Ford vice president Joe Hinrichs said at the press conference. “The all-new Raptor pushes the limits of what a full-size pickup can be. It's our toughest, smartest and most capable Raptor ever.”
The standard F-150 was named the North American Truck of the Year early Monday morning.
Raj Nair, vice president of global product development, presented the new Mustang GT 350, touting it as “the most track capable, street-legal Mustang ever.
“Like the original [in 1969], the new GT 350R is lighter with a highly refined suspension. It's been highly engineered in the same spirit as the original competition 350.”
Everything not crucial to performance, Nair noted, was stripped from the car. That includes air conditioning, rear seats and a backup camera on the back bumper, he said.
“Our criterion was simple: If a part or feature didn't help the car go around the track faster, we deleted it,” he said. “No compromises. No frills. All by design.”
The biggest addition to this version of the Mustang is a new flat-plane crank V8 engine that is “typically found only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars,” Nair said.
The engine is Ford's most powerful naturally aspirated -- an engine without a turbocharger -- engine ever, he added
William Clay Ford Jr., chairman of Ford, and Hinrich also announced the second generation of the Ford GT, which begins production next year. The first generation, produced in 2005 and 2006, was modeled after Ford's GT40 racecars from the 1960s. This upcoming versions takes design cues from the 1960s cars and present them with modern styles.
On Sunday, Buick unveiled the 2016 Cascada, its first convertible available in the United States in 25 years.
“[The Cascada] is a beautiful, engaging convertible that represents the very best of the brand’s global development practices,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick, in a press release. “It’s a car that will delight customers with its fun spirit and help drive the momentum that’s fueling Buick’s success.”
While Fiat Chrysler Automobiles -- the company that owns Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep -- didn't have a presentation scheduled, CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters that the company would invest $2 billion in developing a new minivan and updating the assembly plant in Windsor, Canada, that will build it.
“It is my sincere hope that you will see it on the stand here next year," he said.
Pictured: 2016 Chevy Volt.
Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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