2010 Beijing Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt MPV5

After we showed you some of the designs a few days ago, the plainly-named Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover concept has rolled silently out of the gates.

Big things first: power comes from GM's lithium ion T-battery and a 1.4 liter engine generator, as one would expect. The battery will provide 51.5 km / 32 miles per charge, while the gasoline generator contributes an extra 482 km / 299.5 miles.

So, what is it other than a smaller Orlando with a Volt nose-job and power train? An expander, that's what. This model is GM's next step in creating a new sub-brand within GM, much like Audi's upcoming e-tron line.

Other fun facts: the Volt MPV5 sits on 19s, seats 5, and is extra aerodynamic "thanks to its closed grille and aero-optimized lower air dam,...a full-underbody belly pan, along with rocker claddings, creased tail lamps and specially designed blades on the rear quarter".

It also offers more passenger space all-around, a glass-panel roof, and even provides up to 1,764 liters / 62.3 cu ft of cargo space with the back seats down (863 liters / 30.5 cu ft seats up).

While this new Volt vehicle is neat (and definitely important), it would have been nice to see a modern take on the Volt's face (which is SO 2008).

By Phil Alex

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New C7 Corvette to get Split Rear Window According to GM Design Boss Ed Welburn

Even though the 1963 Corvette Stingray's distinct split rear window treatment lasted only for a model year, for many this unconventional styling trait became synonymous with the Corvette ever since. And now we may very well see it making its return on a production Corvette almost half a century later. In recent interview with Inside Line, General Motors' head of global design Ed Welburn told the news site that like the 2010 Camaro, the next generation Corvette's design will incorporate hints of retro styling, including the split back window.

General Motors gave us a taste of how this styling feature may be incorporated on the C7 Corvette, which will retain the front-engine/rear-drive layout of its predecessors, with the Stingray Concept that appeared in the second Transformers movie that was released this past summer.

"That car is not the next Corvette, but the split-window is something that I expect for the next Corvette," Welburn said in the interview. "With the back-up cameras and blind-spot detection systems that we have these days, the visibility issue is much less of a problem."

So what do you think about the idea of the return of the split-window treatment on the new C7; will General Motors manage to find a way to incorporate this feature without causing any rearward visibility issues? Also, what's your take on a possible retro-modern theme for the new Corvette?

Via: Inside Line

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Chevy Volt Based 'Jolt' Transformer Autobot - First Official Photos

Along with the all-new Corvette Stingray Sideswipe character, visitors to Chevrolet's display at this year's Chicago Auto Show that opens its gates to the public on Friday, February 13, will also have the chance to see yet another new Chevy-based model that will star on Paramount's upcoming release, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Jolt is a new Autobot character that appears in the production form of the 2011 Volt extended-range electric vehicle.

Leaving aside from the fact that in the movie Jolt will turn into a human-like robot, the only visible differences between the production Volt and the Chicago Show Transformers film model, seem to be limited to the silver-colored exterior mirrors and the trim surrounding the lower part of the windows.

"Chevrolet is thrilled to again be part of one of the most anticipated movies in years," said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet. "'Transformers' gives us a great opportunity to connect with young people on their terms, with a dynamic, environmentally friendly image. The new characters represent the change going on in Chevy showrooms. From the exciting Camaro, the 21st century sports car, to the game-changing Volt, there's more than meets the eye at Chevrolet today.

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Corvette Sideswipe Transformer Makes Official Debut at Chicago Show

After all the rumors and more leaks than a New Orleans levy, the wait is over for General Motors' latest Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept that will play the role of 'Sideswipe' in the next Transformers movie dubbed "Revenge of the Fallen" due for release on June 26, 2009. Stylistically inspired by the original Corvette Stingray race car, introduced in 1959, the Autobot concept also draws on Corvette heritage cues from other generation models to create a shape that we wouldn't mind seeing influencing the next Vette.

"SIDESWIPE represents an exercise in exploration for the Corvette," said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. "By giving my creative team the freedom to design no-holds-barred vision concepts, it helps them push boundaries and look at projects from different perspectives."

Stay tuned on Carscoop as we'll be bringing you more news from GM's Transformer stand at the Chicago Auto Show, including the first official photos of the Autobot-ized Chevy Volt.

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Video: Chevy Beat and Trax Caught at Transformers 2 Movie Set

This summer, Paramount will unleash the sequel to the Transformers Movie called 'Revenge of the Fallen'. As with the first Transformers film that was released back in 2007, General Motors will make its presence felt with an array of models that will include the Chevrolet Beat and Trax minicar concepts. We're not sure if the two Chevys will transform into robots, but you can take a sneak peak at both cars in the video, which was shot during filming in Philadelphia, after the jump.

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Transformer 2 Corvette Centennial Concept in all its glory

Our friends over at Jalopnik hit the jackpot with these new shots of the Corvette Centennial Concept that was built to play a role in next summer’s blockbuster ‘Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen’ as well as to celebrate General Motors 100-year anniversary. The futuristic Corvette concept takes several styling cues from the older Vettes including the split rear-window from the ’63 Sting Ray. GM has been awfully quite with the Corvette Centennial so we’ll have to take Jalopnik’s word that the concept does not preview in any way the forthcoming C7 Vette. -Continued

Via: Jalopnik

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