Surprise! The $41,000 Chevrolet Volt requires 93-octane fuel – sorry to those who were thinking they could scoot by using the cheap stuff. Despite the fact that the on-board engine/generator that powers the Volt’s electric drivetrain is only a miserly 1.4 liters and makes 80 horsepower – an engine that seems light years away from anything high-performance – it’s got a taste for top-notch juice.

So why does such a small engine require fuel that even the mighty Chevrolet Camaro SS doesn’t hold itself in high enough regard to drink? The reason is still somewhat mysterious. While it could be for the sake of optimal efficiency, Volt drivers probably won’t use much fuel as it is. Stay tuned to an explanation very shortly.

[Source: The Truth About Cars, Autoblog]