For the 2013 model year, the Chevy Volt garners several rather important changes: besides the expected reconfiguration of options and trim levels — especially when it comes to safety equipment, the Volt loses the 30 GB hard drive unit, which seems to get replaced with the 7-inch diagonal touch-screen display with a GPS navigation system (but not MyLink). In addition, the Volt gains a new color called Silver Topaz Metallic, a rear center armrest with a storage compartment, and a new EV Hold mode (in addition to Normal, Sport, and Mountain modes). Interestingly, “Bluetooth for phone” is listed under the Deletions section, something we’re going to look into to fully understand. The biggest visual change comes from the change in color of the roof and liftgate, which are going to be painted the same color as the remainder of the Volt’s body. Here are all the changes for 2013:
Deletions
- (AFC) Jet Black and Green seats
- (AFF) Light Neutral seats
- (UFV) Audio system with DVD-ROM navigation
- (UPF) Bluetooth for phone
- 30GB hard drive
- (PCW) Rear Camera and Park Assist Package
- (UD5) Front and Rear Park Assist
- (RSB) 17″ 5-spoke forged painted aluminum wheels
New Features
- (GWS) Silver Topaz Metallic exterior color
- (AFK) Urban Premium Cloth
- (AFJ) Urban leather-appointed seats with suede inserts
- (UHQ) Audio system with navigation, Color Touch AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback capability, navigation and USB port, 7″ diagonal touch-screen display, GPS navigation system and Radio Data System (RDS)
- (DA1) rear center armrest with storage
- (PCM) Comfort Package, includes (KA1) heated driver and front passenger seats and (N30) leather-wrapped steering wheel
- (V7X) Safety Package 1, includes (DD8) auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, (UD7) Rear Park Assist and (UVC) Rear Camera View
- (V7Y) Safety Package 2, includes (UDF) Front Park Assist, (UEU) Forward Collision Alert and (UFL) Lane Departure Warning
- (UD7) Rear Park Assist (included only with (V7X) Safety Package 1)
- (UEU) Forward Collision Alert (included only with (V7Y) Safety Package 2)
- (UFL) Lane Departure Warning (included only with (V7Y) Safety Package 2)
- (UDF) Front Park Assist (included only with (V7Y) Safety Package 2)
- (WQX) 17″ 5-spoke painted aluminum wheels
- (PCV) Low Emissions Package (Enhanced AT-PZEV emissions)
- NEW EV Hold drive mode (in addition to Normal, Sport and Mountain modes)
Changes
- (D31) manual day/night inside rearview mirror is now standard and (DD8) auto-dimming inside rearview mirror is now included in (V7X) Safety Package 1
- (UVC) Rear Vision Camera is now included only with (V7X) Safety Package 1
- Leather-appointed seats change from perforated to non-perforated
- Roof and liftgate now body-color
Comments
Why no HDD? Cost cutting? I like the black roof yet I think it should be a solar roof option like the tech package in Prius. The black looks nice but I read somewhere what the paint process entails and it certainly will save GM time, trouble and money in production.
Google image the Z-Spec S.E.M.A. Volt. It’s got a Chevy logo on the body-color Ampera liftgate – very nice. I hope Chevy chose this treatment for the 2013 look. Again, because Amperas are rolling off the line with this rear hatch, it should be a practical change that looks very good.
Wonder what the wheels look like. Are they the painted optional five spokes with black? I’ll miss the current five spokes – like them a lot. NavTraffic shouldn’t cost the customer. At Volt’s price it should be baked in like OnStar. OnStar should go back to 5 years instead of the 2013 cut-back 3.
Suede inserts? Are you kidding me? I’m all for the deletion of perforated seats, my current car has perforated seats and they stink – imagine all the tiny bits that go into the holes and you cannot get them out. I have small kids and they spill stuff which goes into the seat backing without any way of it not molding and smelling until you sell or reupholster the car.
I can do with MyLink and an auto-dimming mirror. Paying for all the lane-keep and colliosion alert nannies – not so much.
I can do you one better than the Google in regards to the Z-Spec Volt:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2010/11/sema-2010-chevrolet-volt-z-spec/
Guessing that the reason the HDD was dropped is due to the fact that it’s not needed by most people; users consume music via their iPods/personal media players and/or smartphones with Internet Radio built-in. CDs are done, and have been for 5 years now… and the HDD was a temporary transition method. Even so, the HDD was always an awkward option on any vehicle, since — when it’s time to trade in — your music stays with the car… Not convenient at all and not very flexible, either — since managing the music collection in the car is a chore compared to doing so on your smartphone or even on iTunes.
I do find it interesting that you’d mention the suede part as a downside; I’m all for it, but can see how having little kids may complicate things. If it were me and little Johny spilt something in the car, he would not be getting a gift that Christmas 🙂
Will update the post as soon as we find out more about the wheels, etc.
@ Alex: That would be great. I saw the printable version of the order sheet and it appears the current polished 5 spokes will still be available, but the other wheel options are to be filled out later. My guess is the current option Ampera wheels. I like the “painted” five spokes over the chrome-look polished ones – but I think some form of aero-wheel may be better for mileage. I read one Volt developer said the current five spoke design was specifically designed to exit air from under the car. This makes sense with the blade design, yet does not make sense because Volt’s wheels aren’t direction-specific — So, do the wheels on one side exit the air, and suck it in on the other??? — I know companies don’t do direction-specific due to cost.
The black roof is now becoming fad in everything including Kias. I think Volt paved the way and I always liked the look. For an electric car, a black roof isn’t really practical though, as black absorbs heat and would make the car less efficient ( use more battery power to condition the interior ) in warm climates. Toyota’s solar roof is cool ( literally ) as it uses the power of the sun to cool the interior with fans automatically on those hot summer days – Volt should do this, I’d pay extra for it for sure.
White seat inserts – hmmm…gotta see that… I also wonder if the center rear filler/armrest folds down or is just like today’s optional one that velcros to the carpeted seatbacks? A center storage area for the 120v AC cord would be a great feature if it’s designed for easy reach. Volt owners are just tossing the big AC cord reel in the hatch area all sloppy – and it requires a trip to the back and opening the hatch to retrieve it. Better to open the rear door and just reach in, zip-zip and it keeps it neatly stored.
People are also wondering why the Bluetooth delete. I think it’s only incentive for buyers to pop for the MyLink option. I think at Volt’s cost, Bluetooth should even be available on the “stripper”.
Last, a true “stripper” Volt would be a great idea. Volt isn’t marketed as a Buick Electra ( sadly ) so it’s positioned as a Chevy. Give us a Volt with crank windows, basic radio, and cloth seats. Sell it for $28,000 after tax credit. I know the thought process at GM is that the public won’t pay $28K for a basic model, but mileage/EV nuts would. It’d be cheaper and lighter – take less time to pay off the hybrid-fuel saving premium.
Mylink is now standard and includes Bluetooth, therefor no need for the UPF bluetooth option as all 2013 Volts have Mylink and Bluetooth standard.
That is great to hear, that would have been a “disaster” not to have bluetooth.
Very important and becoming standard on most vehicles. Which we can now add the Volt and I’m assuming other GM vehicles to that list.
Is there any chance the hard drive was just repackaged in another option/package?
There are many good improvements in 2013, but I was looking forward to the hard drive.
Pause rewind radio, I miss things constantly that I wish I could go back and hear.
Let alone just storing your favorite music so you dont have to have anything else with you.
Yes, I want to be able to still connect devices but to lose that option is annoying.
Cnet.com has done it’s second review of Volt. This time, a 2012. Sadly, Cnet being the techie authority, got a ’12 without MyLink!
— So the reviewer just lambastes Volt’s inside infotainment ( rightly, w/o connectivity, it’s behind the curve ). Sad Chevy didn’t make sure Cnet got a fully loaded model with MyLink since they’re arriving now in showrooms.
To me, just another technical flub in the clumsy GM marketing of Volt. Techies buy hybrids, techies love tech. This is Volt’s premiere market.
If/when Volt succeeds it will be another great success story like Prius was for Toyota. The little car that could. Even though the first Prius lost money for Toyota, we all know the second gen rose from the ashes like a Phoenix and the rest is history. Even though GM seems to make every wrong turn in selling Volt – it just may prosper in the end purely upon it’s laurels. Volt does today what no other car can do.
What is the EV Hold drive mode?
@Brian Here are some details about the EV Hold Mode:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/04/2013-chevy-volt-and-the-new-ev-hold-mode-feature-spotlight/