Ahead of the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt’s official unveiling during the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month, the Internet is reminding you that General Motors is in pursuit of the “CrossVolt” trademark. GM has been filing for the Crossvolt trademark since 2011, and we were the first to tell you so.
Savvy folks may recall a 2010 concept called the Volt MPV5, which basically was a Volt crossover, pictured above. Nothing more was ever heard of this vehicle, but it seems that a prototype similar in appearance has been spotted being tested alongside a convoy of Volts last year.
Though unlike other reports, we don’t expect a Chevrolet Crossvolt to show face at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But let’s not have that take away from what will be at Chevrolet’s display front-and-center: an all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt with Corvette-inspired looks, increased electric range, and an all-new and quieter four-cylinder engine generator,
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For the love of all that’s holy , can we not get a GM design that doesn’t feature a high belt line . It isn’t hot or will it sell extra vehicles . Visibility is one of the main pillars that got the public so interested in crossovers , and it seems to have become GM’s new mission to find ways to take it away . It’s ridiculous and serves no purpose , other than to perhaps make designers feel relevant ! Look at the BMW X5 , here is an outstanding name in vehicles who I’m sure could supposedly hot up the exterior with such a design , but no , it offers excellent greenhouse as does a number of other manufacturers , Audi and Honda etc included . Even Ford is going back to larger greenhouse , here . Pull this nonsense on Cadillac cars but leave VISIBILITY off the hot menu for Crossovers , please ???
A little too HHRish in the wheel wells but a step in the right direction!
Don’t get too worked up here as this design shown here is 6 years old. It was a Show Car to Beijing back when the HHR was still being built and there was not even an Orlando.
Much of the high sides has to do with crash standards and not so much with styling. Most cars today have high sides and for the same reasons to better hold up in a side impact. It also helps cut some weight.
As to not make the cars look too tall like a Taurus the lower roof help hide the height but it does make the side look thicker on some cars than others.
The two greatest challenges in the industry today is to hide height of a car with the taller sides and the higher noses to meet Euro specs for hood to engine crush space. This is why so few cars have a low nose anymore. Both challenge the stylist to the ends.
This Crossvolt idea will come but they still need better batteries and longer range to deal with the need for the SUV to be taller. More fontal area will decrease range and that is where the present Voltec driveline has held this up. Maybe the next will let it happen.