Yesterday, Chevrolet took the wraps on one of the fastest turnarounds we’ve seen from a concept to production in some time.
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV was unveiled alongside General Motors CEO Mary Barra’s keynote at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show after showing the concept vehicle less than one year ago. So, we’re here to ask, is the 2017 Bolt EV hot, or not?
The production Bolt EV does its best to keep some of the fluid, futuristic lines from the concept vehicle but, the tall greenhouse helps it look much more pedestrian. And that’s okay, because the interior benefits from quite a bit of roominess because of its proportions.
The design and style was crafted around the flat battery pack mounted beneath the floor of the Bolt EV. Designers say this allowed for greater flexibility to craft SUV-like seating positions with an overall small, city-driving footprint.
Up front, the traditional Chevrolet fascia has been updated and takes on a familiar look, but still looks a tad unique to the 2017 Bolt EV. The rear, however, looks unlike anything else in the Chevrolet lineup currently. We especially like how the rear window flows directly into the taillamps for a bit of pizazz.
We’ll turn it to you now. Vote in our poll below, and be sure to talk to us in the comment section below.
Comments
Very good looking car. Have to say I am impressed with the recent vehicle designs from Chevrolet (Malibu, Cruze, Volt, Bolt).
I live in Los Angeles and I think the Bolt will sell very well, at least in California. We have a fairly robust charging infrastructure and the 200 mile range kills every other BEV on the market except a Tesla (which starts at double the price of the Bolt). The placement of the battery pack on the floor will make the interior far more roomy and useful that a similarly-sized vehicle with an ICE. I could even drive the Bolt to Palm Springs, San Diego or Santa Barbara (weekend destinations) on one charge. Just recharge it for the return trip.
I think the Bolt is a handsome hatch that has more usable room than a Volt without all the complicated hybridization of the Volt. I could easily see the Bolt being my only car. As long as we have a longer-range vehicle in our household (which we do), it would work very well. I even have solar panels on my home and a 50 amp 240 V plug in my garage ready for a Tesla or a Bolt. Bring it on!
As a fellow California resident I’ve noticed something peculiar about a bunch of new Starbucks opening in my area. Starbucks used to open up stores in strip malls or town squares.
All the new ones, however, are drive thrus with oddly extensive parking lots. And the structures have a tall sort of ‘tower’ built into the building… to give it ‘gas station’ like visibility.
I’m starting to believe that Starbucks intends to offer charging stations. Which makes sense, since a Starbucks is a great place to kill time (coffee, surfing) while recharging your car.
Just a hunch.
John,
That is truly intriguing when I come to think about it, and then consider the placement of new construction Starbucks in my neck of the woods… Excellent point.
Cheers,
Sean
Thanks. Not to mention these three Starbucks I know about aren’t located in cool locations at all. They’re located on inexpensive in between streets — where gas stations like to be.
Would love to see a Caddy or Buick version with more creature comforts!
That said should sell well. There are a ton of Leafs and Teslas in our neighborhood and I think the Bolt is far more attractive than the Leaf.
I’m thinking about existing Buicks being branded ‘Volt’ or ‘Bolt’ as a trim option. Like an Encore Bolt.
I am a great GM fan but I am tired of this delta shape that restricts visibility with a high waistline and limited C-pillar visibility. The concept was great but the production model reverts to the same old practice and it is time for a change. Count me out on this otherwise promising car.
I really preferred the concept car. But then I almost always do and have had to learn with designers dumbing down for America.
American taste is so funny — in that people want to have something ‘nice’ but something that does NOT stand out. Or take one risk. Or three risks for that matter.
There are better movies than FORCE AWAKENS. Much better. But everyone loves this Star Wars rehash. Why? Oh, they’ll tell you it reminds them of their childhood. Or that it was brilliant. But really it’s terribly reassuring. There’s next to nothing really new about it. And by having seen the movie you’re not the least bit weird. Or exhibiting odd tastes. You are perfectly normal and American. And normal is extremely important.
So a completely innovative e-car will do best here if it doesn’t stand out. In any way. Which is why the orange was ditched for dull silver. The car must look like any PETROL car. Because, again, normal is best.
This attitude drives design people INSANE. How can you fix something if people don’t want to purchase fixed things? That need to be explained to them. People hate explanations.
I recently bought an Ecobee home wifi thermostat. Every person who has seen it says, “So… you got the Nest?” You know, the normal choice? The standard one. Even if I tell them it’s an Ecobee they ask if it’s one of those Nest things. I’m not kidding. I bet people who own the Volt have to answer this question daily, “So it’s like a Prius?”
So immune are we to design innovation that GM brags about how they made the battery pack flat for the Bolt. Yup. Just like my wife’s Nissan Cube made the gas tank flat. Some six years ago. Resulting in the same ‘surprising’ rear leg room in an otherwise tiny car.
Dear GM Designers. I feel your pain.
“Dear GM Designers. I feel your pain.” AND YOU ARE A BULLSHIT!
Hideous, and an embarrassment for GM.
$30k for a car that 99% of the population won’t be able to distinguish from a Spark?
The thing looks like a daggon Spark. If I wanted an ugly looking Spark I’d buy an electric prius or something.
I thought this was truly going to be a 3rd car/tesla 3 competitor. instead its a poor man’s i3.
I knew the concept was going to be based on a spark-like platform, but I didn’t know it was going to look like a spark with an electric drivetrain…
Looks nothing like the Spark.
Well how can it compete with a Tesla 3 at this point as we are several years from seeing a 3. At this point too Elon is still trying to find a way to make the 3 and keep cost down. It is not difficult to build an expensive EV but to build one under $40K can be damn hard as he has found out.
While this is based on the Gamma platform it is toughly engineered to the use here. This was not just a Sonic they popped a Electric Motor in.
As for being a Poor mans I3 I think that would be a compliment.
FYI a 6 footer can sit in the back with plenty of room. Try that in a Spark and you will find this is not just a Spark real fast.
At least before you hate at least get your facts right as it exposes you for what you are.
Really! This is how you bash GM for doing something no other car company has done. Not just building a volt (gas/electric) but also a all electric car to cover anybody that needs a green car.
Well the smaller the car the more difficult the design. Lets face it the greatest works of art are not postage stamp size.
But with that said GM did very well here. It covered the size well and also we have to factor in the Aero issues and packaging issues often faced by smaller cars.
Too often these things end up not having much style they could call their own and if they do they end up looking like a Science fair project that went bad.
They packaged this well so real sized humans fit. It will not be mistaken for anything but a Chevy and so far appears to have hit the price goals and mileage goals.
This car so far has done one of the hardest things you can do at a lower price that no other company has done to this point. GM should be commended.
Now if they can make a little money on this and grow the segment this will be a home run. I expect the technology here will be expanded to other models. I would not want a Buick version of this unless it had it’s own styling. No rebadges here and if anything make the Buick a CUV version just to set a different tone.
I expect they will target the markets prime for this in California and maybe NYC and other warm areas. In time it will expand other places but many areas are just not ready for EV vehicles yet. Better to put the production where it will sell the fastest first and let it sink in over the rest of the country.
It’s most certainly hot, but definitely not because of its looks! Rather, the Bolt is hot in its execution! GM has once again introduced a solid entry into the electric vehicle segment, priced reasonably, with an impressive 200 mile range and designed with practicality in mind! Should be quite successful!
Great looking vehicle, but (always is one) as a hybrid driver (Ford C-Max needed the cargo room for horse feed) I still don’t believe the public will embrace a purely electric vehicle due to the limitations of “range” in relation to miles you’re able to drive on a single charge. Let’s pretend that we were the designers for a moment. Honda to me manufacturers the finest generators on the planet. What would be the possibility that Honda could build a small single cylinder super quiet generator that would “if” you’re out an about an need some power crank itself up an build up the battery to say 50% to 75% of a full charge. That would allow you to still run errands, or even take a trip leaving the charger at home. That combination would make hybrid drivers like me happy, and use maybe 5% of the fuel in a month that a hybrid would use, I’m thinking maybe 4 to 5 gallons over the course of a month. And we still plan to buy a Chevy Cruz 5-Door/Hatchback when they get out to the dealerships, came dern close to buying a Cruz in ’13, but the needed capacity to haul 6 to 8 bags of horse feed moved us over to the C-Max. We still don’t care for SUVs or Crossover wannabes.
Drove a test mule at the CES show yesterday , many thanks to the GM staff for allowing this. Second time to drive an EV (first a Tesla). Short drive in the parking lot but car was a hoot to drive, quick off the line, I think you can chirp tires given a bit of time. Car had blacked out interior panels, big emergency stop button and incorrect front end, was assured however the drive train was production version. Great feel in the corners and wonderful quiet liquid acceleration, very enjoyable.