With the forthcoming proliferation of electric vehicle offerings in GM’s lineup, it makes sense to take a moment and look back at some of the hybrids and EVs that came before. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept is a great candidate for this, as it combined a number of features and attributes that may have catapulted it to success, had it made it to production status.
The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept debuted just as the first-generation Volt was launching, dropping cover on April 23rd, 2010, at the Beijing International Auto Show. The concept was based on the GM Delta platform, underpinnings shared with the production Volt, and also came with aero-centric styling inspired by the production Volt and adapted to the Chevrolet Orlando.
Inside, the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept took further cues from the Volt with regard to its center stack and gauge cluster, while also offering two-tone leather upholstery.
Arguably the most important aspect of the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept was its powertrain. Providing motivation was the same Voltec technology as the first-generation Volt, including a T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack and 1.4L gas-powered internal combustion engine.
The end result of this combo was a five-seater MPV/crossover (the Volt only sat four passengers) with an extended-range hybrid-electric powertrain.
Unfortunately, the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 never made it to production. However, if GM did follow through, it’s entirely possible the Voltec system may still been around today, despite the recent discontinuation of the Volt.
In fact, a production-ready Chevrolet Volt MPV5 may have outperformed the Volt five-door liftback in terms of sales, given the crossover craze that started to take hold around 2013 – right around the time a production version of the MPV5 would have come to market.
Unfortunately, we’ll never know for sure how this GM-bred crossover would have performed in the real world, especially now that General Motors is focusing on purely all-electric models over hybrids. Nevertheless, the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept is still worth remembering.
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Comments
One would think that the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 would have found sales in China, Europe and even the United States as it gives what the Volt and the current Chevrolet Bolt lack which is capacity as interior volume is so confining whereas with the Volt MPV5, there’s additional space as drivers and passengers can do what they do in a CUV which is bring everything they want.
Or do what they do in a CUV, which is drive around with more aerodynamic drag and even more empty seats than a regular car.
But anyway, yeah they should have built this. Maybe instead of the Volt, since people may have found it more practical.
Both this is the Orlando concept (it was ruined for production) looked great! Disappointing we didn’t get either one.
All that engineering effort and billions of dollars largely wasted because they didn’t offer the vehicle type the market wanted.
OTOH, Holy A Pillars, Batman!
It is what in my opinion should have been the Volt.
Sad that they handed the PHEV crossover market over to Toyota and Ford, when they were ahead.
We love our 1st Gen Volt, this would have been a great addition to the fleet. This would solve the biggest drawback of both generations of the Volt, poor rear legroom.
Wish they actually made this
We love our Gen2 Volt. The SUV/CUV market move away from sedans says this MPV5 should have made it to showrooms. And GM was never good at selling the Volt. We think it’s the perfect EV for rural America. No range anxiety even with sparse charging infrastructure. Instead GM focused on markets where then contemporary pure EVs are sufficient despite low range.
We love are Gen1 Volt, live in rural America and save hundreds of dollars a year on gas.
I love my ’13 Volt, but the time of the PHEV has passed. Batteries have now come down in price and charging infrastructure has expanded to the point where it makes more sense to just build a long range BEV. My next car will definitely be a BEV.
The PHEV era has not passed yet. Ford still sells several models, and will add the Escape, Explorer, and the F-150 versions . There are many drivers who will not buy a full EV because they drive extremely ridiculous miles without stopping or refueling, are afraid of “range anxiety”, and find gas stations are easier for fill ups than charger stations. So the PHEV will be their solution, helping the reduction of gas only vehicles, and give them the pleasures of driving on electricity for short trips.
Agreed, when my family goes on road trips we drive 500-800mi every day until we get where we are going.
We talk about a Bolt (and as a 2 car family) when are Volt dies we might replace it with a Bolt and just take are other car for road trips.
This MPV should have been made. Another blunder by GM.
GM said they are planning to introduce multiple all electric vehicles in the next few years … but it seems they’re going to be released in China only, and not in the United States. I owned a 2013 Volt, then also purchased a 2018 Volt. I ended up selling the ‘13 to my nephew, with the understanding that if he decided to get rid of it, to let me buy it back. I would have definitely considered one of these instead, because the Volt (both of them actually) is still one of the most fun vehicles I drive … and that’s saying a lot since one of my vehicles is a 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP with an LS7! GM continues to shoot their own foot and give up sales to other manufacturers in the pursuit of driverless taxis, pure EVs in other countries, and trying to catch up to Tesla’s self driving capabilities. I’ve always been a GM guy, but my last 2 purchases were close to buying other than GM, and sadly, it seems they’re ok with losing brand loyalty sales.
Uhh, why in the world GM didn’t do this vehicle is mind-blowing or/and gave it to another division…
Good looking vehicle , good idea and a dumb move by GM for not putting it into production.
GM dragged in innovation to profit off pollution. Seems like karma is catching up, rightfully so as my next car will be a Lucid or a Tesla…2X Gen 1 owner.
I love my Chevy volt 2013 , one of my best decision
Does anyone know what the electric range and gas mileage would have been?