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We Render The 2026 Chevy Bolt EV

Production of the Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV wrapped up late last year, concluding both vehicles’ first generation to make way for the inbound second-gen models. Despite confirmation that the 2026 Chevy Bolt EV is on its way and hints at what its design will entail, we have yet to get a true look at the small EV, and since we’re a little impatient, GM Authority took a shot at rendering what the 2026 Bolt EV could look like.

Because the 2026 Bolt EV will not be a clean-sheet design, we borrowed elements from the outgoing Bolt EUV, upgrading its front and rear fascias to reflect current Chevy EV styling. In fact, we lifted quite a bit from the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, borrowing the thin light bar that runs beneath the seam of the hood, spanning the length of the front end.

The rendered Bolt EV retains the outgoing model’s large five-point maw, but we’ve given ours a blacked-out treatment that fits right in with The Bow Tie brand’s sporty RS line, complete with an aggressive splitter.

Out back, we’ve stretched the taillights to give our 2026 Chevy Bolt EV a coast-to-coast light bar with inner graphics framing the Bow Tie insignia. We’ve also dropped the license plate cutout to the bottom third of the liftgate, just like the Equinox EV, and given it a sportier spoiler up top.

Under the skin, the forthcoming Bolt EV will harness Ultium propulsion and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. This will help keep the small EV more affordable, as Ultium technologies cost roughly 40 percent less than the old Bolt EV’s tech, according to GM CEO Mary Barra. Speaking of costs, considering that the base 2024 Chevy Equinox EV 1LT will start at $34,995 including the destination freight charge, we expect the forthcoming Bolt EV to cover the $30K to $35K range.

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Alexandra is a Colorado-based journalist with a passion for all things involving horsepower, be it automotive or equestrian.

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Comments

  1. 2025 lcmeno ?????????? $16000 mmm ??

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  2. Not much can be done with a car design that’s the size of the Bolt EUV. Can’t lower it. Can’t stretch it. Can’t widen It. When you have a winner already, there’s nowhere to go. That’s why a car park full of SUVs all pretty much look alike. As the owner of an ’02 EUV PREMIERE, I speak with authority
    It might be time to revive two tone paint schemes and white wall tires.

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    1. They could get rid of that giant, gaping void of a grill, for starters. Large mouth bass are fun to reel in, but they shouldn’t be used as inspiration for vehicle design.

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      1. Hmm..not looking too different from the current model, it’s just a rendering though, we could get caught off guard with something totally unexpected due to it’s exterior appearance.

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  3. Interior rendering would have been interesting.

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    1. I expect it to use the same setup as the NoxEV

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  4. Thinking it needs to occupy the 25 to 35 range. I’ll be disappointed if it starts at 30 as that’s not that much less than the larger Equinox which also has a larger, more costly battery. I would expect the Bolt to have a 60ish kwh LFP battery with a range of about 250-260 miles

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    1. Exactly right. It needs to be at least $10k under the M3, which would put it at $28.9k with the same range (or longer), or it’s DOA.
      Are they going to be able to get any of the federal tax rebate with these? ($29k-$7500=) $21.5k would be amazing for this.

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    2. The base 2023 Bolt EUV started at $28.5k. GM said they were targeting that price range for the new Bolt. Add some inflation, and $30k would be the expectation.

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    3. That assumes the Equinox 1LT isn’t so baseline that nobody wants one. Cranking windows anybody? How else to convince anybody to buy other trims that cost $8000 more once the 1LT is finally out? Or maybe they will only make 12 of them.

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  5. As a current 3 1/2 year owner of a 2020 Bolt, the ’26 will need a 300 mile range and 150KW charging rate or I would pass. My Bolt has been problem free since I drove it off the dealers lot other than the battery replacement. There was no problem with the original battery.

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    1. Yep 300 and 150 charge rate

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    2. Since it will be Ultium, the charging rate is likely. Will see about the range.

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      1. Yeah, LFP is less energy dense than NMC batteries so not sure if they can pack more kwh in to get the range up, but the Ultium drive units are probably more efficient. Also, overall pack level energy density might stay about the same as LFP doesn’t need as much cooling.

        With current efficiency, they would need to add about 14-15kwh for like an 80kwh pack, not sure that’s gonna fit in the Bolt chassis.

        Also, LFP can be charged to 100% without worrying about degradation, so buffer might be less? Giving a higher useable pack energy?

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    3. Giving one of these serious consideration for my next vehicle to replace my 2012 Prius C. Driven the Bolt and Bolt EUV, came away very impressed with both! Friends of mine have a 2024 EUV that they love. Seen some really cool renderings of what the next generation might look like; if GM can up the DCFC speed and come in at 300 miles of range, they’ll have a real winner!

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  6. So, just a smaller version of the Equinox EV? I sincerely hope not!

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    1. Why not? That’s parallel to their ICE lineup where Equinox is a smaller blazer, and Trailblazer is a smaller equinox and Trax is a smaller trailblazer

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  7. Had the 2017 Bolt and loved it. Looking forward to this one but hope we have a choice of EV and EUV. The current EV is cheaper, faster, more range, and a bit more cargo room than the EUV; and, with no kids to cart around I don’t care about the rear passenger room. But I’m afraid we’ll sacrifice performance and range for “style” of an SUV or EUV. But the negatives of the EUV will payoff as here we don’t even use electric for EVs, thanks to State-subsidized solar panels.

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  8. Looks like a Hyundai-ized version of the current one. Hope it’s all-new and not a refresh like this render is.

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    1. It’s a refresh. They’ve already said that. It’s how they are bringing it to market quickly and at less cost than a fresh sheet design.

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  9. Isn’t the Bolt, a Re-Volt?
    Hard to believe this company lead the way in performance and design for 1/2 a century.
    These turd cars are hideous with junque electronics makes them destined for a scrap yard at the point of purchase.

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    1. Wow!!! Really informed comments – you looked like an expert till you started talking lol!!!
      -it won awards
      -it was the most cost effective EV on the market
      -it was well equipped for the price point

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  10. I OWN A FLEET of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s GM Caddys and Corvettes along with Lincolns and others of that era. They’re the coolest. But let’s be real. I can’t relly use them for daily driving because of the low gas mileage and their size to park them at the regular places that I go to. PHEV, HEV and full electric EVs are the futute whether we like it or not. I’ll enjoy my ICE cars when I can with an eye towrds the real world practicality of these new cars. The times they are a chan-ging.

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  11. I am very confused about the upcoming Bolt.
    Will it be the same vehicle but different batteries?

    Will that be enough to go against Kia, Ford supposedly, and Tesla?

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    1. New drive units and batteries. To be seen if they do much of a sheetmetal refresh. But doing some design tweaks to make it fit the design language of the rest of the Chevy Ultium lineup does make a bit of sense. Might also suspect minor interior changes like reusing the same infotainment displays and software as the Equinox to save on costs.

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  12. Stellantis will offer a $25,000 Jeep EV, Ford is also working on lower cost EVs, and the competition doesn’t end there. So, GM’s response is to price it north of $30K. Brilliant!

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  13. GM has a winner, continuation of the Bolt is a great business decision. The Bolt needs to offer various models much like the Mini Cooper, like Saturn attempted to do. LT and RS versions just aren’t enough to give it an edge over competitors. Making it a cult car is essential to make it a true success, GM needs a high volume vehicle to satisfy all age groups and budgets. My 2023 Bolt EV is a big improvement over my 2020, keep up the momentum! Good luck General, you have a head start don’t let up now.

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    1. How do you feel your 2023 ev improved on the 2020 model?

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