Volt goes with the flow

This is the first look at the face of the Volt, Chevrolet’s new electric car. And the official image shows it is nearly production ready.

Parent company GM has used a huge fan in the design process to help ensure that the Volt is as aerodynamic as possible. Drag accounts for about 20 per cent of the energy consumed in an average vehicle, directly affecting fuel economy.

The sharp edges of the original Volt concept, seen at the Detroit Motor Show a year ago, have been smoothed out, and curves replace the angular edges to give the model a more slippery shape. Aerodynamics are an area of design in which GM is a world leader, claiming to offer more fuel-efficient vehicles than any other car maker. Ed Welburn of GM Global Design said: “We have achieved a vehicle with a drag coefficient more than 30 per cent lower than that of the concept. It’s not easy, but it is a necessity.”