Chevrolet Volt MPV5

23rd April 2010

Chevrolet has pulled the wraps from a practical new plug-in hybrid people carrier, dubbed the MPV5.

Blending design cues from Chevrolet’s Geneva Motor Show concept car, dubbed the Orlando, with the dramatic face of the Vauxhall Ampera the five-seater is based on the same chassis that underpins the advanced Volt.

The car is the fifth GM built model to use the firm’s plug in hybrid technology, after the Chevy Volt, Opel Flextreme GT/E, Caddlic Converj and Vauxhall Ampera.

Fitted with a complex arrangement of water cooled lithium-ion batteries, the MPV5 offers a range of around 300 miles from its 150bhp electric engine. The powerful motor drives the front wheels and also offers a top speed of around 90mph. Inside, there’s a spacious interior and generous load area - as well as an advanced satellite navigation system.

Batteries are arranged in a t-shaped section under the floorpan - and don’t intrude on the car’s cabin.

Fully charged, the batteries provide an electric only range of around 32 miles, but drivers looking to travel longer distances can rely on this model’s 1.4-litre combustion engine, which is connected to a generator that tops the batteries up when power begins to fade. Although the engine does not drive the wheels directly, the energy it creates helps keep the car moving.

The car can also be charged with electricity from a normal household electricity supply. A full charge from a UK 240 volt plug takes around 4 hours.