Why it Matters
When more than 43,000 people place their names on a waiting list to buy a car, that's a very good sign that demand is high. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt promises to deliver to the marketplace a scalable vehicle for around $40,000 that has the potential to make gas stations irrelevant for a majority of drivers. That's not the automotive equivalent of a campaign promise, that's a reality General Motors is staking its reputation on. Talk about change you can believe in.
What it Looks Like
To say aerodynamics are a key part of designing a vehicle like the Chevy Volt is like saying buoyancy is a key factor in designing a boat. The resulting shape is what allows the Chevy Volt to achieve its efficiency target of 40 miles on one charge. Take particular note of futuristic touches such as the use LED light pipes in both the front and rear of the vehicle. Inside the Chevy Volt, the interface is more iPod and laptops than knobs and dashboard needles. There are actually two LCD screens, one where you would expect a navigation unit to be, and one sitting in place of those antiquated things we typically refer to as "gauges." Whatever you grew up thinking the interior of a Plutonian spaceship looked like, this is probably pretty close.
