What to Think About the Chevrolet Volt

Much has been written about the recently revealed 2011 Chevy Volt. I'll leave the driving impressions to someone who has actually driven the car, but some notes can be made from what has been shown to the public.

• The Volt received criticism for its more conventional styling, which strayed from the original concept Volt which was the show-stopper of the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. The production Volt looks much more mainstream compared to the concept's radical design. GM shouldn't worry too much about this criticism because the Volt's closest competitor will be the Toyota Prius, which won't exaclty be mistaken for an Aston Martin or Jaguar.,
  

One of the most visually striking aspects of the Volt's design is it's headlamp assembly. I like the look because it reflects the car's technological prowess. I hope that the extensive use of LEDs doesn't put too much of a drain on the batteries. LEDs use less energy than typical halogen headlights, but this car has A LOT of them.

• As far as the design is concerned, the most exciting thing has got to be the interior layout and specifically the center stack. The glossy white panel is the focal point of the dash, containing many touch-sensitive buttons for audio and HVAC controls. The futuristic look of the interior was obviously influenced by an iPod, which isn't a bad thing at all. It's also been reported that the car's GPS system will be able to tell the car how far from is from home, letting it make the most of its 40 mile electrical range.