The revolutionary Chevrolet Volt has been welcomed as the first vehicle to appear in the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) showroom-style exhibition area at its new premises in the heart of Westminster. The space provides an opportunity to highlight the breadth and scale of the modern UK automotive industry to visitors and passers-by in a prime, central London location.
The Volt was driven onto its new display stand in electric-only mode and even managed to avoid London’s Congestion Charge en route thanks to its innovative electric drivetrain, E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle), which powers the car’s wheels directly. The petrol engine generates power for the battery, giving the car a maximum range of 60 miles in full electric mode.
The Chevrolet Volt has already won several awards in the USA, where the vehicle was crowned North American Car of the Year, as well as winning recognition from titles such as Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine.
The Volt goes on sale in the UK in March 2012, and is eligible for the full £5,000 from the government’s plug-in car grant.
The Chevrolet brand celebrates its centenary this year, and is the world’s fourth largest car brand. Its parent company, General Motors, announced the Chevrolet brand would be coming to Europe at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, and launched the brand in all major European markets, including the UK, in 2005. In that time, Chevrolet has grown to achieve sales of over 500,000 units across Europe, and a pan-European market share of more than one per cent.
